Things That Will Alter an Echocardiogram Result

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  An echocardiogram uses ultrasound waves to produce an image of the heart muscle and the heart's valves for diagnostic purposes. It is one of the most commonly used tests to diagnose diseases and disorders of the heart. The ultrasound shows the shape, movement and size of the heart and its valves; it also illustrates the flow of blood through the heart. Because of its illustrative properties, an echocardiogram is particularly effective in bringing to light physical heart abnormalities that other tests cannot catch.
  
  

Mitral Valve Prolapse

• Mitral Valve Prolapse occurs when the mitral valve does not function properly. According to Medic8, the mitral valve controls the flow of blood between the two chambers on the left side of the heart: the left atrium and the left ventricle. A properly functioning mitral valve allows blood to flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle, but not the other way. In a malfunctioning mitral valve, the flaps of the valve are floppy. This floppiness can be seen on the echocardiogram and can occasionally cause blood to leak the wrong way through the valve, which may cause palpitations, shortness of breath or chest pain.
  
  

Enlarged Heart

• An echocardiogram is excellent for diagnosing an enlarged heart. The normal size of a human heart is approximately the size of a clenched fist, and any increase in size beyond that can be cause for concern. According to the American Heart Association, hypertrophy refers to the enlargement of an organ due to an increase in cell size, which may be caused by a thickening of the heart muscle because of increased workload. This can result from heart disease or high blood pressure. Echocardiograms can also detect enlarged ventricles or a dilation of the heart due to damage that causes the muscle to weaken.
  
  

Hole in the Heart

• A hole in the heart is a congenital heart defect that can change the normal flow of blood through the heart. Some babies are born with a hole in the septum, which prevents mixing of blood between the two sides of the heart, or in a ventricle. A hole in the heart can cause oxygen-rich blood to mix with oxygen-poor blood and cause the oxygen-rich blood to be pumped through the lungs a second time. A heart murmur can indicate a hole in the heart, and further testing using an echocardiogram can determine the number, severity and location of any possible holes.