A vascular ultrasound is a non-invasive medical imaging test that uses sound waves to produce images of the blood vessels in the body. It is commonly used to diagnose and monitor a variety of vascular conditions, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), peripheral artery disease (PAD), and aneurysms. This article will explore when and why you might need a vascular ultrasound and what to expect from the procedure.
When Might You Need a Vascular Ultrasound?
A vascular ultrasound may be recommended if you are experiencing symptoms of a vascular condition, such as pain or swelling in the legs or arms, or if you have risk factors for a vascular condition, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol. A vascular ultrasound may also be used to monitor the progress of a known vascular condition or to check the effectiveness of a treatment.
Some of the conditions that a vascular ultrasound can diagnose or monitor include:
What to Expect from the Procedure?
A vascular ultrasound is a non-invasive procedure that is painless and typically takes around an hour to complete. You will be asked to remove any clothing or jewellery from the area being examined and lie down on an examination table.
A technician will apply a warm gel to the skin over the area being examined and use a handheld device called a transducer to send sound waves through the skin and into the blood vessels. The sound waves bounce off the blood vessels and are recorded by the transducer, creating images of the blood vessels on a computer screen.
The technician will move the transducer over the area being examined to capture images from different angles. They may also ask you to change positions or hold your breath briefly to get better images.
After the procedure, you will be able to resume your normal activities immediately. Your doctor will review the images and discuss the results with you at a follow-up appointment.
A vascular ultrasound is a non-invasive medical imaging test that is used to diagnose and monitor a variety of vascular conditions. It is typically recommended if you are experiencing symptoms of a vascular condition or have risk factors for a vascular condition. The procedure is painless and takes around an hour to complete. If you are recommended to undergo a vascular ultrasound, it is important to follow your doctor's instructions and attend all follow-up appointments to ensure that any vascular conditions are diagnosed and treated promptly.
Contact your doctor for more information about vascular ultrasounds.
Share1 March 2023
Hey there. My name is Wade, and I have been a first aid volunteer for the past twenty years. Most weekends you will find me at football games, rodeos, agricultural shows or fun runs. I really love being able to help at these events and provide the necessary level of assistance. As a first responder, my medical role is very limited, but, many injured people do contact me to give thanks after they recover. This has further sparked my interest in health and medicine. I love watching medical shows and reading basic texts to gain a greater understanding of particular medical problems. I'm sure there are others like me who take an amateur interest in health and medical matters. I started this blog to share intriguing information I come across. I hope you find my topics fascinating and instructive. Thank you for dropping by.