Find yourself wondering: What is an echocardiogram?
An echocardiogram is a test done that observes the movements of the heart. Similar to sonograms that pregnant women get on their stomach, echocardiograms can give a visual video on a computer screen of your heart’s activity. There are multiple kinds of echocardiograms that can be ordered, depending on the personal circumstances of the patient. For example, a female heartbeat exam for her unborn child would require fetal echocardiography.
The level of echocardiogram reliability is one of the highest among all other tests that have to do with the heart. In addition to the high level of echocardiogram reliability, the procedure for the test is quick and painless. These benefits make it one of the most used tests when the doctor wants to see exactly what is going on with the patient’s heart.
Echocardiogram vs EKG or ECG vs Echocardiogram
Many people wonder what are the differences in echocardiogram vs EKG or ECG vs echocardiogram. The first thing to note is that EKG and ECG are abbreviations of the exact same word. They both stand for electrocardiography. This is a similar test to the echocardiogram, however, the EKG is limited to just showing the beat of the heart on paper. Unlike the echocardiogram, the EKG does not show the actual heart.
How Much Does the Echocardiogram Cost?
The echocardiogram cost does vary, depending on the company performing the test and the insurance paying for the test. If someone were to pay out of pocket for the test, they would be looking at anywhere between $1 thousand to $5 thousand. Fortunately, the heart ultrasound cost is covered by most insurances. In most cases, as long as there is a referring doctor, the heart ultrasound cost will be no more than a copay for the patient.
Why Does My Doctor Want Me To Do An Echocardiogram?
If you are experiencing symptoms such as:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
- Previous heart attacks
- Fainting spells
Your doctor may want you to have this test. The heart has the ultimate job of providing the body with oxygen to function. When we do not get enough oxygen pumped through our bodies, we begin to experience these symptoms. Also, in some cases, the doctor wants to check for any possible growths or clogs within the heart. Early diagnosis of these conditions can greatly increase the likelihood of healing.
What is AFib?
AFib is an abbreviation for atrial fibrillation. This is a disease that the echocardiogram can detect. This disease results in blot clots, which can cause strokes. If the echocardiogram shows AFib, then the patient is usually given blood thinners.
How Are Echocardiograms Accurate?
How are echocardiograms accurate, if they can only show the shape of the heart? They are accurate because they also show the movements that the heart makes. This test can show the blood flow, the rhythm of the heartbeat, and multiple layers into the heart. These tests have a high accuracy rate with revealing whether the heart is healthy or not.
What are the Different Kinds of Echocardiograms?
Transthoracic Echocardiography
This is the most common type of echocardiogram done. In this process, a patient lies back on a hospital bed. The technician applies a serum to the chest area and presses a transducer to against the chest. The transducer sends sound waves to the heart and the waves echo back off the heart forming a live video on the computer screen of your heart in motion.
Transesophageal Echocardiography
This kind of echocardiogram is done if the regular transthoracic test does not show enough detail. The patient’s throat is given medication to numb the throat. Then, a transducer is attached to the end of a flexible tube. The tube is then carefully guided down the esophagus just behind the heart area. These tests have a better view to see the aorta.
Stress Echocardiogram
Some diseases, like coronary heart disease, are better diagnosed when the heart is beating fast during the echocardiogram. To get the heart rate up, the patient does a brisk walk on the treadmill during the test. For patients who can not exercise, medicine is given that will manually speed up the heartbeat.
Three-Dimensional Echocardiography
This test is similar to the transthoracic, accept this test gives three-dimensional, more clearly detailed images of the heart. Many times, this test is ordered for children is they are having problems. Occasionally the three-dimensional echocardiograms are done during the transthoracic echocardiograms.
Fetal Echocardiography
If the doctor wants to know the condition of an unborn baby’s heart, the fetal echocardiography will be ordered. This test is done by placing the transducer on the mother’s stomach. If the fetal echocardiography is done during the pregnancy, it generally happens between 18 and 22 weeks.
How to Prepare for an Echocardiogram
Because echocardiograms are non-invasive and painless, there is little to no preparation needed for the test. The only preparation required would be for the transthoracic echocardiogram. The doctor may request that you do not eat or drink for eight hours before the exam. For the stress test, it would be best to come in some comfortable shoes. This is so that you are ready for any kind of exercise to get your heart speed up. Other than that, you are free to continue taking whatever medication you take and to sleep as you normally would.
After the Echocardiogram
After the echocardiogram, you are free to walk and drive home. This test usually takes about an hour. Some test facilities want to keep their transthoracic echocardiogram cost down to a minimum. To keep the transthoracic echocardiogram cost down, they do the tests in half an hour.
