Definition - What does echocardiogram mean?
The echocardiogram (echo) is a clinical modality using sound waves to produce a sonogram, or graphical image, capturing the bioelectric activity and intramuscular health of the heart muscle for diagnostic purposes. There are several variations of echocardiograms including transthoracic echocardiograms, transesophageal echocardiograms, stress echocardiograms, three-dimensional echocardiograms, and fetal echocardiograms. A doctor employs an echocardiogram to identify medical abnormalities followed by a referral to a cardiologist, in some cases, to administer treatment.
SureHire explains echocardiogram
In medicine, heart conditions carry a high mortality rate, often reflecting health factors based on environment, genetics, and lifestyle habits. An echocardiogram is a practical method to help understand the etiological implications surrounding patient symptoms when making a diagnosis. Doctors are able to monitor the aorta and its arterial networks, chambers and valves via a transducer placed topically (on the skin) or in some cases internally (transesophageal) to determine the progression and severity of a disease.
An echocardiogram can indicate abnormalities that might suggest a certain pathological condition requiring immediate medical attention. For instance, an irregular heartbeat can lend evidence of cardiac arrhythmia or coronary heart disease based on concomitant symptoms that dictate the prognosis of a condition ranging from moderate to severe. When examining an echocardiogram, a patient’s medical history, occupational circumstances, and personal choices can have an adverse impact on the physiological function of the heart. The workplace can also impose many detrimental effects on the heart including exposure to toxic substances, extreme temperatures, sedentary work, and compounded stress. Poor nutrition, smoking, and lack of exercise can impair function of the heart, increasing the chances of developing type 2 diabetes.
An echocardiogram serves as an adjunct procedure often incorporated in a battery of tests to consolidate facts in supporting the best outcome for a patient.
