3 Reasons Why You May Need a Vascular Ultrasound

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Hello! My name is Tony and this is my new blog. I decided to start this blog while I was in the hospital recovering from an operation I had to have to remove a tumour from my body. My story had started a few months beforehand when I developed a cough which I couldn't get rid of. I had some test and the doctors discovered I had a tumour in my chest. I will be the first to admit that I haven't been as good as I could have been in terms of looking after my own health. However, since being diagnosed, I have been learning all I can about how to stay healthy.

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3 Reasons Why You May Need a Vascular Ultrasound

30 December 2020
 Categories: Health & Medical , Blog


Most people associate ultrasound imaging with pregnancy. Perhaps this is because foetal imaging is one of the main reasons why doctors recommend the scan. However, the imaging technique has a wide variety of other uses. An ultrasound scan uses high-frequency sound waves to capture images of soft tissue inside the human body. The imaging technique is non-invasive and very effective. 

Vascular ultrasounds work because when the high-frequency sound waves get inside your blood vessels, they encounter the red blood cells, white blood cells and other components of your blood. The waves bounce off the soft tissue and are recorded as an image on the ultrasound machine. Here are three main reasons why the doctor might recommend that you get a vascular ultrasound scan. 

To Detect Clots in Your Veins

The doctor will recommend an ultrasound scan if they suspect you have a clot in your veins. The condition, which is known as deep vein thrombosis, can lead to serious health complications. If the clot travels to the lungs or the heart, it can damage your vital organs.

The doctor will recommend an ultrasound scan to detect the clot and manage it on time. If they find it, they might recommend blood thinners or anti-coagulants to break down the clot. 

To Evaluate Your Blood Flow Rate

The second reason why a doctor might recommend the scan is to determine your blood flow rate. The flow rate depends on factors such as your blood volume, the thickness of the blood and the diameter of the blood vessels. All three factors point to specific physiological conditions. 

For example, you might have narrow blood vessels because of a high amount of low-density cholesterol deposits inside your veins.  Similarly, your blood volume could be low because of anaemia. You can only get diagnosed and treated after an ultrasound scan helps the medical professionals figure out the reason behind your blood flow rate.

To Evaluate Your Recovery After Surgery

The third reason a doctor will recommend an ultrasound scan is to evaluate your healing progress after a bypass or a stent procedure. A stent is a tube inserted into your blocked blood vessel to keep it open. In this case, the ultrasound will help the doctor to determine whether it is working as it should.

These are the three main reasons a doctor may recommend an ultrasound. The scan is a non-invasive way to find out the condition inside your blood vessels. With the right diagnosis, they will recommend a course of treatment.