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.