Understanding Normal VS Abnormal Echocardiogram Results

Your heart is the most essential functioning organ of your body, that ensures to keep you alive everyday, maintaining the blood flow in your body by constantly pumping. The least that can be done to make sure that you live a long and healty life is by having medical experts maintain the health of your heart.

Developing an understanding on echocardiograms can turn out to be quite valuable information – Especially if you are a cardiac patient, the information that we are about to share ahead can be very useful for you, as we have made the explanation as simple as possible for you to understand echocardiograms, and the normal vs abnormal results etc.

What Is An Echocardiogram?

An echocardiogram can be defined as the graphical representation of the functioning of a heart, by projecting a real-time visual depiction of the heart’s movement. A handheld,, portable wand-like instrument is used by an experienced heart doctor, that uses high-frequency sound waves and is made to go through the patient’s chest in the duration of the test. These high-frequency spitting sound waves are responsible for generating the imagery of the chambers and valves of a heart, which then allows the cardiologists to evaluate the functioning of the heart.

What Are The Types of Echocardiograms?

Listed below are the few main types of echocardiograms:

• Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE): Being the most commonly conducted type of echocardiogram, it is also referred to as a surface echocardiogram. The expert conducting the echocardiogram places a small probe on the chest and then moves it around to get visuals of a functioning heart. 
• Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE): This type of echocardiogram utilizes the same ultrasound technology, only from a distinct angle. The difference is that probe here is not moved over the chest wall for imagery, instead, it is placed at the end of a tube and moved down the throat all the way to the esophagus, enabling the probe to get a much clearer picture while being so close to the heart, giving out much more in-depth information.
• Stress echocardiogram: This type of echocardiogram is a surface echo that determines the amount of blood flow the heart muscle receives before and immediately after exercising.

What Are Normal vs Abnormal Echocardiogram Ranges?

The results of an echocardiogram are responsible to project the actual real-time images of a heart, if its functionality is normal or abnormal, its pumping strength, etc. The walls of a heart is one of the things that can be seen very clearly during an echocardiogram – according to experts if these walls are measured anything thicker than 1.5cm, they then lie under the abnormal category; which shows the indications for a weak or damaged valves, high blodd pressure, etc.

With an objective to determine if the blood flow is substantial or not, an echocardiogram also shows the pumping function of a heart. Left vent EF – ejection fraction is the amount of blood evacuated from the heart per beat. Cardiac output is how much of the blood volume is pumped out every minute, which is 4.8 to 6.5 liters disease.

What Kind of Information Can You Find on an Echocardiogram Report?

The most common information found in an echocardiogram report includes:

• The reason(s) your provider ordered the test
• The size of the heart chambers and thickness of the heart muscle
• The function of the left and right ventricles (pumping chambers)
• A description of the shape, movement, and function of the heart valves
• A description of other structures that are important for heart function, including the large arteries and veins, the lining of the heart (the pericardium), and any abnormalities, such as blood clots

What To Do When You Find Your Echocardiogram Abnormal?

The first thing that needs to be kept in mind is to avoid getting yourself panicked at any cost. As there is a substantial possibility that your echocardiogram report might reflect minor abnormalities, but they may not have any impact on your health at all. In case of a concern, your healthcare provider might conduct an echocardiogram at regular intervals in order to follow up on these abnormalities.

Make sure to have an in-depth consultation with a trusted healthcare provider, so that you can be guided appropriately in regards to the information your reports reflect, and the consequent testing can be recommended.

– Disclaimer –
This blog is for informational & educational purposes only, and does not intend to substitute any professional medical advice or consultation. For any health related concerns, please consult with your physician, or call 911.