Vascular ultrasound is a diagnostic imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of blood vessels. It can examine various systems in the human body, including the heart and brain. Vascular ultrasound has been around for more than 20 years, but recent advances have made it even better at revealing blood flow problems that may not show up on other types of scans. This article will explore how vascular ultrasounds work and what they can diagnose.
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What is the Procedure of Vascular Ultrasound?
During a vascular ultrasound, your Brooksville vascular ultrasound doctor will insert an instrument called a transducer into different parts of your body and move it around. The sound waves that come out of this device bounce off internal tissues and create images on the screen.
When examining blood vessels closely, it can be challenging to see what’s going on. Ultrasound waves work well for this because they penetrate the body and bounce off objects in their path like blood cells moving through your arteries.
What makes vascular ultrasounds unique is that these instruments will detect how fast or slow blood flows inside a vessel and then show these measurements on the screen.
Are There Risks Associated with the Test?
The risks with vascular ultrasounds are minimal but may include bruising at the insertion site or some temporary discomfort while moving around after an exam is over.
What Types of Diseases and Conditions Can Be Diagnosed with a Vascular Ultrasound?
There are many different uses for this type of imaging, but most people will have it done to check the health of their arteries. It is essential to know that your arteries are in good shape because these tests provide more information about what’s going on inside of your body.
It is used for patients with high blood pressure because it can show whether arteries are being restricted or blocked by plaque that isn’t allowing the smooth flow of blood throughout the circulatory system. It is also helpful in diagnosing diseases like carotid artery stenosis, which restricts the amount of oxygen that’s delivered to the brain.
An ultrasound can also reveal any blood clots in veins, which would be a significant warning sign about possible problems with clotting throughout your body. Thrombosis is the medical term for this problem, and it could signal an increased risk of having a stroke or heart attack later on down the road.
What does a vascular ultrasound examine?
Vascular ultrasounds are used to diagnose problems with blood vessels. They include high cholesterol, aneurysms, arterial blockages, and more. The process takes about 30 minutes and is non-invasive.
What are some benefits of vascular ultrasounds?
Vascular ultrasounds have many benefits compared to other diagnostic imaging techniques. They are non-invasive, painless, and fast. Images are taken quickly, and there is no exposure to radiation like with other tests. Vascular ultrasounds also work well on obese patients because the sound waves pass through fat more quickly than X-rays.
In summary, vascular ultrasounds provide information on blood flow, blockages, and other issues causing a health problem. The probe sends sound waves through the body part under study while a computer records how these sounds bounce around or pass through different types of tissues.