If you have been referred for a vascular ultrasound, you may have some questions. This piece aims to answer some questions you may have.
What Is a Vascular Ultrasound?
A vascular ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of your arteries and veins. The sound waves are transmitted through the skin, creating detailed images that show the structure of the blood vessels. During this test, the technician will use a transducer with jelly that is placed on your skin over the area being examined — typically your neck, arms, legs, abdomen, or groin.
What Are the Benefits of Having a Vascular Ultrasound?
Having regular vascular ultrasounds can help identify potential problems before they become serious medical issues. They can be used to diagnose conditions like deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or peripheral artery disease (PAD). These tests are especially helpful for those who have existing risk factors for these conditions, such as smoking or diabetes. In some cases, doctors may also use them to monitor treatments for certain medical conditions or surgeries like heart bypass surgery.
Vascular ultrasounds can also help diagnose tumours in your arteries or veins as well as blockages due to plaque buildup in your veins and arteries, which could potentially lead to strokes or heart attacks if left untreated. The test can also be used to check for aneurysms — bulges in the walls of blood vessels caused by weak spots — which can be life-threatening if left untreated.
What Should I Expect When Having a Vascular Ultrasound?
When having a vascular ultrasound, you should expect some minor discomfort while having gel applied over your skin and while having pressure applied during certain parts of the exam by way of pushing on certain parts of your body with either fingers or paddles that have been covered with gel too. Depending on where you go for this particular test, there may be different machines used, which will determine how comfortable you are during testing itself; some people prefer open scanners, which allow them to see what's happening during their scan, while other people prefer closed scanners that keep them from seeing anything but still provide great quality images for their doctor's records afterward.
Conclusion
Suppose you have any risk factors like smoking or diabetes. In that case, it's especially important that you understand how undergoing an ultrasound can identify any underlying issues so they can be treated before they worsen over time. If you would like further info about ultrasounds, speak with your doctor or other medical professional today. They will be happy to help.
