What are the types of echocardiography?

There are three main types of echocardiography: transthoracic, transesophageal, and stress. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is the most commonly used type of echocardiogram and involves a hand-held ultrasound device called a transducer being placed on the chest wall. This form of imaging uses sound waves to create moving pictures that show the size, shape and motion of your heart's chambers and valves in real time. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is performed by placing an endoscope with an attached ultrasound device into your esophagus. As opposed to TTE which provides only limited information about your heart from outside the body, TEE allows for greater detail from inside as it more closely passes through the chest wall allowing for better visualization of structures near or behind it such as blood clots in different parts of the heart muscle. Lastly, stress echocardiogram utilizes physical activity during testing in order to detect blockages within vessels supplying blood to your heart muscle due to coronary artery disease. The test combines two parts: firstly recording images while you’re at rest then again after exercising on a treadmill or stationary bike while monitoring behavior changes within vessels supplying oxygenated blood when put under strain. All three tests allow doctors/physicians diagnose possible issues related to cardiac diseases safely noninvasively thus helping patients maintain their health conditions more effectively!