Why Do I Need an Echocardiogram?

Heart problems often hide behind normal-seeming symptoms such as fatigue or mild shortness of breath. You might feel fine during your regular activities, yet your heart is struggling in ways that only specialized imaging can detect.

At Advanced Cardiovascular Care, Inc., in Riverside, California, board-certified cardiologist Syed W. Bokhari, MD, FACC, FSVM, offers in-office echocardiograms to diagnose heart conditions and monitor treatment progress without requiring separate imaging appointments.

This test sees what blood tests and EKGs miss

Electrocardiograms (EKGs) detect electrical activity, and blood tests measure cardiac enzymes. Echocardiograms show the actual physical structure and your heart function. 

This imaging study creates real-time pictures of your heart chambers, valves, and surrounding structures using ultrasound technology.

The ultrasound images reveal how well your left ventricle contracts to pump blood throughout your body. Poor left ventricular function often means heart muscle damage from conditions like heart attacks, high blood pressure, or cardiomyopathy.

Dr. Bokhari analyzes these digitalized images to measure how efficiently your heart pumps and to identify structural problems that affect your cardiovascular health.

Signs you might need an echocardiogram

Dr. Bokhari typically orders an echocardiogram when you experience:

• Unexplained shortness of breath during usual activities
• Chest pain that feels different from typical muscle strain
• Heart murmurs detected during physical examination
• Irregular heartbeat patterns discovered on EKG
• Swelling in your legs, ankles, or feet
• Unusual fatigue or getting tired easily 

These studies also track known heart conditions over time. If you already have a heart failure diagnosis, you may need periodic echocardiograms to see how well your treatment is working.

What the test is like

An echocardiogram takes 30-60 minutes and isn’t painful. You lie on an exam table while a technician puts gel on your chest and moves a small device over areas of your heart.

The device sends sound waves through your chest to create pictures of your heart on a screen. You might hear whooshing sounds during the test; these are the normal sounds of blood flowing through your heart.

Dr. Bokhari may recommend different types of echocardiograms based on what he’s checking:

• Standard echocardiogram on your chest
• Stress echocardiogram with exercise or medication
• Doppler echocardiogram for blood flow patterns 

You can return to your usual activities right after the test. The gel wipes off easily, and you can drive home or return to work without any restrictions.

Get results during your visit in Riverside, California

Having the test done in our office eliminates delays. Dr. Bokhari can review results right away and adjust your treatment plan during the same visit.

Echocardiograms provide essential information that guides your cardiac treatment decisions and allows Dr. Bokhari to monitor your response to therapy.

Schedule a consultation with Dr. Bokhari today to determine whether an echocardiogram would benefit your heart health. Call Advanced Cardiovascular Care, Inc. or book an appointment online for comprehensive cardiac assessment.