An echocardiogram (Echo) is one of the most important heart tests used to detect problems early and protect your long-term health. Using painless sound waves, an Echo shows how your heart chambers, valves, and blood flow are working in real time. In this guide, we break down the different types of echocardiograms, why doctors order them, how patients should prepare, and what actually happens during the procedure. We also explain the risks, complications, and warning signs doctors look for. If yo

Echocardiography, also known as an echo or cardiac ultrasound, uses sound waves to examine the heart by passing through the chest and reflecting off the heart's structures. This echo provides vital information, which is then analyzed by a computer. Dr. Christos Mihos, Director of the Echocardiography Laboratory at Mount Sinai’s Division of Cardiology, explains how he uses this non-invasive procedure to assess patients’ heart health and create a personalized rehabilitation plan to restore both he