Did your doctor recommend you have a carotid ultrasound? This test uses sound waves to measure blood flow in your carotid arteries (which are located on both sides of your neck). The reason this test is recommended is it allows you to detect disease at the earliest stage and with treatment you can avoid the disease. Learn why you need a carotid ultrasound and the benefits you get from this screening in this article. Get a consultation with the best cardiologists in Brooklyn.

Who needs carotid ultrasound?

Carotid ultrasound is recommended when your doctor suspects that your carotid arteries may be narrowed by plaque and increase your risk of stroke or if you already experienced a mini-stroke or other types of strokes. Several risk factors that increase the risk of a stroke, including:

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Family history of stroke or heart disease
• An unusual sound is detected from your carotid arteries by a stethoscope
• Coronary artery disease
• Hardening of the arteries

In addition, your doctor may recommend a carotid ultrasound to:

• Diagnose blood flow through the artery after plaque removal surgery. This procedure of removing plaques is called carotid endarterectomy.
• Diagnose the placement and effectiveness of a stent (which is a mesh tube used to improve blood flow from an artery).
• Locate a collection of clotted blood which is also called a hematoma, which blocks blood flow.
• Detects other carotid artery problems that affect blood flow.
• Predict coronary artery disease by measuring the thickness of the carotid artery and checking the characteristics of a plaque.
• Monitor carotid artery blood flow during aortic heart valve surgery to judge the risk of a stroke.

What happens during the procedure?

Before the procedure, you just need to wear a loose shirt with no collar or an open collar. Avoid wearing a necklace or dangling earrings as it makes it hard for the ultrasound machine on your neck to locate carotid arteries. Otherwise, there are no extra preparations.

During the procedure, your technician may follow these steps:

• You have to lie on your back on the examination table and the technician may adjust your head to get better access to the neck sides where the carotid arteries are located.
• The technician applies a warm gel to your neck skin where carotid arteries are located. This gel eliminates any air pockets that are made between your neck and the transducer (the ultrasound machine) and makes secure contact with the transducer.
• The technician brings the transducer close to your skin, transmits ultrasound waves to your neck, and rotates to certain angles to get a clear image. If you feel uncomfortable then make sure you talk to the ultrasound technician.

The images are sent to a monitor which is examined by a radiologist and a report is sent to the healthcare provider. It may take around 30 to 45 minutes. And you can go home right after the procedure.

What does it tell you?

The images that come in the test are examined by a doctor who specializes in imaging tests called a radiologist who reviews your results and then sends a report to your healthcare provider who ordered the test. Your doctor will tell you whether you’re at risk of a stroke and carotid arteries are in good health.

In case your test shows you’re at risk of stroke, then your healthcare provider creates a treatment plan based on the severity of the blockage in your arteries. It may include lifestyle changes such as consuming a healthy diet, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding smoking, etc., or having a surgical procedure to either open or remove your carotid artery plaques.

If your healthcare provider ordered the carotid ultrasound as a follow-up to a surgical procedure, then they explain whether your treatment is working, or you’ll need additional treatment or tests.

Benefits

• Similar to other ultrasound tests, carotid ultrasound is noninvasive.
• Sometimes, an ultrasound test may be temporarily uncomfortable, but not painful.
• Carotid ultrasound is easy to perform and less expensive than other imaging tests. Most insurance companies also provide coverage for ultrasound tests.
• An ultrasound test is very safe as it doesn’t use any type of radiation or invasive methods.
• Ultrasound scanning provides a clear picture of soft tissues and fast results compared to x-ray images.
• It may also detect and intervene in cardiovascular disease.
• Carotid ultrasound can show the narrowing of one or both carotid arteries and allow treatment to restore the free flow of blood to the brain. This way many strokes are prevented.

Carotid ultrasound screening tests allow patients to prevent stroke or some other cardiovascular diseases. It is a pain-free noninvasive procedure that uses sound waves to detect problems in the blood flow. It is an easy-to-use and less expensive procedure to keep your heart and brain healthy. Regularly take it screening as your doctor which allows you to get treatment before any serious condition occurs.

If you have any vascular problems, please visit our cardiology clinic in Brooklyn for professional help. Call us on +1(347) 384-5690. The Cardiologists at Doral Health & Wellness consistently have outstanding patient satisfaction ratings. The professionals at Heart Specialist Brooklyn are able to greatly improve their patient’s health and quality of life because of their vast training and experience. New Yorkers can get the greatest medical, surgical, and cardiovascular care at Doral Health & Wellness Brooklyn. Visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212.