Some information provided by Radiology Info.
Ultrasound is safe, painless, and produces pictures of the inside of the body using sound waves. Ultrasound imaging, also called ultrasound scanning or sonography, involves the use of a small transducer (probe) and ultrasound gel placed directly on the skin. High-frequency sound waves are transmitted from the probe through the gel into the body. The transducer collects the sounds that bounce back and a computer then uses those sound waves to create an image. Ultrasound examinations do not use ionizing radiation (as used in x-rays), thus there is no radiation exposure to the patient. Because ultrasound images are captured in real-time, they can show the structure and movement of the body’s internal organs, as well as blood flowing through blood vessels.
What Vascular Ultrasound Test For
A vascular ultrasound aids in the evaluation of blood flow in the arteries and veins of the body to detect the presence, severity and specific location of interruption or disease. By using this type of test, we may be able to protect against a stroke. Stroke effect a significant number of Americans each year. A screening can measure your risk and provide important information to help improve your vascular health and prevent life-threatening problems, a common problem being a stroke.
Risks of Stroke
A stroke or “brain attack” occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery or a blood vessel breaks, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain. When this happens, brain cells begin to die and brain damage occurs. The most common type of blockage is within the internal carotid artery, caused by the excessive accumulation of plaque in the artery walls. The common carotid artery extends up the side of the neck and divides into the internal carotid artery, which supplies the blood to the brain, and the external carotid artery, which supplies blood to the face and scalp.
Learn More
We offer different screenings:
- Carotid Arterial Screening: Non-invasive ultrasound of your carotid arteries to check for plaque formation. Carotid blockage accounts for 80% of all strokes, 50-75% of which could be prevented with screening and education.
- Abdominal Aorta: The Aorta is the main artery (blood vessel) in your body. Coming out of the heart, the aorta travels down the center of the chest, into the abdomen and splits into the two arteries that supply blood to the legs. This screening is a quick and painless ultrasound of the abdominal area. The aorta should measure less than three centimeters in width. When the aorta measures greater than 3 cm, an aneurysm is suspected. An aortic aneurysm is a generalized enlargement or bulging in an area(s) of the aorta and is 85% fatal if not detected.
- Ankle Brachial Index Screening: Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a condition similar to Coronary Artery Disease, where fatty deposits build up in the arteries restricting blood flow. Using Ultrasound Doppler, we measure the systolic pressure of the brachial artery in the upper arms and the ankle artery in the legs. The results are then calculated using a mathematical ratio to determine if there is any reduction in blood flow to the extremities.
If you are over 40 you may be at risk! Contact us if you have any questions or schedule an appointment for a simple screening that could save your life.