What do the Results Tell Me?
The results of a female heartbeat exam, like the echocardiogram, will show if there are any problems with the heart valves. The test will show if there is any kind of clot or excess fluid. The walls of the heart are also examined to determine if the density is correct. There are numerous details an echocardiogram can reveal and your doctor will happily reveal what they find.
An Echocardiogram (ECG) is a well-known test performed by primary care physicians and cardiologists to assess a patient’s heart health for both preventive (as in annual physical check-up) and treatment (for cardiovascular disease) purposes.
An echocardiogram is an ultrasound test that evaluates the structures of the heart, as well as the direction of blood flow within it. The ECG technology uses sound waves to produce images of the heart as it beats and pumps blood. These images help to detect and identify heart disease. There are few if any risks related to an ECG examination.
What Information does an ECG Provide?
The heart is a pump, composed of four chambers and four valves that circulates blood throughout the body. To keep the body alive, the heart needs all its structures to be whole and healthy, and for its muscles to act in a coordinated fashion. This keeps the blood flowing in and out of each chamber and in the right direction.
The results of an ECG Test provide vital information that not only gives a true picture of heart health but also points the way to comprehensive treatment plans, maintenance and long-term monitoring.
The Size of the Heart: An abnormal or diseased heart may have enlarged chambers. The walls may be thickened by damaged valves, high blood pressure, hypertension and other cardiovascular (CVD) diseases.
The Strength of the Heart: An ECG gives insight into the heart’s pumping ability and efficiency. The test measures the percentage of blood each filled ventricle pumps out with each heartbeat, (ejection fraction) and the total volume pumped out in one minute (cardiac output). This information is critical as inadequate blood volume can lead to heart failure.
The Health of the Heart Muscle: An ECG illustrates whether the muscles of the entire heart wall are contributing effectively to the pumping activity. Weakened muscles may indicate coronary artery disease or other conditions.
Heart Valve Issues. An ECG indicates the movement of heart valves in tandem with heartbeats; whether they open enough for adequate blood flow and close to prevent blood leakage.
Heart defects: ECG is used to detect damaged heart chambers, abnormal connections with major blood vessels, and complex congenital heart defects. They can be used to monitor fetal heart development during gestation.
Types of Echocardiogram Tests
Different types of ECG tests provide different information.
Transthoracic echocardiogram. This common, widely used ECG test is safe and noninvasive. The sonographer or echocardiographer applies gel and electrodes to the chest. A transducer is pressed firmly on the chest, transmitting an ultrasound beam to the heart. The device records sound waves echoing from the heart, which are converted into moving images on a computer monitor. If necessary, a contrast agent may be injected intravenously to highlight the heart’s structures more clearly.
Transesophageal echocardiogram. If a standard ECG fails to show clear images, or if the heart and valves need to be viewed in more detail, a transesophageal echocardiogram may be recommended. The transducer is inserted via a tube into the throat to obtain detailed images. Mild, relaxing sedation is administered to the throat to ease the process.
Doppler echocardiogram. Sound waves or Doppler signals bouncing off blood moving through heart and blood vessels help measure the speed, pressure and direction of blood flow in the arteries more accurately than traditional ultrasound.
Stress echocardiogram: Ultrasound images of the heart are taken before and after walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike. For those unable to exercise, an injection of a medication to make the heart pump as hard as if you were exercising may be administered.
What do I need to do when preparing for an echocardiogram?
There are no special preparations needed for a standard transthoracic echocardiogram. The patient can eat, drink, and take medications as normal.
For a transesophageal echocardiogram the patient will have to fast beforehand to prevent possible vomiting, or aspiration of food into the lungs during the procedure. A mild sedation will be given to help tolerate the procedure. For those who have difficulty swallowing the doctor will have to decide if these tests are viable.
Where sedation is required, patients should be accompanied by someone who can drive them home. Activity should be light until the sedation wears off.
For a stress echocardiogram, the patient needs to walk on a treadmill or ride a stationary bicycle. Comfortable shoes are recommended.
After the Procedure
Most patients can resume normal daily activities after an echocardiogram.
If the ECG is clear, no further procedure may be required. If the results need further investigation, the patient may be referred to a cardiologist for more tests.
Treatment depends on what’s found during the exam and the patient’s specific symptoms. They may need another echocardiogram later, or other diagnostic tests, such as a cardiac computerized tomography (CT) scan or coronary angiogram.
If you would like to find out more information, please request an appointment online today. Intercoastal Medical Group: dedicated to providing quality healthcare to the Sarasota and Manatee County areas.