What a Diagnostic Cardiac Ultrasound Reveals About Your Health

Not every medical problem has obvious physical symptoms.

A diagnostic cardiac ultrasound is a simple and effective medical test that takes a close-up look at your heart and catches potential problems that aren't otherwise apparent.

By analyzing the images available from a diagnostic cardiac ultrasound, Jean Welsh, MD, of Primary & Alternative Medical Center in Silver Spring, Maryland, gets an overall picture of your heart’s current functional capacities.

Find out more about what a diagnostic cardiac ultrasound reveals about your health. Our team is hosting an open house on July 22nd from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Stop by for an in-person consultation, or read on to learn what a cardiac ultrasound involves.

What does a diagnostic cardiac ultrasound do?

A diagnostic cardiac ultrasound is an ultrasound test that assesses your heart through detailed imaging. You might have also heard it being called an echocardiogram.

The quality images make it easy to look at heart markers, including your heart’s:

Size
Shape
Valves
Muscles
Fluid sac

It’s also easy to see the important blood vessels that surround your heart.

What health issues can a diagnostic cardiac ultrasound reveal?

These clear images give a thorough picture of your heart’s health. Your heart is an essential organ, so this also helps us assess your overall health.

What an echocardiogram shows includes:

How well your heart is pumping blood

Your cardiac output, or how your heart pumps blood, is essential information for measuring the overall health and fitness of your heart. A normal result means your heart is working efficiently and getting adequate oxygen and blood to your organs.

A low cardiac output rate puts you at higher risk for cardiac arrest and failure of your other organs.

If you have any blood clots

A diagnostic cardiac ultrasound can detect any blood clots in or near your heart before they become dangerous. When not treated, these clots can cause strokes and pulmonary embolisms.

How well your heart valves are moving blood

We can see how well your heart valves are opening, closing, and moving blood in the correct direction from a diagnostic cardiac ultrasound. Early detection of valve problems prevents you from developing serious issues like breathing problems and heart failure.

Heart sac inflammation

Pericarditis is a heart condition caused by inflammation of the sac of fluid around the heart. This condition is diagnosable via diagnostic cardiac ultrasound and can be relieved with anti-inflammatory medication.

Any past heart attacks

It’s possible to have had a heart attack without knowing it. If you’re unsure if you’ve had a heart attack, we can detect if your heart has any damage from past attacks with a diagnostic cardiac ultrasound.

Defects and tumors in the heart

Congenital defects and benign or cancerous heart tumors can be dangerous if not treated. A diagnostic cardiac ultrasound determines if either of these problems is causing your symptoms.

Effectiveness of a current treatment

A diagnostic cardiac ultrasound also reveals whether treatment for a current heart condition is working. We often order one after a medical procedure or during an ongoing course of treatment.

Following up on a diagnostic cardiac ultrasound

A diagnostic cardiac ultrasound is a painless and noninvasive 30-minute procedure performed by a sonographer. Once completed, it takes a few days to review the images and schedule a follow-up consultation.

Our team reviews the results with you and makes treatment recommendations. These can include further testing, a course of treatment, or a medical procedure.

If you have a past history of heart problems, symptoms of a heart issue, or are getting treatment for a heart condition, a diagnostic cardiac ultrasound might be a good test to get. Contact us to learn more.