MEDICAL EDUCATION·6 min read
Understanding Your Echocardiogram Report
By Dr. Avazbek Ravshanov·May 26, 2026
Article cover image
An echocardiogram (echo) uses ultrasound to create real-time images of the heart's structure and function. Reports can look intimidating at first, but the key numbers follow a consistent pattern.
KEY FACT
Ejection fraction (EF) — the percentage of blood pumped out of the left ventricle with each beat — is normally 55–70%.
The Core Measurements
Beyond ejection fraction, reports typically include chamber sizes, wall thickness, valve function (looking for stenosis or regurgitation), and an estimate of pulmonary artery pressure.
Diastolic Function
Increasingly, reports also comment on diastolic function — how well the heart relaxes and fills between beats — which can be abnormal even when ejection fraction is preserved.
IMPORTANT NOTE
An echo report should always be interpreted by your physician in the context of your symptoms and overall clinical picture, not read in isolation.
When It's Ordered
Echoes are ordered for a wide range of reasons: unexplained shortness of breath, murmur evaluation, monitoring known heart failure, or follow-up after a cardiac event.
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