Echocardiogram

An echocardiogram, or "echo", is a scan used to look at the heart and nearby blood vessels. It's a type of ultrasound scan, which means a probe is used to send out high-frequency sound waves that create echoes when they bounce off different parts of the body. These echoes are picked up by the probe and turned into a moving image on a monitor while the scan is carried out.

An echocardiogram may be requested by a heart specialist (Cardiologist) or any doctor who thinks you might have a problem with your heart.

An echocardiogram can help detect:
1. Damage from a heart attack – where the supply of blood to the heart was suddenly blocked.
2. Heart failure – where the heart fails to pump enough blood around the body at the right pressure.
3. Congenital heart disease – birth defects that affect the normal workings of the heart.
Problems with the heart valves – problems affecting the valves that control the flow of blood within the heart.
4. Cardiomyopathy – where the heart walls become thickened or enlarged.
5. Endocarditis – an infection in the lining of the heart which damages the heart valves. An echocardiogram helps Doctors decide on the best treatment for these conditions.