There are several types of echocardiography (echo)-all use sound waves to create moving pictures of your heart. Your doctor also might recommend echo to see how well your heart responds to certain heart treatments, such as those used for heart failure. If you've had a stroke, you may have echo to check for blood clots or tumors that could have caused the stroke. Infants and children may have echo to detect these heart defects. Congenital heart defects are structural problems present at birth. Echo can detect congenital heart defects, such as holes in the heart. Echo can show whether any of your heart valves don't open normally or close tightly. Weakening also might mean that the area isn't getting enough blood supply, a sign of coronary heart disease. Damage from a heart attack may cause weak areas of heart muscle. Heart muscles that are weak and aren't pumping well.Increased thickness may be due to high blood pressure, heart valve disease, or congenital heart defects. Echo also can detect increased thickness of the ventricles (the heart's lower chambers). An enlarged heart might be the result of high blood pressure, leaky heart valves, or heart failure.
Your doctor also may use echo to learn about: Some heart murmurs are harmless, while others are signs of heart problems. Heart murmurs are extra or unusual sounds heard during the heartbeat. Echo can show how well your heart is pumping blood.Įcho also can help your doctor find the cause of abnormal heart sounds, such as heart murmurs. Heart failure is a condition in which your heart can't pump enough oxygen-rich blood to meet your body's needs. Your doctor may recommend echocardiography (echo) if you have signs or symptoms of heart problems.įor example, shortness of breath and swelling in the legs are possible signs of heart failure.