Are you scheduled for an echocardiogram? You might be wondering what it involves and what to expect afterward — and our team at NJ Cardiovascular Institute is here to help. An echocardiogram is a common, noninvasive test that gives your cardiologist a detailed look at how your heart is functioning.
Kunal Patel, MD, and our team perform echocardiograms to help diagnose and monitor a variety of heart conditions. So whether you’re managing a known heart issue or checking on new symptoms, here’s what you should know about the process and what comes next.
An echocardiogram is an ultrasound of your heart. It uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of your heart's chambers, valves, walls, and blood vessels. This test allows us to see how your heart beats and how well it pumps blood without an invasive procedure.
We use echocardiograms to detect a variety of issues, including:
Identifying issues like these helps us diagnose conditions like heart failure, cardiomyopathy, or valvular heart disease. We can also use echocardiograms to monitor known heart issues over time.
During the test, you lie down on an exam table while one of our technicians applies a special gel to your chest. Then, we move a handheld device called a transducer over your chest to capture images of your heart. The procedure is painless and typically takes 30-60 minutes.
Sometimes, Dr. Patel orders a stress echocardiogram, which involves exercising or receiving medication before the test to see how your heart performs under stress.
Depending on your situation, we might use a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE), which involves inserting the transducer through your esophagus under mild sedation to get more detailed images of your heart at work.
Once your testing is complete, there’s no recovery time required. If you’ve had a TEE, you may need a short observation period as the sedation wears off.
The technician who performs your echocardiogram isn’t responsible for interpreting the results, so don’t be concerned if they don’t offer any immediate insights. Instead, Dr. Patel reviews the images and data. He analyzes things like:
Once Dr. Patel has reviewed your echocardiogram, our team either calls you or schedules a follow-up appointment so you and Dr. Patel can discuss the findings.
During your follow-up, Dr. Patel goes over the results of your echocardiogram in detail. If your heart function is normal, no further action may be needed. However, if any issues are detected, he explains his diagnosis and recommends next steps, which may include lifestyle changes, medications, or further testing.
At NJ Cardiovascular Institute — with offices in Elizabeth, Lakewood, Paramus, and Secaucus, New Jersey — we’re here to help you understand your heart health and guide you through any testing and treatment you may need.
If you have questions about your echocardiogram or heart care, we’re just a phone call away. Contact us today to get started.
