An echocardiogram — often called an “echo” — is an ultrasound of the heart. It shows the heart’s size, how strongly it pumps, how the valves open and close, and whether fluid or other abnormalities are present. There is no radiation involved.
Here is what happens: you lie on your side while a technologist places a small probe with gel on your chest and moves it to capture images. You may be asked to breathe in certain ways or briefly hold your breath. The test typically takes 30 to 40 minutes, is not painful, and you can return to normal activities immediately afterward. A cardiologist then reviews the images and sends a report to your doctor.
An echo is one of the most informative noninvasive tools we have — it often answers in half an hour what would otherwise take weeks of guesswork.
Further reading: Mayo Clinic on echocardiograms