ECG vs. Echocardiogram: Key Differences and Uses Explained
Let's understand the difference between ECG and Echocardiogram by Dr. Vivek Kumar, a prominent cardiologist in Delhi-NCR. When understanding the heart tests to check the heart problem, many people confuse ECG (Electrocardiogram) with ECHO (Echocardiogram). While both tests are crucial in cardiology, they serve different purposes.
In the following blog will discuss both one by one and understand the difference between ECG and Echocardiogram popularly known as ECHO.
What is an ECG?
ECGs are a test that records your heart’s electrical activity, including the
rate and rhythm. ECGs are quick and painless diagnostic tests that can
provide great insight into the condition of your heart.
During an ECG, sticky patches called electrodes are attached to your arms,
legs, and chest. These electrodes detect the electrical impulses of your
heart and feed them back into the ECG machine. This then translates the
impulses into waves that can be seen on the screen.
Types of ECG
There are various types of ECG that healthcare professionals can perform. This includes:
- ECG – you’ll lie still on a bed while the electrodes detect the impulses and create the results.
- Portable ECG – the electrodes will be applied to your chest as usual. However, they’re attached to a portable ECG machine on a belt around your waist. You’ll be given a set amount of time you need to wear it (up to seven days) before returning to the hospital or clinic and giving it back.
- Exercise ECG – sometimes called a ‘stress test’, this test involves wearing the electrodes while you perform exercises such as walking on a treadmill or riding an exercise bike. This provides detailed information on how your heart functions when under stress.
Your doctor will normally recommend an ECG if they think you may have problems with how fast or slow your heart beats or symptoms of coronary artery disease. You may also have one if you’ve been diagnosed with a heart condition or if you take certain medicines.
What is an echocardiogram?
An echocardiogram is a cardiological diagnostic test that uses sound waves to create detailed images of your heart and nearby blood vessels. The images show how blood moves through your heart chambers and valves.
This test is a type of ultrasound scan that uses a probe to send out high-frequency sound waves that create ‘echoes’ when they bounce off the inside parts of your body. These echoes are then detected by the probe and transformed into a moving image on a monitor.
Types of echocardiogram
- There are different types of echocardiogram but the most common is a transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE).
- For a TTE, you’ll need to remove any clothing from your upper half before lying down on a bed. Next, a gel will be applied to your chest and the ultrasound probe will be moved across your chest.
- You can also undergo what’s known as a stress echocardiogram, where the examination is carried out just after a period of exercise such as using a treadmill.
- Another type of echocardiogram involves injecting a contrast dye into your bloodstream beforehand. This contrast dye then helps to generate better images of your heart.
- Your doctor may advise you to have an echocardiogram if they believe you may have a problem with your heart such as cardiomyopathy (thickened or enlarged walls of the heart), damage from a heart attack, or any unexplained cardiovascular symptoms.
Benefits of an ECG
ECGs show a wide range of different aspects of your heart and provide a clear picture of its current health. For example, an ECG can show:
- Your heart rate: ECGs can diagnose a heart rate that is too slow (bradycardia) or too fast (tachycardia).
- Your heart rhythm: The time between each heartbeat shows the rhythm of your heart and an ECG can identify irregular heartbeats called arrhythmias.
- Heart attacks: ECGs can diagnose a current or previous heart attack and determine which part of your heart may be damaged.
- The blood and oxygen supply to the heart: Having an ECG while you are experiencing chest pain can determine if reduced blood flow to your heart is the underlying cause.
Having an ECG can offer several other benefits as well. For example, it’s a quick test that’s completely painless, non-invasive and causes no lasting effects
Benefits of an echocardiogram
Echocardiograms are a powerful diagnostic
tool that are generally completely painless and cause no long-term side
effects.
Like an ECG, they can also offer many benefits and show various aspects of
your cardiovascular health.
An echocardiogram can show:
- Changes in heart size: Thickened walls or enlarged heart chambers can be easily seen on an echocardiogram.
- Heart pumping strength: The images of an echocardiogram can show how much blood pumps out of your heart chambers with each beat.
- Heart muscle damage: Echocardiograms can identify any damage to the walls of your heart.
- Heart valve disorders: Having an echocardiogram will show how your heart valves open and close, helping to detect leaky valves or disorders like heart valve regurgitation.
- Congenital heart defects: Changes in the structure of the heart and valves can be seen and monitored with the help of an echocardiogram.
What are the differences between an ECG and an echocardiogram?
Although ECGs and echocardiograms both assess your heart health, there are quite a few differences between them. From their duration to their preparation and what they can be used to detect, there are many differences between these two important cardiovascular tests.
To make it simple, here’s a table we’ve created to easily show the differences between the two.
| Type of test | How it’s performed | What it can show | What it’s used for | Duration | Preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Echocardiogram | Uses electrodes attached to your chest | Abnormalities based on the electrical impulses of your heart | Routine check-ups, diagnosing arrhythmias, and monitoring heart health | 5 – 10 minutes | None |
| ECG | Uses an ultrasound probe that’s moved over your chest | Abnormalities based on the anatomy and structure of your heart | Diagnose and evaluate structural problems and valve function | Abnormalities based on the anatomy and structure of your heart | 15 – 30 minutes |
| Potential fasting |
What can an echocardiogram show that an ECG cannot?
ECGs, while important heart tests, are normally used to indicate a possible health concern and cannot be used to determine information about the function of your heart based on its structure and anatomy.
Echocardiograms can reveal detailed information about the anatomy and structure of your heart, helping to diagnose conditions that are not visible in an ECG.
Book an appointment with an Expert Cardiologist
Dr Vivek Kumar is counted among the finest heart doctors in Delhi-NCR. He holds the esteemed position of Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiology & Cardiac Electrophysiology at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, SaritaVihar, New Delhi, and is widely recognized as a skilled cardiologist. While echocardiograms and ECGs can offer you with correct information approximately your cardiovascular fitness, their use will depend upon your specific wishes.
These assessments offer distinct views of your coronary heart fitness, and they may on occasion be used at the side of each other to either affirm or rule out a prognosis.
If you’re worried about your cardiovascular health or want to prioritize your coronary heart, get in touch with us. We can assess ECGs and echocardiograms to help your well-being and get to the bottom of your symptoms via our proactive cardiovascular health management.
