A. ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY is the "use of ultrasonic energy for diagnostic evaluation of the heart and vasculature". (RADIOLOGY-Diagnosis-Imaging-Intervention, Taveras and Ferrucci)
Echocardiography was developed about 35 years ago. Simply put, it is an ultrasound examination of the heart. It is a safe, non-invasive, fairly cost-effective method of examining the heart and allows for description of the heart chambers, vessels leading to and from the heart, the valves within the heart and more.
It doesn't hurt, it takes under 1/2 an hour and it gives very useful information.
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