Echo Testing

Echo Testing services offered in West Bridgewater, MA

Echo testing provides a quick, noninvasive way to assess your heart’s structure, function, and health. It can quickly identify underlying heart problems and help guide treatment. At Bridgewater Primary Care & Cardiology, LLC, in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, board-certified cardiologist John Terzian, MD, FACC, and the team use echo testing to diagnose cardiovascular conditions, including valve problems, congenital heart disease, and cardiomyopathy. Call Bridgewater Primary Care & Cardiology, LLC, today to schedule an echo testing consultation, or book your appointment online.

Echo Testing Q & A

What is echo testing?

Echo testing, or an echocardiogram, is a noninvasive imaging test that uses ultrasound (high-frequency sound waves) to evaluate your heart’s structure and function.

Often, Dr. Terzian combines echo testing with Doppler ultrasound and other advanced techniques to see how blood flows through your heart’s valves and chambers. This lets him identify underlying health problems that increase your risk of heart attack and stroke.

Which heart problems can echo testing diagnose?

At Bridgewater Primary Care & Cardiology, LLC, Dr. Terzian uses echo testing to diagnose various heart problems, including:

Cardiomyopathy (thickened or enlarged heart walls)
Endocarditis (a heart valve infection)
Heart failure
Heart damage (a blockage of blood supply to the heart)
Congenital heart defects (genetic abnormalities that affect heart function)
Heart valve problems (for example, narrowed heart valves that cut off circulation)
Pericardial disease (problems with the two-layered sac that covers the heart surface)

Sometimes, echo testing shows heart changes that may indicate blood clots, cardiac tumors, and aortic aneurysms (a bulge in the wall of the aorta).

Are there different types of echo testing?

Yes. Dr. Terzian provides several types of echo testing, including:

Two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound

This is the most common type of echo testing. It uses high-frequency sound waves to capture 2D images of your heart muscle. Dr. Terzian stacks these images with a computer program to get a complete picture of your heart’s health.

Three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound

This type of echo testing provides high-quality, three-dimensional images that provide information about how well your heart pumps blood. It also lets Dr. Terzian see your heart from multiple angles, allowing him to make a more accurate diagnosis.

Doppler Ultrasound

This type of echo testing lets Dr. Terzian see how well blood flows through your heart and in what direction. It can be combined with color Doppler techniques to gain even more information about your circulation.

Contrast imaging

During contrast imaging, a dye is injected into a vein in your arm. The dye is visible in your echo testing images and allows Dr. Terzian to see your heart and all of its components in detail.

What type of echo testing is right for me?

The type of echo test that will benefit you depends on your symptoms, the heart condition Dr. Terzian wants to assess, and how detailed the images need to be. After gathering that information, Dr. Terzian develops a personalized testing plan that aligns with your needs.

Call Bridgewater Primary Care & Cardiology, LLC, today to schedule an echo testing appointment, or book your visit online.