Category: cardiology

Maintaining your cardiac health is important to keep up the flow of your overall better health. In this regard, cardiology in Sydney is important not only for professionals but also for those who are concerned about their health and want to live a healthy life every time.
Health problems associated with poor heart health are;

Hypertension what we called high blood pressure

Atherosclerosis is the hardening of the arteries.

Cardiomyopathy disease affects the heart’s ability to pump blood.

Angina chest pain is caused by diminished blood flow to the heart.

A heart attack occurs when blood flow to a section of the heart is blocked.

Stroke heart problems can increase the risk of stroke.

Echo Consultation

An echocardiogram or echo is a graphic sketch of the heart’s movement. Ultrasound or high-frequency sound waves from a handheld wand placed on your chest allows you to see pictures of the heart’s valves chambers during an echo test. It helps the sonographer detect the pumping action of the valves. To assess blood flow across the heart’s valves, echo is often combined with Doppler ultrasound and colour Doppler.

When Echo Consultation is Necessary?

Your cardiologist may recommend an echo consultation in order to;

Assess the overall function of your heart

Determine the presence of many cardiovascular diseases, such as valve disease, myocardial disease, pericardial disease, infective endocarditis, cardiac masses, and congenital heart disease.

To adhere to the progress of valve disease over time, echo consultation is vital

To evaluate the efficacy of your medical or surgical treatments, an echo cardiogram is performed.

What to Expect from Echo Cardiograph

An echocardiogram is a type of ultrasound that does not use radiation or X-ray and carries no known adverse effects. It a non-invasive test that detects your blood flow, heart’s size, shape and movement, function and performance, the strength of muscles/tissue, and congenital defects (from birth)

The test is usually completed within 40-50 minutes.

Your sonographer will ask you to undress to your waist a gown may provide. You will be asked to lie on an examination bed on your left side.

Small metal disks (ECG electrodes) will be attached to your chest, which will monitor your heart rhythm during the test.

Similar to other ultrasound procedures, your cardiac sonographer will apply a cool gel on your skin, and a handheld wand, also known as a transducer, is used to send and receive waves from your heart to generate pictures.

Types of Echocardiogram

Depending upon the information your cardiologist heeds, the type of echocardiogram you are subjected to may vary. The most common type is a transthoracic echocardiogram, which is conducted using an ultrasound wand with gel applied on the outside of the chest, near your heart. Other types are;

Stress echocardiogram

Dobutamnie echocardiogram

Transoesophegeal echocardiogram