An echocardiogram how the blood is pumping through your heart’s chambers and valves, using electrodes to check the heart’s rhythm, and an ultrasound to see how the blood moves in the heart. Your doctor can use the images to help identify heart diseases. Your doctor may require you to have multiple echocardiograms done for varying reasons. There are different ways your doctor can get the images they require:

Transthoracic echocardiogram is the standard echocardiogram, a technician uses gel on the transducer and presses it firmly on your skin, the transducer records sound waves and a computer converts them to images.

Transesophageal echocardiogram your throat is numbed, and you are given medications to relax, a flexible tube with a transducer is then guided down your throat recording sound waves echoing from your heart, the computer then converts the echoes into detailed moving images.

Doppler echocardiogram is where the sound waves bounce off blood cells that move through your heart, they measure the speed and direction of the blood flow in your heart. This is good for checking blood flow and blood pressure in the arteries, the blood flow is categorized to help the doctor pinpoint problems.

Stress Echocardiogram this test is done before and after walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bikes are mainly used to check on coronary artery problems gram.

The main reason your doctor would request an echocardiogram would be to detect any problems in the chambers or valves in your heart with symptoms such as shortness of breath or chest pain. Other conditions would be a strong heart murmur or worsening conditions of the murmur. Developing symptoms of heart valve disease, these symptoms would be tiredness, shortness of breath, fever, chest pain, dizziness, or fainting. An echocardiogram can also be used to detect damage caused by a heart attack or to determine where there could be a blockage, or where the heart fails to pump enough blood around the body at the proper pressure. Also, as conditions like congenital heart disease, or birth defects.

There is nothing special you need to do before an echocardiogram, but it is best not to eat or drink anything with caffeine at least 24 hours before. It is also best not to smoke on the day of the test. If you are having a transesophageal echocardiogram your doctor may advise you not to eat several hours before the test.

During the exam, you the technician will be moving the transducer back and forth over your skin you will hear whooshing sounds while the ultrasound is recording blood flow, you may have to position yourself in a certain way or hold your breath or exhale it will all depend on what the technician needs to have to show the doctor, most tests are between 40 to 60 minutes long, but on average it takes about 15 minutes to get all relevant images. A stress echocardiogram can take 15 to 20 minutes longer it also depends on the type of stress test if you need to use a treadmill or in your need to receive medicine through an IV to help increase your heart rate. It will also depend on if once you have checked in if you need to register and complete paperwork. All these factors will play a part in how much time it will take to have an echocardiogram. The team at Integrated HealthCare of South Florida is proud to provide you with the best treatment plan customized to your specific heart needs! We serve patients from Coral Springs FL, Coconut Creek FL, Margate FL, Parkland FL, Tamarac FL, Boca Raton FL, Sunrise FL, Lauderdale Lakes FL, and nearby areas.