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Carotid doppler ultrasound is an examination that combines two types of ultrasounds to look for blockages in your king veins. Simple and painless.
Carotid arteries are located on both sides of your neck. Clogged carotid arteries are an important risk factor for stroke.
Ultrasound is a type of scan that uses sound waves to create a photo of the inside of your body. The two types of ultrasounds used in carotid doppler ultrasound are traditional “B-mode” ultrasound and Doppler ultrasound.
Conventional or B-mode ultrasound uses sound waves reflected from the vein to show the structure of your blood vessels.
Doppler ultrasound uses sound waves that monitor blood flow. It allows us to see how blood moves through your veins.
What is carotid artery disease?
As we age, our arteries tend to develop a sticky substance called plaque.
One or more of the following conditions predispose to plaque formation:
- Smoking
- Not exercising enough
- Having high triglyceride (fat) or cholesterol levels in the blood
- Having too much weight or obesity
- Being a diabetes patient
- Having certain genetic factors, such as a family history of arterial disease
- Having high blood pressure
If plaque forms in your carotid arteries, it is called carotid artery disease. it is found in about 1% between the ages of 50-59 and 10% between the ages of 80-89.
Why do you need a carotid doppler ultrasound?
If your doctor thinks you may have carotid artery disease, they may ask you for this test.
Carotid artery disease is an important risk factor for stroke (stroke). Cholesterol buildup in the carotid arteries can form blood clots. If these clots break, they can go to your brain and cause paralysis.
The first sign of carotid artery disease is usually a stroke or short-term paralysis (temporary ischemic attack). Early warning signs of stroke are:
- Weakness, numbness, or tingling on one side of your body or in your arm or leg.
- Unable to move your arm or leg.
- Inability to speak or speak distorted.
- Loss of vision in one eye or peripheral vision
If you meet any of these warning signs, seek medical attention immediately, even if they disappear. This may mean that you have or are about to have a stroke.
When you get medical help, your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms and medical history. It can measure your blood pressure and listen to the blood flow in your neck with handheld Doppler.
Preparation for carotid doppler ultrasound
This test does not require much preparation. However, you may be asked not to smoke or drink coffee at least 2 hours before the test. Smoking and coffee use can shrink your blood vessels and affect the accuracy of the test.
Other steps you can take before your test include:
- Wearing comfortable clothes with open necks
- Avoiding turtleneck collar or silk clothing that may be stained with ultrasound gel.
- Removing jewelry from your neck
Carotid doppler ultrasound
It is made with an ultrasonography device equipped with high technology. It takes about 15 to 30 minutes. The following steps occur during this procedure:
You are asked to lie down on the examination table with your head slightly tilted back. A radiologist will move a small ultrasound probe through the area of your carotid arteries by applying gel. You may feel a slight pressure and hear a humming sound. This is the sound of blood circulating in your veins.
Ultrasound is a risk-free way for your doctor to see changes and abnormalities in your body.
What happens after a carotid doppler ultrasound?
Doctors diagnose most cases of carotid artery disease with the help of ultrasound. Your doctor may order more tests if they need more information.
If your doctor diagnoses carotid artery disease, he or she will recommend treatment based on its severity. You may need surgery to remove plaque from your arteries, or you may need treatment called carotid angioplasty and stenting.
During carotid angioplasty and stenting, your doctor passes a catheter through your carotid artery to the site of the blockage. The catheter inflates a small balloon to flatten the plaque. A stent is then placed to keep your arteries open. A stent is a small, metal mesh tube.
Your doctor may also prescribe medications to thin your blood or reduce fat levels in your blood.
Lifestyle changes are also important for the treatment and prevention of carotid artery disease. It includes measures such as quitting smoking, eating a balanced diet and exercising.
