Echocardiograms provide important information about how well your heart is functioning. The team at Arundel Medical Group, Inc. conveniently offers on-site echocardiograms, at their primary care practice in Glen Burnie, Maryland. If you’re looking for a primary care team that includes a highly trained echocardiogram technician, call the office or request an appointment online today. They also accept same day walk-ins.
An echocardiogram is a noninvasive test that uses high-frequency sound waves, or ultrasound, to produce images of your heart. This test allows your Arundel Medical Group physician to understand how efficiently your heart is functioning as it pumps blood throughout your body.
Arundel Medical Group’s resident ultrasound technician performs this procedure right in the office, saving you the time and hassle of scheduling a separate appointment. During an echo, the tech places a hand-held wand (transducer) on your chest. Sound waves pass through your skin and bounce (echo) off the tissues of your heart.
Your Arundel Medical Group physician may recommend an echo for a variety of reasons, including:
They may use Doppler ultrasound to evaluate and diagnose the following conditions:
Doppler ultrasound also helps your physician monitor treatments to your blood vessels, such as a stent.
You don’t have to do anything special to prepare for an echocardiogram (often referred to as an echo) test. You should eat, drink, and take your medications as normal. You can wear anything you like, but you will change into a gown before the procedure.
During the test, you lie on an exam table while the echo tech attaches sticky patches to your skin. These are electrodes that detect the electrical activity of your heart. Then, the echo tech applies a gel to the transducer to help the sound waves pass through your skin.
As the echo tech gently moves the transducer back and forth over your chest, you may hear the whooshing sound of your blood flowing.
To schedule your echo test, call Arundel Medical Group Inc., or request an appointment online today.