Table 1 Clinical situations when the echocardiography is recommended in the evaluation and treatment of arterial hypertension

Heart failure is suspected

-Symptoms: exertional dyspnea, orthopnea, generalized edema, etc.

-Abnormal physical examination: cardiac murmurs, pretibial pitting edema, etc.

-Abnormal ECG results: left ventricular hypertrophy, left atrial enlargement, left bundle branch block, pathologic Q waves, poor R progression, atrial fibrillation etc.

-Abnormal chest X-ray findings: cardiomegaly, pulmonary edema, pleural effusion, etc.

Structural heart disease is suspected

-Symptoms: exertional dyspnea, orthopnea, etc.

-Abnormal physical examination: cardiac murmurs, pretibial pitting edema, etc.

-Abnormal ECG results: left ventricular hypertrophy, right ventricular hypertrophy, left atrial enlargement, right atrial enlargement, etc.

-Abnormal chest X-ray findings: cardiomegaly, pulmonary edema, pleural effusion, etc.

Ischemic heart disease is suspected

-Symptoms: typical chest pain, exertional dyspnea, etc.

-Abnormal ECG results: significant ST changes, pathologic Q wave, etc.

Refining cardiovascular risk