Checking the major arteries in the body can reveal risk factors for heart attack and stroke. Dr. Alberto Morales and the team at South Tampa Cardiology in Tampa, Florida, use vascular ultrasound to gain a picture of their patients’ blood vessel health. Make an appointment today to have your cardiac health assessed.
Ultrasound is an imaging method using sound waves and their echoes to see inside the body without surgery. Ultrasound has many medical diagnostic uses, such as monitoring the health of the fetus during pregnancy.
Vascular ultrasound specializes in images of blood vessels and blood flow. It’s a non-invasive way to study arteries and veins in almost every part of the body. Ultrasound doesn’t use radiation or contrast dyes. Sound waves sent from an ultrasound transducer bounce off blood cells and return to the transducer. The sounds and their echoes are then converted by a computer into an image that reveals data about how blood is flowing in the patient. For example, a fast rate of blood flow may indicate the location of partial blockages due to atherosclerosis.
Vascular ultrasound checks on many areas of the circulatory system, making it a valuable diagnostic tool for assessing cardiac health.
Among its applications are:
Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing and avoid wearing jewelry. The ultrasound transducer must contact the skin, so you may be asked to wear a gown to make treatment areas accessible. During the treatment itself, you’ll typically be lying on an examination table, face-up or on your side. A gel is applied to the skin so that the transducer has good contact with no air between it and your skin. Ultrasound exams are painless and have no side effects.
South Tampa Cardiology works with a variety of insurance providers. If you don't happen to see yours listed, please call our office to speak with one of our knowledgable staff members.