What to Expect During Your Echocardiogram

Being told you need a heart test can feel worrying — but an echocardiogram is one of the gentlest, most routine tests in cardiology. If your doctor has ordered an "echo," here's exactly what to expect, so you can walk in feeling calm and prepared.

What is an echocardiogram?

An echocardiogram is an ultrasound of your heart. It uses harmless sound waves — the same safe technology used to take pictures of babies before they're born — to create moving images of your heart as it beats. There are no needles, no dyes, and no radiation involved. It simply lets your care team see how your heart's chambers, valves, and walls are working.

Step by step

When you arrive, you'll be asked to change into a gown from the waist up and lie on your side on a comfortable exam bed. A technologist (called a sonographer) will place a small amount of warm gel on your chest — this helps the images come through clearly. They'll then move a smooth, handheld device called a transducer across your chest to capture pictures from different angles. You may hear a whooshing sound at times; that's simply the sound of blood moving through your heart, and it's completely normal.

Will it hurt?

No. Most people find an echocardiogram painless and even interesting — many enjoy watching their own heart on the screen. You might feel light pressure from the transducer, but that's all.

How long does it take?

Most echocardiograms take about 30 to 45 minutes. Afterward, you can wipe off the gel, get dressed, and go about your day right away — there's no downtime.

Getting your results

Your images are reviewed by our cardiologist, who then sends a report to your referring doctor. Together, you'll discuss what the results mean and any next steps.

The echocardiogram is the most common test we perform at Chatham Cardiac Care, and our team does them every day. If you have an echo coming up and still have questions, call us at +1 519-397-1790 — we're always happy to put your mind at ease.