The reason why you are asked to sniff during an echocardiogram is to help with assessing the function of your inferior vena cava or IVC which is a large vein returning blood to your heart.
The technician doing the echocardiogram will ask you to sniff during the echocardiogram and observe how the inferior vena cava collapses when you quickly inhale through your nose.
This allows the technician to estimate the pressure within your right atrium and diagnose potential issues with blood flow.
Sniffing during the echocardiogram also exemplifies the dissociation of intrathoracic and intracardiac pressures in constriction.
Things you should not do before an echocardiogram are eat or drink for at least 4 hours before the echocardiogram.
Before an echocardiogram you should also avoid smoking for 24 hours before the test and avoid caffeine and alcohol for 24 hours before the echocardiogram.
Check with your doctor about any medications that you should stop taking or adjust before the echocardiogram as some medications can interfere with the test results.
You should also avoid any strenuous activity or exercise before the test.
However you can do light activity and light exercise in the hours leading up to the test.
You should also dress in loose and comfortable clothing that does not restrict your chest movements.
And avoid using any lotions or deodratnts on your chest area before the test.
The abnormalities that can be found on an echocardiogram are abnormal heart valves and heart valve problems, heart muscle damage, inflammation or pericarditis, heart murmurs, damage to the heart muscle from a heart attack and congenital heart disease.
An echo can show if your heart valves are opening and closing properly and can also help to diagnose conditions such as stenosis or valve regurgitation.
The reason why they check your stomach during an echocardiogram is to get a much better look and view at your heart from below the diaphragm.
Checking your stomach during an echocardiogram can help provide the doctors a clearer image of certain heart structures which can be difficult to visualize from your chest alone.
Checking your stomach during an echocardiogram can also be useful in assessing conditions like communications between your upper chambers of your heart and inferior vena cava which is a large vein that carries deoxygenated blood from your lower body and abdomen back to your heart's right atrium.
The reason why you can't shower after an echocardiogram is because the heat from the hot shower water can affect your blood pressure and circulation.
This can impact your test results and you should also avoid hot tubs until the next day.
You can shower normally 24 hours after the echocardiogram and remove your dressing if it is still intact and it's not necessary to place another dressing on the site.
You should shower before the echocardiogram as you won't be allowed to shower after the echocardiogram.
They do sedate you for an echocardiogram.
For a transesophageal echocardiogram or TEE you will require sedation through a local anesthesia to relax you and also numb your throat.
You will also be given medication through an IV and a throat spray or gel during the TEE echocardiogram.
For many other echocardiograms you may instead be given a liquid sedative to swallow within 20 minutes to 45 minutes before the echocardiogram test.
When having an echocardiogram you should plan on spending at least 3.5 hours in the hospital for the echocardiogram and will will not be able to drive for 24 hours after the echocardiogram.
You should also not eat anything or drink anything for at least 6 hours before the echocardiogram test.
To stay calm during the echocardiogram you should close your eyes and imagine that the echocardiogram is going smoothly with the results coming back normal.
You can also visualize the medical staff being friendly and supportive throughout the process.
Being able to envision a positive outcome from the echocardiogram can help you ease your fears and put you into a much more happier and optimistic frame of mind.
The echocardiogram often takes between 15 minutes to 60 minutes and you normally are able to go home soon afterwards.