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"Do You Still Get Annual Echocardiograms?" asks Betty

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: October 3, 2023

I just received a great question from Betty who asks, "Hi Adam, I know you had heart valve surgery over 10 years ago. I'm curious to know if you still get echocardiograms?"

The answer? Yes... Even though it's been nearly 18 years since I had a Ross Procedure performed by Dr. Vaughn Starnes at Keck Medicine of USC, there is one thing I do every, single year.

That's right. I always get an annual echocardiogram. In fact, I just had my yearly echocardiogram last week as you can see and hear below. There's two reasons for this. First, I want to make sure my heart, heart valves and aorta are doing great. Second, Dr. Starnes and Dr. Ram Dandilaya, my cardiologist, both recommend it.

Steve Arriaga (Echocardiogram Technician) and Me

So...

What did Steve Arriaga, the awesome echocardiogram technician at Dr. Dandilaya's office, find during his 20-minute ultrasound of my heart last week.

"As far as I can see," Steve said, "Everything looks good."

Better Safe Than Sorry?

There is no doubt about it. Every time I go in for my annual echocardiogram, I "knock on wood".

"Why?" you might be wondering.

I simply don't want to have another cardiac procedure. Plus, I'm feeling great. That said, I would rather know what might be wrong with my heart to avoid any potential cardiac damage that could erode my life expectancy and my quality of life.

For that reason, I play it very safe not very sorry. I encourage you to do the same thing. If you have been diagnosed with a heart murmur, are in "watchful waiting", or previously had a heart valve procedure, please be sure to get an annual echocardiogram.

Written by Adam Pick - Patient & Website Founder

Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.

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