An echocardiogram — often called an "echo" — is an ultrasound of the heart. Using high-frequency sound waves, it produces real-time images of your heart as it beats, allowing cardiologists and imaging specialists to assess its structure, valves, and pumping function with remarkable precision.
What Does an Echocardiogram Measure?
A standard transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) — the most common type, performed from outside the chest — provides a comprehensive snapshot of cardiac health.
- —Heart size and chamber dimensions (left and right ventricles, atria)
- —Ejection fraction — how much blood the heart pumps with each beat
- —Wall motion abnormalities that may indicate a prior heart attack
- —Valve function — detecting leaks (regurgitation) or narrowing (stenosis)
- —Pericardial effusion — fluid around the heart
- —Congenital defects such as holes in the heart (septal defects)
- —Pulmonary artery pressure — a key marker for pulmonary hypertension
- —Aortic root size — detecting early enlargement or dissection risk
Common Reasons to Get an Echocardiogram
Your doctor may order an echo for a wide range of cardiac concerns — or you may seek one out after noticing troubling symptoms of your own.
- —Chest pain or pressure, especially with activity
- —Shortness of breath at rest or with exertion
- —Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat
- —Unexplained fatigue or reduced exercise tolerance
- —A new heart murmur heard on physical exam
- —Swelling in the legs or ankles
- —Dizziness, fainting, or near-fainting episodes
- —Family history of cardiomyopathy or sudden cardiac death
- —Monitoring known valve disease or heart failure
Echocardiograms are also used to monitor the heart during chemotherapy, since certain cancer drugs can weaken the heart muscle over time.
What Happens During the Exam?
The procedure is completely non-invasive and painless. You will lie on an examination table while a sonographer applies a small amount of gel to your chest and moves a handheld transducer (probe) across your skin. The transducer emits and receives sound waves, translating them into moving images on a monitor.
The exam typically takes 30 to 45 minutes. No needles, radiation, or contrast dye are involved. Many patients find the experience comfortable and low-stress.
Understanding the Results
The most important number from an echocardiogram is the ejection fraction (EF) — the percentage of blood pumped out of the left ventricle with each heartbeat. A normal EF is 55% to 70%. An EF below 40% typically indicates heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and requires aggressive management.
Results also include detailed measurements of valve gradients, wall thickness, and chamber pressures — all interpreted in the context of your symptoms and medical history.
Why Same-Day Results Matter
Waiting weeks for a hospital or cardiology office to schedule an echo — and then additional days for results — can be frustrating and medically risky when symptoms are active. At a dedicated cardiac imaging center, studies are read and signed by a board-certified cardiologist the same day, allowing your care team to act without delay.
If you are experiencing heart-related symptoms and your primary care doctor has recommended an echocardiogram, same-day scheduling is available at Heartwell STAT Imaging.