What is the primary use of an echocardiogram?

The primary use of an echocardiogram is to assess cardiac abnormalities. This non-invasive diagnostic imaging technique utilizes ultrasound waves to create images of the heart's structure and function. By doing so, it allows healthcare providers to evaluate the size, shape, and motion of the heart, identify any abnormal heart valves, measure the heart's chamber volumes, and observe blood flow through the heart. This information is critical for diagnosing various cardiac conditions, such as heart valve disease, cardiomyopathy, heart defects, and other structural abnormalities.

Other options, while related to different areas of health care, do not pertain to the specific capabilities of echocardiograms. For example, evaluating lung function typically involves pulmonary function tests rather than echocardiography. Measuring blood flow in vessels is usually assessed through other techniques like Doppler ultrasound. Detecting pulmonary infections would involve chest imaging or other specific tests directed at the lungs, not echocardiography, which focuses solely on cardiac structures.