What is the primary purpose of an echocardiogram?

The primary purpose of an echocardiogram is to create images of the heart's structure. This diagnostic tool uses ultrasound technology to visualize the heart's chambers, valves, and surrounding structures, providing valuable information about the heart's size, shape, and function. By capturing real-time images, it helps healthcare providers diagnose various heart conditions, evaluate heart function, and guide treatment decisions.

Other methods like measuring blood pressure, assessing lung function, and monitoring cholesterol levels serve different diagnostic purposes and do not provide the detailed structural and functional insights that an echocardiogram offers about the heart itself. Thus, an echocardiogram is essential for evaluating the heart's health and diagnosing conditions such as heart murmurs, valve disorders, and cardiomyopathies.