An echocardiogram is simply an ultrasound scan of your heart, and it’s one of the most useful, least invasive tests in cardiology.
You’ll be asked to remove clothing from the waist up and lie on your left side on the examination couch. A cool gel is applied to your chest – it helps the ultrasound probe get a clear picture and washes off easily afterwards. The probe itself is pressed gently against your skin at several points across your chest; there’s no discomfort, though you may feel some pressure.
The scan usually takes between 20 and 40 minutes. During that time, the sonographer or cardiologist is measuring the size and function of each heart chamber, checking how well your heart valves are opening and closing, and assessing blood flow using colour Doppler imaging – the bursts of colour you might glimpse on the screen. You may be asked to breathe in a particular way, hold still briefly, or roll slightly, none of which is anything to worry about.
Afterwards, you can get dressed and go straight back to normal activities – there’s no recovery time needed and no sedation involved.
The report itself takes a little longer, since it involves proper measurement and analysis rather than a quick look. We’ll go through the results together at your follow-up, in plain language, focusing on what they mean for you specifically rather than a page of numbers.
If anything felt uncomfortable or unclear during the scan itself, it’s always worth mentioning – most concerns have a simple explanation.