Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram (or “echo”) uses ultrasound — harmless sound waves — to create moving pictures of your heart. It shows the size and shape of your heart, how well its chambers pump, how your valves open and close, and how blood flows through it.
It's one of the most common and useful heart tests, and it involves no radiation and no needles.
What to expect
- You'll lie on an exam table, usually turned onto your left side.
- A technologist moves a small handheld probe with gel across your chest to capture images.
- The test is painless and non-invasive.
- Most people can return to their normal activities right away.