What Can A Vascular Ultrasound Do For Me

What Can A Vascular Ultrasound Do For Me

An ultrasound scans the internal organs and functions of the body using an external device. The technology can tell doctors many things about your biological functions and health. A vascular ultrasound looks specifically at your circulation and blood flow as it relates to the vital functions of the:

• Heart
• Brain
• Lungs
• Kidneys

The blood flow to these organs is controlled by the rhythm and the rate of your heart. What doctors see on an ultrasonic scan can indicate underlying problems that have not started to surface symptomatically.

Customizing a Snapshot

A heart specialist can trace your blood flow from your carotid artery to the smaller profuse veins in your legs. If need be, the specialist can take a head to toe snapshot of your circulatory system.

What is being looked at on a vascular ultrasound? There are specific signs of circulatory problems that could lead to:

• Heart disease
• Heart failure
• Stroke
• Edema
• Pulmonary malfunction
• Kidney disease

These signs show up in your circulatory system first.

If the symptoms can be traced and the severity diagnosed; the underlying condition may be treated or slowed to improve your overall function and quality of life.

A vascular ultrasound allows a specialist to see the full picture of what your internal function looks like. That picture can be blown up or taken from far away. Depending on how large of an area your cardiologist wants to see, the specialist may take scans from different angles and ranges. The scans can include sound so that any change in rate or rhythm is noted.

Signs of:

• Blockage
• Impending hemorrhage
• Fluid buildup
• Organ enlargement

Can be seen on the ultrasound screen by a specially trained eye.

The sooner these warning signs are spotted, the better a patient can diligently start working against them and reducing their risk factors for heart disease and other related conditions.

So, to answer the question, what can a vascular ultrasound do for you? It can jumpstart your efforts to prevent and minimize the effects of heart disease on your body. The sooner you know where you stand on the risk scale, the better you can fight against the potentially fatal effects of the disease-that when caught early-is not only treatable; it’s preventable.

If your primary care physician or cardiologist is concerned about how hypertension and other risk factors are affecting your circulatory function; you will likely be asked to undergo a vascular ultrasound to pinpoint the internal cause of external triggers.

Schedule your vascular ultrasound at a local cardiac clinic and find out what happens next.

Dr. Seldon, a Heart Doctor and Cardiologist in New York City, offers same day appointments and all testing is done on site.  Call us at (212) 367-8000.