Echocardiogram (Ultrasound)
Check Your Heart Health With This Simple Screening.
An echocardiogram is a painless, non-invasive test that uses sound waves to create moving pictures of your heart. Also known as an echo test or heart ultrasound, it provides your healthcare provider with an accurate, real-time view of your heart’s structure and function.
Stockton Cardiology conducts Echocardiograms at each office location (Manteca, San Andreas, Stockton, Tracy). Schedule your echo test by contacting the location where your doctor is. San Andreas patients requiring a Stress (exercise) Echo will be scheduled at another office.
Common Reasons for an Echocardiogram
Your doctor may recommend this test if you have or are experiencing:
- A history of a heart attack
- A heart murmur
- A previously diagnosed condition, such as a congenital heart defect
- A history of rheumatic fever
- Unexplained chest pain
What the Test Reveals
The live images from an echocardiogram allow your doctor to perform a detailed check of your heart. They will assess your heart’s size, shape, and pumping strength, as well as the condition of its walls, chambers, and valves. This helps them identify specific problems, such as damage to the heart muscle, blood clots, abnormal structures, or fluid buildup around the heart.
What to Expect For Each Type of Echo Test
Your echocardiogram is a non-invasive test, much like a standard ultrasound. Here is a description of what will happen during your appointment, and how the procedure varies depending on whether you will have a basic “rest” echo test, or a “stress” echo test.
Basic “Rest” Echocardiogram
To begin the Rest Echocardiogram, the cardiac sonographer will ask you to lie on an examination table. They will apply a small amount of clear gel to your chest, which helps the sound waves travel more effectively. The sonographer will then gently press a small, hand-held device called a transducer against your skin, moving it to different areas to capture clear images of your heart in motion. The procedure is painless.
Stress Echocardiogram
A Stress Echocardiogram begins with taking the basic resting echo images as described above, with the addition of EKG leads (small, sticky patches) being placed on your chest to so that your heart can be monitored during exertion. After the Rest images are taken, you will walk on a treadmill for a time and rate determined by your doctor. Patients who are unable to walk on a treadmill are told in advance that they will be given medicine which simulates the effects of exercise. Immediately following the exercise, the Stress set of echocardiogram images will be taken in a similar manner as the first.
Using Contrast for Clearer Images
In some cases, your doctor may need to see certain parts of your heart more clearly. To do this, a safe contrast agent may be given through a small IV in your hand or arm right before the images are taken. This helps create a sharper picture for the cardiologist to review.
Appointment Length
You should plan to be at the office for about 45 to 90 minutes for the entire appointment.
After Your Appointment: Results and Next Steps
After your test is complete, the cardiologist will interpret the images and send a detailed report to the doctor who ordered the test. Once the doctor has had time to review the report, the office will contact you to discuss the results and schedule any necessary follow-up care.
How To Prepare For an Echocardiogram
Preparing for a standard echocardiogram is simple. However, please follow these guidelines to ensure your appointment goes smoothly:
- Food and Drink: For a standard Resting Echocardiogram, you can eat and drink as you normally would. If you are scheduled for a Stress echo, your doctor may ask you to avoid caffeine or heavy meals for a few hours before the test.
- Clothing: Please wear a two-piece outfit (such as a top with pants or a skirt), as you will need to undress from the waist up. If you will be having a Stress Echocardiogram, wear shoes that allow you to comfortably walk on a treadmill (unless you have been told you will be given a medicine which simulates the effects of exercise).
- Medications: Continue to take your daily medications as prescribed unless your doctor specifically instructs you otherwise. Always confirm with your doctor’s office if you are unsure.