Everyday people visit our office for a variety of interesting diagnostic tests. Among the procedures commonly performed on patients is the echocardiogram. You have probably heard of this, but you may not know why it is used. This test tells our doctor a number of different things about the state of your heart.
The Structure of Your Heart
Since an echocardiogram is a way to monitor what is happening with your heart, it will often be used to grab critical information like the size of your heart. The heart valves, the septum and the chambers on the right and left side of your heart will all be visible on an echocardiogram.
An Enlarged Heart
You have probably heard of someone who has had an enlarged heart. When our doctor uses an echocardiogram to diagnose this situation, he will notice not only that the heart is larger, but he may also be able to discern why. The test may indicate that the enlargement is due to a leaky valve, high blood pressure or even the onset of heart failure.
Stroke
Every year, thousands of people experience a stroke. Sometimes this condition will be fatal, and at other times, people will live through a stroke with the hopes of regaining some of the speech and motor control that was affected or initially lost by the stroke. Where an echocardiogram is useful is in helping our doctor to identify if the stroke was caused by the presence of a blood clot or a tumor.
Stress-Based Echocardiograms
In certain medical situations, our doctor may want to know how your heart is operating when under stress. Typically, depending on your level of mobility, our doctor can use an echocardiogram. This can help our doctor to see how well the heart is pumping blood while the body is active or when the heart is tricked into being active chemically.
Medical Evaluation
Another area where an echocardiogram provides our doctor with important insights is after implementing a medical treatment. This test can help the doctor to discern if the treatment approach is working.
Learn More Information About Your Heart
During a consultation at Cardiology Consultants of Southwest Florida, you can see if an echocardiogram may be beneficial in your case. Contact us today to schedule an appointment at our office in Fort Myers!
