What Your Echocardiogram Can Tell You About Heart Health

An echocardiogram, or “echo,” is one of the most powerful tools we have to look inside the heart — in real time, without radiation or invasive procedures. But once your test is complete, you might be wondering what those results actually mean.

Here’s a simple breakdown of what your echocardiogram can reveal about your heart’s structure and function, and why it’s such an important part of maintaining your cardiovascular health.

How Well Your Heart Pumps

Your echocardiogram measures how efficiently your heart pumps blood. The key number here is the ejection fraction (EF) — the percentage of blood the left ventricle pumps out with each beat. The right ventricle pump function is also evaluated during a transthoracic echocardiogram.

• A normal EF is typically 50–70%.

• A lower EF can indicate weakened heart muscle or heart failure.

• A higher EF may be seen in certain conditions like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

This single measurement helps your provider assess overall heart function and guide treatment if necessary.

Valve Health and Function

Your heart has four valves that open and close with each beat to keep blood flowing in the right direction. An echo can show if a valve is:

• Leaking (regurgitation) — when blood flows backward through a valve

• Narrowed (stenosis) — when the valve doesn’t open fully

• Abnormal in structure — due to calcium buildup, prolapse, or congenital changes

Even mild valve issues can be detected early, often before you feel symptoms.

Heart Chamber Size and Wall Thickness

An echocardiogram shows whether your heart’s chambers are enlarged or if the walls have thickened.

• Chamber dilation can occur as a result of some cardiovascular conditions

• Thickened walls or left ventricular hypertrophy may point to long-term pressure overload or hypertrophic conditions.

These findings help your cardiologist understand how your heart is adapting — and whether it’s time for closer follow-up or lifestyle changes.

Fluid Around the Heart or Pressure Changes

Your echo can also detect fluid buildup (pericardial effusion) or increased filling pressures, which can cause shortness of breath or fatigue. Identifying these early allows for quicker treatment and can prevent complications.

Blood Flow Patterns and Pressures

With Doppler echocardiography, we can actually see blood flow moving through the valves and chambers.

• Color Doppler shows the direction and velocity of blood flow.

• Spectral Doppler helps calculate pressure gradients and flow patterns across valves and chambers.

These measurements give a complete picture of how your heart is functioning — from efficiency to resistance to relaxation.

What Happens After Your Echocardiogram

At Echo Imaging Solutions, your images are reviewed and interpreted according to American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) guidelines. A detailed report is sent to your referring provider, who will discuss the findings with you.

Early detection through echocardiography often leads to better outcomes.

At Echo Imaging Solutions, we provide high-quality, echocardiograms with transparent pricing and fast results.