An echocardiogram (aka echo), is a noninvasive, 100% pain-free way for your doctor to peer into your heart and your arteries to ensure they’re healthy and functional. An echo helps your doctor diagnose abnormalities such as:
But you don’t have any cardiac symptoms. You don’t even have chest pain. Why do you have to see a cardiologist for an echo?
Expert cardiologist, Dr. Ola Akinboboye, uses the echocardiogram to get a specific picture of your heart health as well as an impression of your overall health. He and our team at Laurelton Heart Specialists offer this test at our office in Rosedale, Queens, New York City.
When do you need an echo, and what does it say about your health? Here are ways that an echocardiogram can assess health in times of stress.
If you need to undergo surgery that requires general anesthesia, your surgeon may require an echocardiogram, even if the surgery has nothing to do with your heart. An echo uses sound waves to evaluate the structure, function, and health of your heart and the cardiac arteries that feed it.
Surgery is traumatic for your body. If your heart isn’t healthy, you might be at risk for a heart attack or other event either during or after surgery.
However, not everyone who undergoes noncardiac surgery needs an echo. Your doctor may feel safer ordering one to ensure you can withstand the stress of surgery and anesthesia if you have:
If the echo reveals abnormalities, your surgery may be delayed or modified until those concerns can be addressed or resolved.
If you’re about to undertake an extremely demanding new exercise regimen or be exposed to extreme conditions, your doctor may prescribe an echo. An echocardiogram can be conducted during a stress test to see how your heart reacts when it’s made to work to its maximum.
If you’re a professional athlete or a nonpro who takes their sport seriously, you may wish to keep tabs on your heart health with periodic testing. The echo lets you see if your heart can keep up with the demands you want to place on it.
Any situation that stresses your heart could, conceivably, cause a heart attack if you’re not in prime shape. If you’re going to subject yourself to extremes, such as high altitudes or deep-sea diving, you may wish to get an echo to ensure that your heart is up to the task.
If you have obesity and need to lose weight to attain optimal health, your doctor may require that you undergo an echo or stress echo test. Dieting, obesity medications, and exercise can all tax your heart. You need to be as healthy as possible before adding extra pressure to your cardiovascular system.
If you come from a family with a high incidence of cardiovascular disease, you may wish to know what’s going on inside your heart and arteries. An echo can detect potential problems before you develop troubling symptoms.
No matter what your results, we help you with a lifestyle that’s conducive to heart health. We may recommend changes to your diet, such as foregoing processed foods in favor of whole foods. We also advise you on an exercise regimen that emphasizes cardiovascular activity as well as resistance training.
Do you need to know what’s going on in your heart and arteries to help you stay healthy and active for life? Reach out to our helpful team for a heart health consultation or echocardiogram evaluation at 718-208-4816. You can also use our online outreach form.
