What Is Echocardiography?

What Is Echocardiography?
Echocardiography, also called an echo test or heart ultrasound, is a test that takes “moving pictures” of the heart with sound waves. You don’t have to stay in the hospital. It’s not surgery and doesn’t hurt.
Echocardiography is a simple and painless procedure that uses sound waves to take “pictures” of your heart.
Why do I need an echo test?
Your doctor may use an echo test to look at your heart’s structure and check how well your heart is working.
This test may be needed if…
• You have a heart murmur.
• You’ve had a heart attack.
• You have unexplained chest pains.
• You’ve had rheumatic fever.
• You have a congenital heart defect.