Why You Might Be Scheduled In For An Echocardiogram
If you have never done stress testing before or had any sort of dealing with echocardiography, then it might be confusing the first time you get scheduled in for one. This is a very safe procedure that has a lot of controls embedded into it so that nothing will go wrong. It is simply a test that uses an ultrasound of your heart and surrounding veins to see how they respond to exercise. Here is a quick explanation as to why you might have had an echocardiograph scheduled and what to expect on the day you go in for it.
Why Do I Need Echocardiography?
Echocardiography is a very useful tool that provides real-world information to your doctors, rather than relying on your own explanation of events. Trying to let doctors know how your heart feels or what you think is wrong with your heart is very hard to do, which doctors realize, as most people have next to no medical training. Stress testing is a way for your doctor to get an accurate read of your heart and cardiovascular system to get a better sense of what you were trying to describe. It allows them to see how your heart performs when under stress (hence the name) and gives them a clear overview of what potential dangers your body is facing.
What Happens During The Stress Testing?
During the actual stress test, you will be put on a cardio-specific piece of exercise equipment, normally either a stationary bike or a treadmill. Before you begin, you will be hooked up to all the necessary machines, with tiny little patches that you have to be careful to not knock off (although this is quite easy). Then your doctor will simply ask for you to run or pedal until you feel tired. They may increase the speed if they find you are not reaching exhaustion as expected, but they will let you know about this before they do it.
What Happens After?
Once you are finished and the doctor has all the information recorded they will complete the test with an ultrasound of your heart. This is then compared to the information they have already got and helps put together a very clear picture about your cardiovascular health and whether there are any red flags to be concerned about. If you have any issues at all during the test, make sure to speak up! Do not keep going if you feel sick or lightheaded.
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