Experiencing shortness of breath, palpitations, or other signs of a heart problem? Echocardiography is a painless diagnostic study the experts at Advanced Heart & Vascular Specialists in Las Vegas often recommend as part of a cardiac evaluation. It uses sound waves to capture images of the inner workings of your heart and provide valuable insight into what might be causing your symptoms. Schedule your visit today by calling the office or booking an appointment online.
Often abbreviated to “echo,” echocardiography uses ultrasound technology to record images of your heart in motion. During an echo, sound waves pass through your chest and bounce (or echo) off the soft tissue structures of your heart. A computer translates these echoes into digital images that show the size of your heart and how well it’s functioning.
The sound waves produced during an echo are harmless. It’s essentially the same as an ultrasound taken during pregnancy to monitor the size and health of a developing baby.
An echo can pinpoint many potential problems with your heart, including:
There are several types of echo studies available. Each type uses sound waves to capture images of your heart but varies slightly in the placement of the transducer and quality of the pictures. The transducer is a wand-like, handheld device that emits sound waves during the study.
Echo types include:
Schedule a visit at Advanced Heart & Vascular Specialists for all of your cardiac care. Call the office or book your appointment online.