Heart Health in High-Definition

Echocardiograms, often referred to as “echo” tests, are a key diagnostic tool in terms of cardiology.

They can assess the structure and function of the heart, aiding in the diagnosis and management of a wide range of cardiac conditions.

This non-invasive and safe imaging technique utilizes sound waves to provide detailed, real-time images of the heart, allowing healthcare professionals to gain valuable information about the health of this vital organ.

Every hour, about 14 Canadian adults aged 20 and over with diagnosed heart disease die

Public Health Agency of Canada, 2022

Test : Echocardiograms
Early Detection Of : Heart Disease, Cardiomyopathy, Infective Endocarditis, Pericardial Disease, Valve Disease, Heart Tumors

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Echocardiograms

An echocardiogram is a type of ultrasound test that checks the structure and function of your heart.

It is a graphic outline of your heart’s movement.

During the exam, high-frequency sound waves from a hand-held wand placed on your chest are used to take pictures of your heart.. It shows the flow of blood through the heart’s valves and chambers. This helps your healthcare provider evaluate the pumping action of your heart.

An echocardiogram does not use any radiation. This is how it differentiates itself from other tests like X-rays and CT scans that use small amounts of radiation.

Early Detection of Heart Diseases

An echocardiogram can show changes in your heart that could indicate an aortic aneurysm, blood clots, and a cardiac tumor. It can also detect many different types of heart diseases.

Cardiomyopathy

Infective Endocarditis

Pericardial Disease

Valve Disease

Cardiomyopathy affects your heart muscle. Your heart cannot efficiently pump blood to the rest of your body. If detected, treatment can slow the progression and improve your quality of life.

This is an infection in your heart’s chambers or valves. Early detection is key because with quick, aggressive treatment, many people survive, but without it, the infection can be fatal.

This affects the two-layered sac that covers the outer surface of your heart. Pericardial conditions need to be detected in order for it to function properly and shield the heart from infection or malignancy.

Valve disease affects the “doors” that connect the chambers of your heart. Once detected, medicines can help keep the blood flowing in one direction through your heart.

Benefits of an Echocardiogram

Echocardiograms are a valuable tool in the field of cardiology for diagnosing and assessing various heart conditions. They are safe, non-invasive, and provide detailed information about the structure and function of the heart.

Diagnosis of Heart Conditions

Echocardiograms help diagnose a wide range of heart conditions, including heart valve disorders, congenital heart defects, heart muscle diseases, and problems with the heart’s structure.

Evaluation of Heart Function

An echocardiogram provides detailed information about how the heart is functioning. It can assess the heart’s ability to pump blood, the strength of the heart muscle, and the efficiency of blood flow.

Detection of Abnormalities

Echocardiograms can detect abnormalities in the heart’s size, shape, and structure, which can be indicative of conditions such as cardiomyopathy, heart tumors, or congenital heart defects.

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How an Echocardiogram Works

The most common type of echocardiogram is a transthoracic echocardiogram. It is performed outside of your body. Using a hand-held wand, electrodes are placed on your chest to create pictures of your heart.

Step 1: Preparation

You will be asked to remove your clothing from the waist up. You will be given a hospital gown to put on. You will lie down on an exam table, where your sonographer will ask you to lie on your left side if possible.

Step 2: Placing Electrodes on Your Chest

The sonographer will place several electrodes on your chest. These are small, flat, sticky patches. The electrodes are attached to an electrocardiograph (EKG) monitor. The EKG records your heart’s electrical activity during the test.

Step 3: Sound-Wave Wand

Next, your sonographer will place a sound-wave transducer (wand) on several areas of your chest. There will be a small amount of gel on the end of the wand, which will not harm your skin. The gel helps produce clearer pictures.

You may hear swishing sounds throughout the test. This is normal - it means you are hearing blood flowing through your heart as the wand picks up sound. Your sonographer may also ask you to hold your breath for several seconds at a time, or ask you to move into a different position.

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Reasons to Get an Echocardiogram

Monitor Symptoms

Your healthcare provider may ask you to get an echocardiogram if you have symptoms, and they want to learn more – either by diagnosing a problem, or ruling out possible causes.

