An echocardiogram, often called an “echo,” is a non-invasive medical test that uses sound waves to create moving images of your heart. Similar to an ultrasound, it focuses specifically on the heart. Healthcare providers use this procedure to examine the heart’s structure and function, helping to diagnose or monitor various heart conditions.
What an Echocardiogram Assesses
An echocardiogram assesses several aspects of heart health. It evaluates the heart’s pumping ability, measured by its ejection fraction, which indicates the percentage of blood pumped out of the main pumping chamber with each beat. The test also assesses the size and thickness of the heart’s four chambers: the two upper atria and the two lower ventricles.
The echo also examines the functionality of the heart’s four valves—aortic, mitral, tricuspid, and pulmonary. These valves regulate the direction of blood flow through the heart, ensuring efficiency. Doppler and color Doppler techniques measure the speed and direction of blood flow through these chambers and across valves. This allows for detecting issues like leaky valves or narrowed openings, which can affect heart performance.
Understanding Normal Echocardiogram Values
For a healthy adult, a normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), which measures the pumping strength of the left ventricle, is typically 55% or higher. A common range is 53-73%. A value between 50% and 54% might be considered borderline low, while values below 49% indicate the heart is not pumping efficiently.
Heart chamber sizes are often indexed to body surface area for comparison across individuals. For example, a normal left atrial volume index (LAVi) is less than 34 mL/m². Normal left ventricular dimensions and right ventricular basal diameter also have specific ranges that vary by sex.
Normal heart valves should open completely and close tightly, preventing backward flow of blood. While a small amount of backward flow, known as mild regurgitation, can be a common and normal finding, significant regurgitation or narrowing (stenosis) requires further evaluation. Blood flow patterns observed during a Doppler echo should be smooth and unidirectional, indicating proper valve function and no significant obstructions within the heart’s chambers.
Factors Influencing Echocardiogram Results
Several non-pathological factors can cause variations in echocardiogram results from typical ranges. An individual’s age can influence heart chamber size and function, with some age-related changes considered normal physiological adaptations. Sex also plays a role, with women often having smaller heart chamber sizes than men, even when adjusted for body size.
Body size, including height and weight, also plays a role, which is why measurements are often indexed or adjusted for body surface area. Athletic conditioning can lead to physiological changes in the heart, often referred to as “athlete’s heart.” These adaptations, such as enlarged heart chambers or increased muscle mass, are normal responses to intense physical activity.
When Echocardiogram Results Are Not Normal
When echocardiogram results fall outside normal ranges, it suggests structural or functional differences in the heart. These findings do not automatically mean severe disease, but they indicate something warrants further attention. For example, enlarged heart chambers, thickened heart walls, or improperly opening or closing heart valves may be observed.
Abnormal wall motion, such as reduced or absent contraction in certain areas, can also be detected. Interpreting these results requires the expertise of a qualified healthcare professional, such as a cardiologist. They will consider the echocardiogram findings in conjunction with your medical history, symptoms, and other diagnostic tests to provide a comprehensive understanding of your heart health and determine any necessary next steps.