Introduction

An echocardiogram, or "echo", is a scan used tolook atthe heart and nearby blood vessels. It's a type of Ultrasound scan , which means a small probe is used to send out high-frequency sound waves thatcreate echoeswhen they bounce off different parts of the body. Theseechoes are picked up by the probe and turned into a moving image that's displayedon a monitor while the scan is carried out. An echocardiogram may be requested by a heart specialist (cardiologist) or any doctor who thinks you might have a problem with your heart, including your GP. The test will usually be carried out at a hospital or clinic by a cardiologist or a trained specialist called a cardiac physiologist. Although it has a similar name, an echocardiogram isn't the same as an electrocardiogram (ECG) , which is a test used to check your heart's rhythm and electrical activity.