Echocardiogram Specialist

Long Island Heart & Vascular

Cardiovascular Disease Specialists & Endovascular Specialists located in Westbury, South Richmond Hill, Ridgewood, and the Bronx NY

An echocardiogram is a painless study that can provide a wealth of information about your heart’s function and overall health. The board-certified specialists at Long Island Heart & Vascular in Westbury and Ridgewood, New York, may recommend an echo to study your heart valves and the way blood flows through your heart, and to check for signs of a previous heart attack. These talented physicians have made it their mission to provide state-of-the-art, office-based care designed to successfully treat and prevent diseases that affect your heart and overall health. Schedule a visit today. Call the office or book your appointment online.

Echocardiogram Q & A

What is an echocardiogram?

An echocardiogram is a diagnostic study that uses sound waves to produce images of your heart. It’s a common and painless test that allows your doctor to see your heart beating and pumping blood.

Depending on what information your doctor is seeking, they may recommend variations of a standard echocardiogram. A Doppler enhanced study, for instance, can help measure the speed and direction of blood flow in your heart. A stress echocardiogram provides information about how your heart reacts to exercise (stress).

Why would I need an echocardiogram?

An echocardiogram can show changes in your heart size that may indicate weakened or damaged heart valves, damage caused by high blood pressure, and other concerning issues that require further treatment.

The measurements obtained during an echocardiogram also include the amount of blood that's pumped from a filled ventricle with each heartbeat (ejection fraction) and the volume of blood pumped by your heart in one minute (cardiac output). This information is especially important if your doctor is concerned about heart failure.

An echocardiogram can also identify:

Damage from a previous heart attack
Problems with heart valve function
Congenital heart defects, those present at birth

What is the procedure like?

For a standard echocardiogram, you’ll be asked to undress from the waist up and lie comfortably on an exam table or bed.

Your technician then attaches sticky electrodes to various points on your body to help detect and record your heart’s electrical signals. Next, the technician applies a gel to a handheld device (transducer) that is passed back and forth over your chest.

The transducer produces sound waves that create images that are transmitted to a computer and pictured on a monitor. The computer collects the data and produces a report that Dr. Gujja then studies carefully before sharing the results with you and any treatment or further studies he might recommend.

An echocardiogram generally takes about an hour from start to finish, and there’s no recovery time required after the test.

You can rely on the experts at Long Island Heart & Vascular to provide outstanding cardiac care in a warm and welcoming environment. Call today for an appointment or book your visit online.