Three Conditions That Warrant An Echocardiogram

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Are you feeling any chest pain or have shortness of breath? Have you been suffering for an extended period? If so, it would help if you could visit your doctor for a further checkup. The physician may recommend an echocardiogram, a specialized non-invasive test that allows assessment of the heart. At this juncture, the physician may see the images of your heart and its inner workings to assess and identify any impending health risks or exposed infections. Performing an echocardiogram allows your doctor to track any associated heart problems. Here are three health conditions that may warrant an echocardiogram

Heart Attack

Also known as myocardial infarction, it is an acute coronary syndrome associated with shortened blood flow to the heart. If you are suffering from this condition, you may experience discomfort, chest pain, indigestion, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and feeling fatigued. Thus, if you feel discomfort, restlessness, and developing chest pain, it is advisable to seek medical help. Depending on your age, sex, or previous medical conditions at the hospital, your doctor may recommend an echocardiogram test to prompt a diagnosis. Ultimately, through a transducer, the physician may be able to tell you whether you have been experiencing a heart attack. As such, they may offer you thrombolytic medicines to block the coronary arteries reducing the risk. 

Stroke

Suppose one of your family members is exhibiting numbness of the face, arms, and legs, may have trouble speaking and walking, or has seizures; please consider calling 911 immediately. The patient may be suffering from any stroke, including a transient, ischemic, or hemorrhagic stroke. Thus, after you reach the hospital, the doctor will conduct transthoracic echocardiography to help manage the stroke. The doctor understands that an echocardiogram will give them complete information on the patient's thromboembolic risk. This allows them to understand better what may have caused the stroke and how to manage the symptoms. 

Congenital Heart Defects in Children

Soon after birth, if your infant is exhibiting any growth delays and color changes on their fingernails, lips, and tongue, the attending health provider should conduct an echocardiogram examination immediately. Since it is a non-invasive test, it will allow the physician to diagnose whether the baby has a congenital heart defect that may ultimately ruin their health and wellbeing. In under one hour, the physician may locate any irregular heart rhythms and offer the infant congenital heart medications such as diuretics or heart rhythm drugs to manage the symptoms. If the defect is progressive, the doctor may recommend heart surgery to repair the defect.


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