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Vascular Testing services offered in Henderson, NV
Vascular Testing FAQs
What is vascular testing?
Las Vegas Foot and Ankle Centers uses vascular testing to assess your blood vessel health and how well blood flows through your veins and arteries.
Arteries transport oxygenated blood from your heart all around your body. The blood delivers nutrients, healing cells to your organs and tissues, and oxygen. If anything affects the delivery of blood, it can starve your tissues of the substances they need, leading to distressing and painful vascular conditions.
Veins carry blood back to your heart after it delivers oxygen. Poor circulation encourages fluid buildup and tissue breakdown.
Vascular testing determines if you have a blood flow problem that could lead to circulatory disorders. These conditions are prevalent in the legs and feet because they’re the farthest from your heart.
What conditions does vascular testing detect?
Vascular testing identifies problems like:
Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
PAD affects the arteries in your legs. It develops when you have atherosclerosis, a condition where excess cholesterol from your blood forms sticky plaque that builds up inside your arteries. The plaque narrows the arteries, depriving your legs and feet of blood. PAD can cause claudication — an aching and heaviness in your legs when walking.
Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)
CVI is a vein disease. It develops when the tiny valves that force blood back to your heart from your feet weaken and can’t seal properly. Leg veins have these valves to stop blood trickling back to the foot, pulled by gravity. If the valves aren’t working, blood pools, causing varicose veins (unsightly red, blue, or purple coils) and fluid retention.
Conditions like these can lead to ulcers developing. These open sores are widespread on the lower legs, especially in people with diabetes, which damages nerves and blood vessels. Ulcers are challenging to treat, requiring expert wound care. If they become infected, they may turn gangrenous, potentially leading to amputation.
What vascular testing might I need?
Vascular testing takes several forms, common ones being:
Vascular ultrasound
Vascular or Doppler ultrasound creates sound waves that bounce off your blood cells. The device’s software translates these echoing sound waves into moving images of your blood vessels.
Ankle-brachial index (ABI)
ABI testing measures the blood pressure in your lower limbs.
These vascular tests are noninvasive and painless. After they view the results of your tests, your podiatrist can advise you on any treatment you need.
