Health Advice for the Older Generation

When doctors need to see what is going on inside the body, ultrasound is a great non-invasive way of doing so. Vascular ultrasound is a particular form of ultrasound procedure for looking at veins and arteries. If your doctor has told you that you need a vascular ultrasound, then it is likely to be for one of the following reasons.

1. Blood Clot Diagnosis

A clot that forms in a vein can travel to the heart or brain, where it can cause a stroke or heart attack. For this reason, it is very important for doctors to diagnose blood clots as soon as possible so that they can use medications to get rid of the clot or refer you for surgery to remove it.

Blood clots most often form in the legs. The main symptom is pain, which might be cramping or throbbing. However, many other conditions can also cause leg pain so that symptom alone is not enough for a diagnosis. Doctors use vascular ultrasound to look at the leg veins to see if a clot is present.

2. Circulation Monitoring

Poor circulation can cause a range of problems, ranging from hands and feet that get cold easily in winter to tingling or numbness in the fingers or toes. Doctors can use vascular ultrasound imaging to monitor the rate at which blood flows through your arms and legs. As a result, they can work out whether poor circulation is the reason for your symptoms.

3. Monitoring of Varicose Veins

If you have varicose veins, you might be considering having surgery to remove them. However, it can be difficult to decide whether surgery is the correct option if you do not have an accurate idea of how big and swollen the varicose veins are. Vascular ultrasound gives an accurate image of the veins in the legs, identifying areas of varicosity and giving information that can help you and your doctor to decide on the correct course of treatment.

4. Surgery Follow Up

Your doctor might also use vascular ultrasound technology soon after you have a surgery to remove varicose veins or treat another vein-related condition. Vascular ultrasound gives a clear picture of how vein healing is progressing after surgery, which could help to guide your recovery. The information also helps your doctor to judge whether the surgery has been successful and whether they should recommend any further treatments for you at this time.