WEBVTT FILE

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 "Take a deep breath in...and hold your

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 breath."

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An echocardiogram is a
test that uses sound waves

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to make pictures
of your heart.

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It can check your heart's
size, thickness, and

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pumping ability.

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 "The more common symptoms that we see, which we use

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 an echocardiogram for, are chest discomfort,

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 shortness of breath, losing consciousness,

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 dizziness.

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 It's one of the most versatile tests we have in

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 cardiology.

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Before the test you'll
change into a hospital

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gown.

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Then, you'll
lie on a table.

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A technician will place
small sticky patches

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called electrodes
on your chest.

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Those will be attached
to an electrocardiogram

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machine - also called an ECG
or EKG - which will monitor

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your heartbeat
during the test.

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"One more, little
spot of gel."

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The technician will use
gel and a device called a

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transducer to take
images of your heart.

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As the transducer is moved
back and forth over the

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front and side of your
chest, it sends sound

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waves into the body.

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The sound waves bounce
back to the device and are

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converted into images
that are displayed on a

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monitor.

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You may hear a whooshing
sound during the test.

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That's blood flowing
through your heart.

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 "The technician may ask the patient to either hold

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 their breath or change their position to capture

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 a better angle of the heart."

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 "So, we're all finished."

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The test should take
less than an hour.

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Then you can go home.

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 "So, if your test is negative, which means it

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 came back benign it probably is either not

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 your heart, or your doctor needs to do other testing

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 to see what it is.

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 If the test comes back positive, which means

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 there is a problem with your heart, your doctor

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will then explain to you
what the next step is, and

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 how best to treat it."