Echocardiography uses ultrasound to obtain instant images which can help evaluate the cardiac structure and function. Doctors can assess the cardiac chamber size and gain more insight into the systolic function and whether heart valves are normal. Echocardiograms can also be used to diagnose congenital heart disease, pulmonary hypertension and other diseases.
While echocardiography is convenient and safe, there are still limitations. For example, echocardiography can only show partial cardiac structures and the coronary artery cannot be displayed on the computer screen. In addition, this method is not suitable for overweight individuals or those who suffer from emphysema.
