Cardiac imaging is an essential tool in understanding one’s heart health. One of the most common non-invasive techniques used in cardiac imaging is echocardiography, a test using sound waves to generate pictures of the heart.
Echocardiography can help diagnose several types of heart disease, including heart valve disease, heart failure, and congenital heart defects. With echocardiography, doctors can observe the size, shape, and function of the heart, detect blood clots, and assess the effectiveness of treatments.
Echocardiography is a painless procedure that does not use radiation. A technician spreads a gel on the chest and uses a wand-like device to produce images of the heart. The procedure usually takes 30 to 60 minutes and is performed in a medical office, hospital, or clinic.
It is essential to know that echocardiography is not just for those who already have heart issues. As a preventative measure, periodic echocardiography is crucial for people with a family history of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol levels.
Echocardiography is a vital method of cardiac imaging and a way to gain insight into your heart health. It is a non-invasive, painless, and radiation-free test that can detect heart disease at an early stage. Make sure to talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits of echocardiography and how often you should have the test done.
