An echocardiogram utilized sound waves to generate your heart images. This popular test enables your doctor to examine your heart beating and pumping blood. Your doctor can easily use the images derived from an echocardiogram to analyze any probable heart disease. Depending on the information needed by your doctor, he/she can ask you to have one or the other types of echocardiograms. There are basically three types of echocardiogram that you should know about:

Echocardiogram cost

The cost of echocardiogram can range from 1800 dollars to 2000 dollars and it mainly depends upon the type of technology being used. If you never have health coverage, you may have to pay the entire cost yourself.

Why it's done

Your doctor may suggest an echocardiogram for a number of purposes:

· If the doctor needs to examine issues related to the valves or chambers of your heart

· If he/she needs to examine if heart problems are causing symptoms like shortness of breath or chest pain

· To identify congenital heart defects prior to birth also known as a fetal echocardiogram

Types of Echocardiogram

Transthoracic echocardiogram

· A technician spreads a certain type of gel on a device called a transducer.

· Then he/she presses the transducer against your skin firmly, directing an ultrasound beam straight through the chest to the heart.

· The transducer records the sound wave that echoes from the heart.

· At last, a computer is used to convert the echoes into mobile images on a monitor.

Transesophageal echocardiogram

· As a first stage, the throat of the patient will be numbed, and the patient will be given certain medications to relax completely.

· A flexible tube that contains a transducer is guided through the throat and into the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach also known as the esophagus.

· The transducer then records the sound wave that echoes from the heart.

· A computer then converts the echoes into dynamic images of the heart.

Stress echocardiogram

The radiologist will take ultrasound images of the heart before and instantly after you walk on a treadmill or do any other physical activity such as riding a stationary bike.

What is the cost of CBC?

The CBC cost differs greatly and can range from 10 dollars to nearly 2700 dollars. It mainly depends on the type of insurance you may have and if or not you have the insurance coverage.