An echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) is a test that uses high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to create an image of the heart. Doppler test uses sound waves to measure the speed and direction of blood flow. The test is done by a cardiac sonographer who will place a few stick-on patches called electrodes on your chest for EKG tracing during the exam. The examiner will also place a small handheld device (called a transducer) on your chest/abdomen. The ultrasound machine converts the sound waves into pictures. You will be able to see a picture of your beating heart, and you may be able to see/hear the flow of blood. Echocardiographic examinations take 30-45 minutes. It is important to remain still so that the sonographer can obtain the highest quality images. There are no special preparations for this exam and it does not cause any pain/discomfort. There are no known ill effects of the sound waves used during a standard echocardiogram.