Ultrasound Testing

What is ultrasound testing?

Ultrasound testing is a noninvasive and painless diagnostic imaging tool that generates images of the inside of your body using soundwaves. 

During ultrasound testing, your ultrasound technician places a transducer over the body part being examined. The transducer emits soundwaves into your body, which bounce off the organs and back to the transducer, which transmit to a computer that processes the information and creates images on a computer monitor. 

Am I a good candidate for ultrasound testing?

When you visit the Heart Care Center of Northwest Houston with concerns about heart or vascular health, an expert cardiologist performs an in-depth clinical exam to formulate a diagnosis. 

They may recommend ultrasound testing to confirm or rule out:

• Heart disease
• Atrial fibrillation
• Venous insufficiency
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Coronary artery disease (CAD)

Heart Care Center of Northwest Houston may also consider you a good candidate for ultrasound testing to help determine the underlying cause of your chest pain or shortness of breath.

The cardiologists also perform ultrasound testing to assess stroke risk. 

What are the types of ultrasound testing?

Heart Care Center of Northwest Houston is devoted to optimizing patient health and offers many types of ultrasound testing. The types of ultrasound testing available onsite include:

Carotid ultrasound testing

Carotid ultrasound testing creates pictures of the insides of your carotid arteries, which are the main arteries that supply oxygen-rich blood to your brain. 

The purpose of the carotid ultrasound is to confirm or rule out carotid artery disease, which is the buildup of plaque along the artery walls and a risk factor for stroke.

Echocardiogram

An echocardiogram or echocardiography is an ultrasound test that takes moving pictures of the heart. The test allows your cardiologist to evaluate the size and shape of your heart, as well as see how well your heart is working.

Heart Care Center of Northwest Houston also performs stress echocardiogram, which assesses heart function during physical activity. 

Arterial and venous ultrasound

An arterial and venous ultrasound or vascular ultrasound uses soundwave technology to provide pictures of your veins and arteries. 

During an arterial and venous ultrasound, your provider at Heart Care Center of Northwest Houston may also conduct a Doppler ultrasound. During this special ultrasound test, your provider evaluates blood flow through your blood vessels, including the major arteries and veins in your abdomen, arms, legs, neck, and head. 

Venous reflux studies

During a venous reflux study, your provider uses ultrasound technology to assess the veins in your legs to confirm or rule out venous insufficiency. 

To schedule a consultation with a cardiologist at Heart Care Center of Northwest Houston, call the office or request an appointment using the online booking tool.