An echocardiogram uses ultrasound — the same safe, radiation-free technology used in pregnancy scans — to produce a live, moving image of your heart. It shows how well each chamber is pumping, how the valves are opening and closing, and whether there's any structural issue like a thickened wall or fluid around the heart. It's often the test that turns a vague symptom into a clear diagnosis.
Types
2D / Standard ECHO
A probe placed on the chest images the heart's chambers, walls, and valves at rest. This is the most commonly performed type.
Stress ECHO
An ECHO done right after exercise (or medication that mimics it), to see how the heart performs under load — useful when symptoms only appear on exertion.
When it's usually needed
- Suspected heart failure or an enlarged heart
- A murmur heard during a routine checkup
- Monitoring a known valve condition over time
Good to know
Duration: 20–30 minutes
Preparation: No fasting or special preparation required.
This page is for general information and doesn't replace a medical consultation. Your cardiologist will confirm what's right for your specific case.