The Heart
The heart is a hollow muscular organ which is the pump of the circulatory system. It consists of two upper chambers (atria), and two lower chambers (ventricles). There are also four specialized valves that prevent the backflow of blood.
Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram is a non-invasive, painless method of visualizing the structures of the heart and producing a graphic record for analysis.
Some of the valuable information that can be obtained include:
- The size and shape of the heart, and the size, thickness, and movement of the heart’s walls.
- If the heart is moving properly.
- If the heart valves are too narrow.
- If the heart valves are working correctly.
- If blood is leaking backward through the heart valves (regurgitation).
- If there is a tumor or infectious growth around the heart valves.
- Blood clots in the chambers of the heart.
- Problems with the outer lining of the heart (the pericardium).
- Problems with the large blood vessels that enter and leave the heart.
- Abnormal holes between the chambers of the heart.
Among the most important pieces of information obtained during an echocardiogram are the ejection fraction, stroke volume, and cardiac output. Ejection fraction refers to the percentage of blood that is pumped out of a filled ventricle with each heartbeat, stroke volume refers to the amount of blood put out by the left ventricle of the heart in one contraction, and the volume of blood pumped by the heart in one minute is referred to as cardiac output.
Ejection fraction – Ejection fraction is a measurement, expressed as a percentage, of how much blood the left ventricle pumps out with each contraction. An ejection fraction of 70% means that 70% of the total amount of blood in the left ventricle is pushed out with each heartbeat. A normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) for adults over 20 years of age is 53-73%. Results lower then 53% are indicative of heart problems, and a result of under 40% is indicative of heart failure.
Cardiac output – As mentioned above, cardiac output is the term that describes the amount of blood the heart pumps each minute. The normal range for adult cardiac output is about 4 to 8 liters of blood per minute (L/min), but it can vary from person to person depending on size and other factors.
Stroke volume – stroke volume is the volume of blood pumped out of the left ventricle of the heart during one cardiac contraction. The normal range for adults is 50 to 100 ml.
If you have experienced any symptoms of heart disease—such as chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeats, or heart palpitations (unusually strong heartbeats) cardiac imaging is strongly recommended.
The echocardiogram is a safe, painless, non-invasive method of ruling out or discovering the presence of disease using ultrasound. In an ultrasound screening, a technician uses a small probe called a transducer and gel placed directly on the skin of the chest. High-frequency sound waves travel from the probe through the gel and into the body. The probe collects the sounds that bounce back, and a computer uses those sound waves to create an image. Your results will be sent to you and you are encouraged to share them with your physician. If any abnormalities are detected, you can expect that your physician will refer you to a cardiologist. New medications may be prescribed, and lifestyle changes involving diet and physical activity will be recommended. As with all medical problems, early detection and intervention is vital to obtaining a positive outcome.
If you have experienced any of the cardiac symptoms mentioned above, please have your cardiac imaging done as soon as possible.