Which is NOT an indication for echocardiography when evaluating cardiac function?

Which is NOT an indication for echocardiography when evaluating cardiac function?

• A. Abnormal heart sounds
• B. Persistent cough
• C. New murmur
• D. Shortness of breath

Answer: (B)

Echocardiography is used to evaluate heart structure and function when there’s clinical evidence suggesting cardiac disease. Abnormal heart sounds or a new murmur point to possible valvular disease or cardiomyopathy, so an ultrasound of the heart helps confirm the diagnosis, assess valve anatomy and severity, and measure chamber sizes and systolic/diastolic function. Shortness of breath raises concern for heart failure or impaired cardiac performance, and echo can quantify ejection fraction, wall motion, and filling pressures to guide management. A persistent cough by itself is not a direct, specific indication for echocardiography. It’s more often related to pulmonary, airway, or other noncardiac causes, unless it occurs alongside signs of heart failure or other cardiac symptoms that would prompt imaging to evaluate cardiac function.

Echocardiography is used to evaluate heart structure and function when there’s clinical evidence suggesting cardiac disease. Abnormal heart sounds or a new murmur point to possible valvular disease or cardiomyopathy, so an ultrasound of the heart helps confirm the diagnosis, assess valve anatomy and severity, and measure chamber sizes and systolic/diastolic function. Shortness of breath raises concern for heart failure or impaired cardiac performance, and echo can quantify ejection fraction, wall motion, and filling pressures to guide management.

A persistent cough by itself is not a direct, specific indication for echocardiography. It’s more often related to pulmonary, airway, or other noncardiac causes, unless it occurs alongside signs of heart failure or other cardiac symptoms that would prompt imaging to evaluate cardiac function.