How often should an echocardiogram be done?

If you have mild valve disease or you have an artificial valve that is working normally, then every three years is good enough.

Are echocardiograms bad for you?

Risks of Echocardiogram Intracardiac testing carries the same low risk for bleeding, heart attack, and stroke as an angiogram performed during cardiac catheterization. A transesophageal echocardiogram can include a bad reaction to the sedative and cause a sore throat or (rarely) a minor throat injury.

How often should you check your heart?

It is important for everyone to start getting heart screenings by the time they are about 20 years of age. It is recommended that they then come back for additional screenings every two to four years.

How much is a echocardiogram?

An echocardiogram can cost you a lot. A standard echocardiogram and TEE can each cost $2,000 or more. If you do not have health insurance, you may have to pay the whole cost yourself. And even if you have insurance, you probably have a co-pay. This can be as much as half the cost of the test.

Are echocardiograms 100 accurate?

An echocardiogram gives us accurate information on the pumping function of the heart. The echocardiogram will be used to calculate the ejection fraction of the heart, which is the percentage of blood that the heart pumps out with each beat. Normal ejection fraction is 50-60\%.

How do echocardiograms work?

How does it work? Echocardiography uses high-frequency sound waves (also called ultrasound) that can provide a moving picture of your heart. The sound waves are sent through the body with a device called a transducer. The sound waves bounce off of the heart and return to the transducer as echoes.

Do you need an echocardiogram every year?

A test called an echocardio­gram can show how serious the problem is and if it is getting worse. But if your valve disease is mild, and it is not causing any symptoms, you probably don’t need to have the test every year. Echocardiograms show pictures of the heart valves. The heart has four chambers and four valves.

Is it safe for a child to have an echocardiogram?

Even though sedated echocardiograms are very safe, close monitoring of heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen is performed while your child is asleep. When your child wakes up, he or she may have poor balance (may last for more than an hour) and should be watched closely.

What happens if an echocardiogram does not show enough?

An echocardiogram could lead to other tests. A standard echocardiogram is painless, safe, and does not expose you to radiation. If the test doesn’t show enough images of your heart, though, your doctor might order another procedure, called a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE).

When do you need an echocardiogram for a heart murmur?

Your doctor will likely order an echocardiogram if: Your heart murmur is fairly strong. Your doctor finds signs that your disease is getting worse, such as a change in the murmur. You develop symptoms of heart valve disease.