Ultrasound of the heart is a safe way to diagnose abnormal changes in the organ, as well as all sorts of defects and pathologies. Doctors call this examination echocardiography. Using ultrasonic waves, you can see the most accurate visual state of the heart on a computer screen. During the examination, one can study in detail the pathological and anatomical features of the organ, as well as nearby structures, including muscles, valves and blood vessels.
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Today, ultrasound of the heart is deservedly considered the most popular way to initially determine the diagnosis of heart disease. The main advantages of this method of examination are:
- the reliability of the information received;
- non-contact, extremely simple verification procedure;
- relative cheapness of the procedure.
Ultrasound is usually used instead of classical radiography and phonocardiography. As a preventive measure, it is advisable to undergo such an examination at least once a year.
Most likely, many girls do not have a clue about how they do an ultrasound of the heart. Women are prescribed this procedure most often when the first alarming symptoms appear during pregnancy.
If you are interested in the features of this examination, then you probably need it too. Do not worry, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. After all, the procedure does not harm the body, does not cause pain, and makes it possible to accurately assess the state of the organ. The examination is completely safe even during the period of bearing a child.
During the procedure, the specialist carefully examines the structure of the heart and blood vessels, and also examines the functioning of the circulatory system.
Signs of heart disease in women
With cardiological defects, the examination can be very difficult. Often, even experienced doctors are not able to determine the diagnosis due to the fact that the disease does not concern the heart, but, for example, the respiratory or nervous system, and maybe the problem is related to the digestive tract. That is why often an examination is prescribed when there is pain in the heart. In women, this symptom is often a symptom of cardiac pathology. So if you encounter this symptom, do not delay the visit to the cardiologist.
Monitoring is necessarily indicated with the appearance of such symptoms of heart disease in women:
- dizziness, weakness, fainting;
- frequent migraines, nausea, accompanied by an increase in pressure;
- coughing and shortness of breath;
- swelling of the body and limbs;
- pain in the chest, in the area under the shoulder blade or on the left side;
- pallor, bluish skin, cold legs and arms;
- a feeling of a strong heartbeat or a sinking heart;
- the appearance of the described symptoms after drinking alcohol;
- heart rhythm disturbance;
- pain in the upper abdomen and in the right hypochondrium, enlarged liver;
- fever accompanied by blueness of the skin, shortness of breath, chest pain, rapid heartbeat;
- the occurrence of noise at the time of auscultation;
- pathological changes in the cardiogram.
Indications for ultrasound
But even if you do not have the described symptoms of heart disease (for women in men, they sometimes differ), you may be shown to conduct an examination in the presence of such diseases:
- rheumatism;
- scleroderma;
- aneurysm;
- acquired and congenital malformations;
- angina pectoris;
- benign and malignant tumors;
- systemic lupus erythematosus;
- hypertension or suspicion of it;
- myocardial infarction suffered in the past;
- myocardial dystrophy;
- rhythm malfunctions.
Thanks to the timely implementation of the procedure, it is possible to identify and prevent the development of many defects. However, most often it is precisely the pain in the heart of women - a symptom that makes you sound the alarm and consult a doctor.
Indications for examination during pregnancy
During the period of bearing a child, a woman may be recommended an ultrasound of the heart under such conditions:
- genetic predisposition to malformations;
- previous miscarriages;
- diabetes;
- taking antibiotics or antiepileptic drugs in the first trimester;
- identification of a large number of antibodies to rubella or the disease itself.
But even if the expectant mother does not have certain indications for diagnosis, it is best to go through an ultrasound scan of the heart to exclude the likelihood of developing pathologies. Indeed, during pregnancy, the load on the body, and especially on the heart, increases significantly.
Survey Methods
Today, there are two options for ultrasound of the heart:
- esophageal;
- transthoracic.
The latter method involves the diagnosis through the outer surface of the chest, and the other through the esophagus. It is the transesophageal method that allows a more detailed study of the state of cardiac tissues and structures from all necessary angles.
How is an ultrasound of the heart in women? In fact, the procedure is practically no different from a similar examination in men.
During ultrasound, the use of functional tests is not excluded. The patient is offered a certain physical load, at the moment or immediately after which the ongoing changes in the structures of the heart are analyzed.
In addition, the diagnosis can be supplemented by dopplerography of the heart. This is what the definition of blood circulation in vessels is called. In addition to blood flow, such a study makes it possible to study the movement of blood inside the heart cavities and suspect any particular type of pathology.