Check For Heart Disease

If you or your healthcare provider believe you may have some form of heart disease, they will strongly recommend you to get an echocardiogram. It will diagnose the specific heart problem and allow you to learn more about the issue.

Examine Pre-Existing Conditions

Your healthcare provider may also request an echocardiogram if they want to check on a condition you have already been diagnosed with. For instance, people with valve disease need echo tests on a regular basis.

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Packages

InvestMed offers thorough health packages designed to meet the individual needs of our patients. Our packages include a battery of personalized medical screenings to proactively identify and address health issues before symptoms occur.

You can choose between a risk-specific package or a comprehensive package to analyze your health and wellbeing.

Our health packages include rapid access to diagnostic testing using state-of-the-art technology, searching for 500+ diseases in the body, including cancer and heart disease.

Each package includes a comprehensive 1 hour physical exam and 1 hour medical review of results with recommendations to achieve optimal health.

Package costs will vary based on individual diagnostic test recommendations. Financing options are available.

Risk-Specific Screening Packages

Cancer Screening Package

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Package starting at $3,999*

MRI
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Advanced blood work
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Stroke Screening Package

Knowing your risk for stroke can save your life.

$5,999*

MRA – Magnetic resonance angiography
DNA testing – 83 genes for heart conditions
Advanced blood work
Carotid doppler ultrasound
Echocardiogram

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Heart Disease Screening Package

Early screenings are essential for heart disease prevention.

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Coronary calcium score
DNA testing – 83 genes for heart conditions
Advanced blood work
Exercise stress test
Echocardiogram
CT coronary angiography

Screening for cardiovascular risk factors before you develop heart disease, can help you prevent it.

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Comprehensive Screening Package

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Whole body MRI
Coronary calcium score
DEXA scans
Microbiome gut testing
Genetic testing+
Heart health workup
Cancer risk review
Mole mapping
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Prevention is key to longevity, whether or not you are presenting symptoms or risk factors.

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Please contact us for a custom corporate package. Specialized corporate rates available.

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FAQ

How long does an echocardiogram take?

An echocardiogram typically takes 40 to 60 minutes in total.

How should I prepare for an echocardiogram?

In order to prepare for an echocardiogram, you should complete the following:

Take your medications as you normally do.
Wear anything you’d like, as your healthcare provider will ask you to remove your clothing from the waist up.
Avoid eating or drinking right before the appointment.

What are the risks involved with an echocardiogram?

An echocardiogram uses harmless sound waves, which have no known risks to the body. There is no X-ray exposure. You may feel some discomfort when the ultrasound wand pushes against your chest. The firmness is needed to capture the best pictures of your heart.

What techniques are used in echocardiography?

There are several different techniques that could be used to generate pictures of your heart. The best technique depends on your specific condition and what your healthcare provider needs to check for.

These techniques include the following:

Two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound: This is the most commonly used technique. It produces 2D images that appear as “slices” on the computer screen. Traditionally, these slices could be “stacked” to build a 3D structure.

Three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound: Advances in technology have made 3D imaging more efficient and useful. This technique shows different aspects of your heart, such as how well it pumps, with much greater accuracy. Using this technique also allows your healthcare provider to see parts of your heart from different angles.

Doppler ultrasound: This technique allows you to see how fast your blood flows, and in which direction.

Strain imaging: This technique shows changes in how your heart muscle moves. It can catch early signs of certain heart diseases.

What is the difference between an echocardiogram and an EKG?

While an echocardiogram and an EKG both check your heart, they check for different things and produce different types of visuals.

An echocardiogram checks the overall structure and function of your heart, and produces moving images of your heart. On the other hand, an EKG checks your heart’s electrical activity. Instead of pictures, it produces a graph. The lines on this graph reflect your heart rate and rhythm.

What should you not do before an echocardiogram?

You should avoid the following:

Eating or drinking.
Smoking or using any nicotine products.
Drinking coffee or anything that contains caffeine. This includes over-the-counter medications that contain caffeine, as well as decaf drinks, since they still contain a small amount of caffeine.

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