Echocardiography

Your doctor may use an echo test to look at your heart’s structure and check how well your heart functions.
The test helps your doctor find out:

Your doctor may use an echo test to look at your heart’s structure and check how well your heart functions.
The test helps your doctor find out:

  • The size and shape of your heart, and the size, thickness and movement of your heart’s walls.
  • How your heart moves.
  • The heart’s pumping strength.
  • If the heart valves are working correctly.
  • If blood is leaking backwards through your heart valves (regurgitation).
  • If the heart valves are too narrow (stenosis).
  • If there is a tumor or infectious growth around your heart valves.

The test also will help your doctor find out if there are:

  • Problems with the outer lining of your heart (the pericardium).
  • Problems with the large blood vessels that enter and leave the heart.
  • Blood clots in the chambers of your heart.
  • Abnormal holes between the chambers of the heart.