Vascular screening, or vascular ultrasound, involves the use of high-frequency sound waves to assess the health of your blood vessels. These screenings typically evaluate factors such as blood flow, plaque buildup, and overall vascular health.
By detecting abnormalities early on, vascular screening can empower you to take proactive measures to mitigate your risk of developing serious cardiovascular conditions.
Here, our team of vascular surgeons at Vascular Specialists reveals the hidden risks that can be revealed by vascular screening here at our Vein Care Institute.
Many people may be unaware of their risk factors for cardiovascular disease until they undergo vascular screening. Factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, and a family history of heart disease can significantly increase the likelihood of developing vascular issues.
Unfortunately, however, you might not feel any different during the early stages of vascular disease. In fact, high blood pressure is often called the silent killer because hypertension doesn’t cause noticeable symptoms initially. Unfortunately, that means it can damage your blood vessels without you realizing it.
Vascular ultrasounds, therefore, can screen for issues that can cause problems later on in life. This includes:
Vascular screening can serve as a wake-up call, prompting you to address modifiable risk factors of vascular disease and make positive lifestyle changes — like losing weight and eating a heart-healthy diet — to protect your heart health. This is also a good time to treat any underlying conditions that may compromise your health.
Conditions such as venous insufficiency, peripheral artery disease (PAD), carotid artery disease, and aortic aneurysm may progress silently and present few or no symptoms until they reach an advanced stage. Vascular screening can detect these issues in their early stages.
Our Vascular Specialists team uses your vascular ultrasound images to accurately diagnose conditions that can compromise your health. Depending on the condition and its severity, you may benefit from lifestyle modifications, medications, or procedures.
We offer both surgical and nonsurgical procedures such as stent placement, balloon angioplasty, bypass surgery, nonsurgical vein treatments, and endovascular bypass.
Perhaps the most important part of vascular screening is that it can enable you to get the treatments that help prevent serious complications such as ruptured aneurysms, heart attacks, and strokes.
For example, because peripheral aneurysms over 2 centimeters typically require treatment, your screening results can help shape the timing and type of treatment you receive.
Vascular screenings are 100% noninvasive and completely painless. During your ultrasound, you recline on an exam table. The ultrasound technician applies a gel on your skin, which helps the soundwaves travel directly. The technician guides a handheld transducer over your skin, and images appear on a screen.
While it might be daunting to think about what a vascular screening can reveal, the results can be a gift δΈ€ the gift of knowledge to take the actions you need to protect your cardiovascular health. To schedule a vascular screening, call 815-824-4406 or click here to schedule an appointment at the location of your choice — in Munster, Indiana, or Tinley Park, Illinois.
