Your doctor may suggest an echocardiogram to: Check for problems with the valves or chambers of your heart. Check if heart problems are the cause of symptoms such as shortness of breath or chest pain. Detect congenital heart defects before birth (fetal echocardiogram)

How serious is an echocardiogram?

A standard echocardiogram is painless, safe, and does not expose you to radiation. If the test doesn't show enough images of your heart, though, your doctor might order another procedure, called a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE).

What an echocardiogram can detect?

Echo can detect possible blood clots inside the heart, fluid buildup in the pericardium (the sac around the heart), and problems with the aorta. The aorta is the main artery that carries oxygen-rich blood from your heart to your body. Doctors also use echo to detect heart problems in infants and children.