What to Expect During an Echocardiogram Test?

An echocardiogram or an echo test is a standard ultrasound test that provides a graphic outline of the heart's movement. It is a painless testing procedure that produces moving images of your heart for evaluation by the Cardiomyopathy Specialist in West Babylon, Long Island, NY. The echo test in Long Island, NY can help evaluate the functioning of a patient’s heart. 

Echo test is usually required to:

• Evaluate your heart’s overall health.
• Identify many kinds of heart diseases (such as valve disease, myocardial disease, cardiac abnormalities, heart defects).
• Assess the disease progression periodically.
• Determine the effectiveness of the medical or surgical treatments.

 What to Expect During the Echo Test? 

Echo test is a non-invasive testing procedure that does not require any special preparation. You can eat, drink and take medications as per usual. However, patients may need to avoid eating and drinking if directed by the cardiologist. The test usually takes less than an hour to complete.

• Before the test, the doctor usually explains the procedure, and if you have any concerns, you can ask the doctor.

 

• During the procedure, the patient is usually required to change into a hospital gown.

 

• Next, the cardiac sonographer will place small, flat, sticky patches known as electrodes on your chest. The electrodes are attached to an electrocardiograph (EKG) monitor, which will measure your heart’s electrical activity during the test.

 

• The sonographer will apply a gel substance to your chest, which helps the sound waves reach your heart.

 

• During this procedure, a hand-held wand with high-frequency sound waves is used to assess the condition of the heart's valves, chambers, blood flow, and overall functioning. Thus, the sonographer will move the wand around various areas of your chest to record pictures of your heart’s different areas.

• Sometimes sonographers may need to press a bit harder to get a clear image. The patient may also need to change positing and hold their breath to obtain better pictures of the heart. 

The pictures from the echo test are reviewed by the cardiologist to determine if the patient’s heart is healthy or has any problems. The doctor will discuss the various options after assessing your test results.