Heart attacks can come on without warning, even in a person who appears fit and never had symptoms. The process of coronary artery disease (CAD), which leads to heart attacks, is complex and usually starts early in life. Over a period of years, plaques that accumulate within artery walls narrow passageways and restrict blood supply to the heart. The earlier the signs of heart disease are spotted, the greater the chance of preventing a heart attack. One of the ways of screening the potential risk of heart attack is echocardiogram test.
An echocardiogram is a test that uses ultrasound to evaluate your heart muscle and heart valves.
Normally doctor perform an echocardiogram for these advantages:
- Assess the overall function of your heart
- Determine the presence of many types of heart disease
- Follow the progress of heart valve disease over time
- Evaluate the effectiveness of medical or surgical treatments