A heart ultrasound: what is it for?

An echocardiogram is a test that lets the doctor watch the heart beat live. Using a probe placed on the chest, with a little gel, the cardiologist sends out ultrasound — inaudible sound waves — which come back as an echo and form an image on the screen. This is exactly the principle of the ultrasound used during pregnancy: no X-rays, no radiation.

In Morocco, people often speak of the “إيكو القلب” (heart echo). The test shows the size of the chambers, the thickness and movement of the heart muscle, how the valves are working and the way blood flows inside the heart.

A cardiologist may request a heart ultrasound in many situations, for example: unusual breathlessness, palpitations, a murmur heard on examination, high blood pressure, follow-up after a heart problem, or before certain treatments. The aim is to assess how the heart is working and to look for any abnormality of the valves, the muscle or the heart's outer lining (the pericardium).

It is a common, non-invasive test, often performed during a consultation. It is one of the cardiologist's basic tools, alongside the electrocardiogram.

For the transthoracic ultrasound — the most common — you lie down, usually on your left side, with your chest bare. The doctor applies gel then moves the probe over your chest to look at the heart from different angles. You may be asked to hold your breath for a brief moment or to change position slightly. It is painless; the only sensation is the gel and the probe.

There are other variants depending on the need: the transoesophageal ultrasound (the probe goes through the mouth down to the oesophagus, for very detailed images, with specific preparation) and the stress echocardiogram (performed during exercise). Your cardiologist tells you which one suits your situation.

For the standard transthoracic ultrasound, preparation is minimal: generally no need to fast, and you can take your usual medication unless told otherwise. Plan to wear clothing that is easy to remove at the chest.

For a transoesophageal ultrasound, fasting is most often required, and monitoring is arranged after the test. In every case, the precise instructions given by your cardiologist or the centre are what count.

The transthoracic ultrasound is painless and has no known danger: it uses no X-rays and can be repeated as often as needed. The other forms (through the oesophagus, or under stress) involve specific precautions and monitoring, which the team explains to you beforehand.

This is precisely one of the great strengths of this test: providing a lot of information about the heart, without being invasive in its most common form.