Best Echocardiogram Test
American Heart Center
Dubai Healthcare City
An echocardiogram is a test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the heart. The picture and information it produces is more detailed than a standard x-ray image
An abnormal echocardiogram can mean many things. Some abnormalities are very minor and do not pose major risks. Other abnormalities are signs of serious heart disease. You will need more tests by a specialist in this case. It is very important to talk about the results of your echocardiogram test with your provider.
Conditions Detected by Echocardiogram
Your doctor may suggest an echocardiogram to look at your heart’s structure and check how well it functions. If you experience CHEST PAIN, PAIN IN YOUR ARMS, HEART ATTACK, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, PALPITATIONS, NECK, BACK OR JAW PAIN, SHORTNESS OF BREATH, FATIGUE, WEAKNESS AND NUMBNESS, AN IRREGULAR HEARTBEAT OR SWOLLEN ARMS, LEGS, FEET, OR ANKLES are signs your doctor will look for when assessing you.An echocardiogram may be done for further evaluation of signs or symptoms that may suggest:
Heart valve disease
Malfunction of one or more of the heart valves that may cause an abnormality of the blood flow within the heart. The valves can become narrowed and prevent blood from flowing through the heart or out to the lungs and body. The valves can also become leaky with blood flow leaking backwards. An echocardiogram can also check for infection of the heart valve tissue.
Atrial or septal wall defects
Irregular channels between the right and left sides of the heart may be present at birth, or may occur from trauma, or after a heart attack. These defects occur in the upper filling chambers (atria) or the lower pumping chambers (ventricles). This may cause heart failure or poor blood flow, or increase your risk for stroke.
Pericardial effusion or tamponade
The sac around the heart can become filled with fluid, blood, or infection. This can compress the heart muscle and prevent it from beating and pumping blood normally. This can cause symptoms of feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or a dangerous drop in blood pressure.
Heart Attack
Heart Attack when an artery that sends blood and oxygen to the heart is blocked. Fatty, cholesterol-containing deposits build up over time, forming plaques in the heart's arteries. If a plaque ruptures, a blood clot can form. The clot can block arteries, causing a heart attack.
Congenital heart disease
Defects in one or more heart structures that occur during formation of the fetus, such as a ventricular septal defect (hole in the wall between the 2 lower chambers of the heart).
Heart failure
A condition in which the heart muscle has become weakened or stiff during heart relaxation and blood can't be pumped efficiently. This can cause fluid buildup (congestion) in the blood vessels and lungs, and edema (swelling) in the feet, ankles, and other parts of the body.
Cardiac tumor
A tumor of the heart that may occur on the outside surface of the heart, within one or more chambers of the heart , or within the muscle tissue (myocardium) of the heart.
Aneurysm
Aneurysm. A widening and weakening of a part of the heart muscle or the aorta (the large artery that carries oxygenated blood out of the heart to the rest of the body). The aneurysm may be at risk for rupture.
Arterial Blockage
A gradual clogging of the arteries by fatty materials and other substances in the blood stream. It can lead to problems in the wall motion or pumping function of your heart.
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Common Types of Echocardiograms Performed
There are three common types of echocardiograms performed at American Heart Center Cardiology and interpreted by American Board-Certified Cardiologist.
Transthoracic Echocardiogram
A transthoracic echocardiogram, or TTE, is non-invasive and generally involves a probe that is placed on the outside of the chest. It uses color-flow Doppler ultrasound to create moving images of the heart. In certain situations, images obtained by this method are not detailed enough.
Doppler Echocardiogram
A Doppler echocardiogram test in Dubai checks blood flow speed and direction and offers a better look at how blood moves through the heart. Often used in combination with transthoracic methods, a Doppler echocardiogram reveals more detailed images than a basic echocardiogram.
Stress Echocardiogram
A stress echocardiogram uses ultrasound imaging to test how well your heart and blood vessels are working, before and during exercise. If a patient can’t perform a light exercise, medication may be administered to stimulate the heart into pumping harder.
