An echocardiogram is a painless, quick, noninvasive study that provides abundant information about how well your heart is functioning. David Bolon, MD, of Manhattan Integrative Cardiovascular in Midtown Manhattan, may recommend an echocardiogram to monitor the health of your heart valves, identify blockages in your coronary arteries, or gauge your heart’s ability to pump blood to the rest of your body. If you’re concerned about your heart health or focused on preventing future disease, schedule an evaluation today. Call the New York City office or book your appointment online.
An echocardiogram uses sound waves (ultrasound) and computer technology to create images of your inner heart structures in action. It can evaluate the volume of blood flowing through your heart chambers, the force with which your heart contracts and relaxes, and the way your heart valves open and close.
Viewable in real-time on a nearby monitor, the images are also recorded for later study by your Manhattan Integrative Cardiovascular specialist.
An echocardiogram is performed by an ultrasound technician. It’s painless, usually takes 30-45 minutes, and requires no preparation, such as fasting beforehand or recovery afterward.
Your cardiologist may recommend an echocardiogram to evaluate symptoms such as chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, declining exercise tolerance, or persistent swelling in your legs and abdomen.
Heart-related conditions that may cause these symptoms include:
You may also benefit from an echocardiogram as part of a cardiac screening evaluation, especially if you have a family history of heart disease or increased risk factors such as elevated cholesterol or high blood pressure.
Your specialist may also recommend the study to gauge the effectiveness of your current medications or previous treatments like valve replacement surgery or angioplasty and stenting to open narrowed cardiac arteries.
At the start of the study, your ultrasound technician places small disks (electrodes) on your chest. They are attached by wires to a nearby EKG machine to track your heartbeat during your test.
The technician applies gel to your chest to help the sound waves pass more easily through your skin and moves a handheld device (transducer) over the chest. The transducer produces sound waves that bounce off your heart and “echo” back to the device, which transmits them to a nearby computer that translates them into images.
Your Manhattan Integrative Cardiovascular specialist then reviews the results, shares the findings, and discusses a treatment strategy.
Schedule your cardiac evaluation today by calling their office or requesting an appointment online.