Check-up your Heart
A remarkable organ, your heart is continuously working throughout the day and night to keep you alive. To keep your heart healthy, regular check-ups and screenings are a must. Among these screenings, Echocardiography is an essential and effective tool for assessing the health of your heart. In this blog, we, at Eastern Diagnostics, we will discuss the importance of Ecocardiography and how it helps to ensure the safety of your heart.
What is Echocardiography?
Often simply mentioned as an “echo”, Echocardiography test is a non-invasive test that uses sound waves (ultrasound) to create a detailed image of the structure of the heart and its function. This heart test helps medical professionals to examine various aspects of the heart, including its size and shape, and how effectively it can pump blood. The images which are created in real time, offers a view of the heart in action.
Why Ecocardiography?
Early Detection of Heart Condition: The test is vital owing to its ability to detect the condition of the heart at a very early stage. The view of the heart’s chambers, valves and blood flow, enables a professional to identify abnormalities like congenital heart defects, valve defects or cardiomyopathies, before the conditions become serious.
Heart Function Assessment: Echocardiography, provides crucial data about how well the heart is functioning .It measures the ejection fraction, which is the percentage of blood that the heart pumps out with each beat. Such information is vital for diagnosing heart failure, in which the heart’s pumping ability is compromised.
Monitoring the Heart: If a patient has a particular heart condition, the echocardiography test can be used to monitor the heart’s health from time to time. It helps Cardiologists and heart specialists to track changes and plan treatment accordingly.
Treatment Guidance: Echocardiography is used as guide for procedures like heat valve repair or replacement. It facilitates heart surgeons to visualize the heart in real-time during the procedure, ensuring precision and improving outcomes.
Risk Assessment: A person’s risk of developing heart disease can be assessed using echocardiography. Family history of heart disease or high blood pressure can be factored in and the test helps professionals to determine the level of risk. That is why it is recommended to monitor your heart condition from time to time to prevent aggravated heart condition.
Customized Treatment Plans: Echocardiography can be used to make treatment plans according to specific needs. This ensures that a patient receives the most appropriate and effective care.
Types of Echocardiography
There are several types of echocardiography tests including:
Transthoracic Ecocardiography (TTE) : This is the most common test and involves placing the ultrasound transducer on the chest to obtain images of the heart through the chest wall.
Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE): In this, a specialized probe is inserted into the esophagus to obtain high-quality images of the heart. TEE is used when clearer images are required or when TTE is inconclusive.
Stress Ecocardiography: The test examines the heart’s response to stress, induced through exercise or medication. It helps assess blood flow to the heart muscle.
Importance of Ecocardiography for Healthy Heart
At Eastern Diagnostics, we hold your heart health in the highest regard, recognizing the pivotal role that echocardiography plays in preserving it. Echocardiography empowers us with intricate insights into your heart’s structure and function, enabling our medical experts to make informed decisions regarding your cardiovascular well-being. Whether you are managing a pre-existing heart condition or simply seeking to evaluate your heart disease risk, this diagnostic tool is indispensable for safeguarding your heart. Early detection and proactive prevention are the cornerstones of a heart-healthy life. Our dedicated team of Eastern Diagnostics professionals is always here to discuss echocardiography when you need us since your heart’s health is our priority.