An echocardiogram, or cardiac ultrasound, is a diagnostic test that uses sound waves to view structures of the beating heart such as the chambers or valves. A device called a transducer is placed on the chest wall, and sound waves are transformed into images and video which are used to evaluate your heart’s function and visualize structural details. Blood flow is recorded with a technique called “Color Doppler”.
The echocardiogram shows the strength of the heart muscle’s squeeze, and if any of your heart valves are too tight (stenotic) or too leaky (regurgitation). This information helps your physician choose an appropriate treatment.
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