An ECHO or echocardiogram is one of the least invasive and most widely used diagnostic techniques that help in evaluating the human heart. It not only helps doctors assess the size and shape of your heart, but also provides information relating to the damage of tissues and heart valve disease. It detects abnormalities in the blood flow through the valves and monitors the motion of the heart wall, thus allowing doctors to determine if heart disease is the cause for any pain felt in the chest region. The top indicators for heart valve disease via ECHO are:
-Heart murmurs: The most prominent indication of heart valve disease is a heart murmur, the term used for an unusual beating rhythm of your heart. While heart murmurs can be heard with stethoscopes too, an ECHO helps determine if the murmur is a sign of heart valve disease or if it is nothing serious. Since most people don’t exhibit symptoms of heart valve disease until they’re older, the ECHO helps determine if there is anything that needs immediate medical attention.
- Abnormal heart valves: An ECHO is the best way to spot aortic valve abnormalities and help doctors determine if the patient is at a high risk for a stroke or heart valve disease. There are three ways in which valves can be defective:
. Regurgitation: When the heart valves do not close tightly when they’re supposed to, blood leaks back into the chambers of the heart instead of flowing through them or into an artery.
. Atresia: When the heart valve lacks an opening for blood to pass through, the heart does not receive the amount of blood needed to function healthily.
. Stenosis: There are times when the flaps of a heart valve become thick, stiff or fuse together. This prevents the valve from opening completely and letting enough blood flow through into the chambers and the arteries.
-Infection around the heart valves: Also known as infectious endocarditis, this is a condition where bacteria enter the bloodstream through certain medical procedures and settles on damaged heart valves. As the infection grows, it may cause clots that could even break off and travel through the blood to the brain, lungs, spleen and kidney. An ECHO helps identify such conditions and take appropriate remedial action.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is general and cannot be construed as medical advice. Please consult your cardiologist or doctor for an accurate assessment of your ECHO or any other health-related advice.
This article is contributed by Susan White, who regularly writes on the subject of surgical technician schools. She invites your questions, comments at her email address: susan.white33@gmail.com.
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