Echocardiogram and EKGEchocardiogram and EKG

An echocardiogram (or 2D echo) is an ultrasound of the heart.  It is done by putting a small ultrasound probe on the skin on your chest to see the heart, and evaluate the blood flow to look for abnormalities.  It usually takes about 30-60 minutes, and involves taking detailed measurements of the blood flow and movement in the heart.  It is read by a specialized, trained cardiologist.

An EKG (or ECG) is a brief test that only takes a few minutes.  It involves putting some small stickers on the skin on your chest.  The stickers (leads) measure the electrical movement of your heart and record it on a piece of paper.  This is then evaluated by a cardiologist.