Decoding Your Results: What to Expect from an Echocardiogram

Heart issues are no joke, and symptoms like heart palpitations, pressure or fluttering in your chest, a rapid or very slow heartbeat, or other symptoms may pose questions about your cardiac health. An echocardiogram is the first step to getting answers.

At West Houston Heart Center in Houston, Texas, Dr. Humayun Naqvi and his team offer a wide range of cardiovascular diagnostic options, including echocardiograms. Here’s what they want you to know about this common procedure.

What to expect during a basic echocardiogram

An echocardiogram uses sound waves to create a visual picture of your heart walls and valves. We use a handheld device called a transducer placed at different points on your chest to perform the echocardiogram. We might use some sensors that stick to the surface of your skin with a mild adhesive, but there are no needles or other invasive components. 

The transducer sends out sound waves at a frequency above the range of human hearing. When these waves bounce off of your heart tissues, they create an echo. The echoes of the sound waves show up on a computer screen as moving images. This lets us see if there are any abnormalities. 

What we learn from an echocardiogram

We can see how your heart operates thanks to the images we get from your echocardiogram. We’ll be looking at every component of your heart to check for abnormalities, including your valves and ventricles. 

At the same time, we track the speed and rhythm of your heartbeat. The combinations of your heartbeat, the physical appearance of your heart, and its function can help us identify if you have cardiovascular issues.

Decoding echocardiogram results

Only your doctor can interpret results from your echocardiogram. Here are some common heart issues that can be identified from your results:

• Cardiomyopathy: wall thickening that makes it harder for your heart to pump blood
• Congenital heart defects: abnormalities you’re born with
• Growths inside your heart: might be either benign or cancerous
• Endocarditis: heart valve inflammation or infection  
• Pericarditis: inflammation of the sac around your heart

Your doctor will meet with you to talk about your results and what they mean. They may recommend additional diagnostics, like an exercise stress test or a different type of echocardiogram that provides a more detailed look at your heart.

Whatever the results are, we’re committed to your cardiovascular health. To learn more about echocardiograms, or to schedule an appointment, call us at 832-400-3957, or request an appointment online.