An echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) is a test that uses high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to create an image of the heart. A 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 or discomfort. The use of sound waves in an echiocardiogram is not known to have any side effects.