How do women do ultrasound of the heart in a contrasting way? In combination with this technique, the examination is carried out after intravenous administration of a special substance into the bloodstream.
What gives an ultrasound? This procedure makes it possible to get to the smallest vessels, determine their condition, diameter, blood supply, evaluate the effectiveness of tissue metabolism, identify all kinds of neoplasms - all this can not be done during a routine examination.
Features
How do women do ultrasound of the heart? The procedure is carried out by a specialist using a special apparatus on a medical couch in a prone position. A woman should lie down on her back, however, as with any other examinations.
During the procedure, the specialist uses a special gel to create a high-quality transmission between the heart and the ultrasound probe. At this point, you need to relax as much as possible, calm down, refrain from worrying.
How do heart ultrasounds do women? It is worth saying that there is no particular difference between the survey of men and women. If you are the owner of a magnificent bust, a specialist will ask you to slightly raise it to examine the area as close to the organ as possible. On ultrasound of the heart, a woman does not need to remove a bra, since the area will be visible just below the line of underwear.
Having completed the examination, the specialist will print the received information, decrypt it and give an opinion. Usually, the result is decrypted by the same person. The procedure itself can take about 20-40 minutes, depending on the reasons for the appeal and the characteristics of the conduct.
Preparation for ultrasound of the heart in women
Depending on the chosen examination method, there are some features of the preparation. It is best to take the results of a previous ultrasound with you to determine the dynamics.
Transthoracic examination does not require any special preparatory manipulations - you only need a positive mood, peace and relaxation. Indeed, excessive experiences can lead to cardiological changes, for example, increased heart rate. There is before the procedure possible in moderation.
But preparing for transesophageal ultrasound, you should completely refuse food for a couple of hours before the planned event.
Pregnant women have an ultrasound of the heart most often performed transthoracically. True, each situation is individual, and in the presence of certain indications, a transesophageal examination can be prescribed. But be that as it may, believe me, you have nothing to worry about, because ultrasound is an absolutely safe procedure, without the risk of injury.
Among other things, before the diagnosis is:
- give up physical activity;
- refrain from taking invigorating and sedative drugs;
- limit the amount of caffeine consumed.
Informativeness of the survey
What does ultrasound of the heart show in women? At the time of examination of the patient using an ultrasound probe, a specialist may consider:
- state of the organ chambers;
- their parameters;
- integrity;
- diameter and general condition of blood vessels;
- the thickness of the walls of the ventricles and atria;
- condition of valves and their activity;
- direction and volume of blood flow;
- muscle condition at the time of contraction and relaxation;
- the condition of the pericardial sac and the presence or absence of fluid in it.
Thanks to ultrasound diagnostics, many different cardiological pathologies can be detected. There are established norms for the results of examination of women, which are considered impeccable, but the specialist should also take into account the girl’s physique, her age and other features.
Nuances
Echocardiography can be used at any age and condition, it does not have contraindications and side effects, making it considered completely safe.
According to statistics, in Russia more than a million people die from various heart diseases every year. Ultrasound allows you to identify the problem in the early stages, which makes it possible to start effective treatment and lower the risk of complications.
True, it is worth considering that some factors can affect the results of the survey:
- large breast size;
- severe chest deformity;
- bronchial asthma and an impressive smoking history.
What can be revealed
Ultrasound of the heart can detect the following problems:
- mitral canal prolapse;
- impaired myocardial development;
- valve defects;
- myocardial underdevelopment;
- cardiomyopathy;
- fluid in the pericardial sac;
- ischemia;
- aneurysm;
- myocarditis;
- heart attack;
- thrombosis and various neoplasms.
How the results are deciphered
The norm of ultrasound of the heart in women looks like this:
- the volume of the right ventricle is 0.9-2.5 cm;
- the thickness of the interventricular septum is 0.6-1.12 cm;
- the diameter of the aortic orifice is 2-3.7;
- ZLZH thickness - 0.6-1.12 cm;
- LV cavity - 3.51-5.7;
- the amplitude of the movement ZSLZH - 0.9-1.41 cm;
- MOS - 3.5-7.5 l / min;
- SI - 2-4.1 l;
- ejection fraction - 55-60%;
- the mouth of the pulmonary artery - 1.8-2.4;
- its trunk is up to 3 cm;
- blood circulation in the carotid artery - 22 + -5 cm / s;
- there should be no signs of papillary muscle dysfunction, regurgitation, vegetation;
- there should be no fluid in the pericardium.
These indicators are standard, but do not forget that the doctor should also take into account your age, physique and other individual characteristics during decryption.