Max Heart Health / Beverly Hills
Echocardiogram (Heart Ultrasound)
An echocardiogram uses ultrasound to create moving images of your heart. It uses no radiation. Echocardiograms are performed in our Beverly Hills office and, when needed, at home during a house call. Dr. Daniel Yazdi is board certified in echocardiography.
01 / Echocardiogram
What an echo shows
- How strongly the heart muscle pumps (ejection fraction)
- How well the heart relaxes and fills
- The size and wall thickness of each chamber
- How the four valves open and close, including leaks (regurgitation) and narrowing (stenosis)
- The size of the aorta near the heart, and fluid around the heart
02 / Echocardiogram
When it's recommended
Dr. Yazdi may suggest an echocardiogram for:
- A new heart murmur
- Shortness of breath, swelling, or reduced exercise tolerance
- Palpitations or an abnormal EKG
- High blood pressure, to look for its effects on the heart
- Known or suspected heart failure, valve disease or cardiomyopathy
- A family history of inherited heart muscle conditions
- Athletes, to help distinguish normal "athlete's heart" changes from conditions that need attention
03 / Echocardiogram
What to expect
During a standard (transthoracic) echo, you lie on an exam table while a gel-covered probe is moved across your chest.
04 / Echocardiogram
Part of a bigger picture
An echo is most valuable when it's interpreted alongside your symptoms, EKG, labs and history. At Max Heart Health, you review the results with Dr. Yazdi, who connects them to your overall plan. That plan may also involve carotid ultrasound or stress testing in our office, or a referral for coronary CT when appropriate.
05 / Echocardiogram
Stress echocardiogram
We also offer stress echocardiograms in the office. A stress echo compares images taken at rest and right after exercise, to see how the heart muscle responds when it has to work harder. It is often used to evaluate chest discomfort or exercise symptoms.
06 / Echocardiogram
Common questions
What happens during an echo? A gel-covered probe is moved across your chest to obtain images.
Is an echo the same as an EKG? No. An EKG records the heart's electrical activity, while an echo shows its structure and motion. They complement each other.