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Vascular disease is the umbrella medical term for any condition or disorder that affects your circulatory system, or the extensive network of vessels — arteries, veins, capillaries — that carry blood, oxygen, and nutrients to your tissues, and transport waste back out.
At Vascular Vein Centers in Central Florida, our board-certified vascular specialists focus on diagnosing and treating vascular diseases of the veins and their capillaries, such as:
So, how do we evaluate venous health and screen for signs of disease? We use a simple, noninvasive diagnostic imaging test called vascular ultrasound. Here’s how it works, what it reveals, and who should consider having it done (and when).
As the leading cause of mortality among men and women in the United States, heart disease kills about two Americans every minute — and is responsible for one in five deaths nationally each year. Vascular disease screening aims to lower these numbers.
How? Heart disease is frequently precipitated by some form of vascular disease. Detecting and treating these conditions as early as possible protects your long-term cardiovascular health by supporting and improving your circulatory health.
Vascular disease screening is a comprehensive evaluation that combines information from a physical exam, health history, risk factor assessment, vascular symptom analysis, and Doppler ultrasound imaging to attain a complete picture of your vascular health.
Even though a physical exam, health history, and risk factor assessment can reveal a wealth of information about your vascular health, it’s diagnostic ultrasound imaging that gives us the clearest picture of how your veins and capillaries are working.
Vascular ultrasound imaging is a simple, noninvasive test that uses high-frequency sound waves to visualize and evaluate blood flow in your peripheral vessels, or the arteries, veins, and capillaries that carry blood to and from your legs, arms, and head.
We perform vascular ultrasound testing by pressing a handheld transducer against your skin over the vascular area we want to visualize. This device emits sound waves that pass painlessly through your body tissues all the way to your blood vessels.
When the sound waves reach the targeted vessel, they bounce off the vessel’s structure and its circulating red blood cells. The ultrasound computer receives these bouncing “echoes” and translates them into fluid images of your blood flow.
This specialized type of ultrasound — known as Doppler ultrasound — differs from standard ultrasound imaging in that it captures live video images of blood movement in addition to detailed images of internal structures.
A vascular ultrasound measures the frequency of your blood flow to show us how it moves through your vessels, enabling us to visualize circulation in your extremities in real time. We can use it to detect and assess:
We can also use it to fully visualize a partially sub-surface varicose vein to help us develop a more exacting treatment approach or to see whether a prescribed treatment for a diagnosed vascular condition has led to improved blood flow.
Our team recommends vascular ultrasound screening in a range of circumstances. Often, we use it to assess symptoms that may stem from vascular disease, such as:
We may also recommend vascular ultrasound testing to evaluate severe or bothersome varicose veins so that we can tailor our treatment plan appropriately.
Even if you aren’t experiencing painful varicosities or other warning signs of venous disease, ultrasound screenings are generally recommended for anyone with an elevated risk of vascular disease. This includes any adult who:
A vascular ultrasound can confirm (or rule out) common circulatory conditions like venous insufficiency and atherosclerosis (plaque buildup); it can also guide our early intervention care plan to support improved circulation and keep you healthy.
Whether you’re experiencing symptoms that may be related to vascular disease, or you’re simply at an increased risk of developing circulatory problems, now is the time to schedule your vascular screening at one of our IAC-accredited diagnostic ultrasound imaging labs.
Schedule your visit at the Vascular Vein Centers office nearest to you. Offices are in College Park of Orlando, Waterford Lakes of East Orlando, Kissimmee, Lake Mary, Davenport/Haines City, or The Villages, Florida.
