Love Your Legs This February: 3 Eye-Opening Benefits of a Vascular Ultrasound

Laser Surgical Solutions RGV, PLLC, offers a full scope of vascular care services to residents of McAllen, Rio Grande City, and Raymondville, Texas. You can rely on John Hovorka, MD, Cynthia Salinas, MD, and our team for outstanding care delivered in a highly personable manner. 

While our team strives to find conservative treatment options, we also have the skills and experience necessary to perform complex surgical interventions when needed. 

This February, let’s take a closer look at how vascular ultrasound can be a wonderful self-care tool or help a loved one learn more about their circulatory health. 

What is vascular ultrasound?

Vascular ultrasound is a noninvasive test that shows how well your blood is flowing to your extremities. Like other forms of ultrasound, it works by delivering high-frequency sound waves into your body using a handheld device called a transducer. 

As those sound waves encounter different tissues within your body, the echoes bounce back and are collected by the transducer. Special software converts that echoes into imaging, creating a picture of your internal tissues and structures. 

The process requires no special preparation or anesthesia, and there’s no radiation involved. Depending on the type of vascular ultrasound you need, the entire process takes just 30-90 minutes.

Vascular ultrasound can be a powerful diagnostic tool. Let’s look at three potential benefits of having these tests performed. 

Vascular ultrasound shows how well your blood is flowing

All the cells and tissues that make up your body need a steady flow of blood to attain the oxygen and nutrients necessary to thrive. Reduced blood flow can cause a number of problems that put your health at risk and impact your quality of life. 

Vascular ultrasound creates a real-time visual interpretation of your blood flow. By looking at this form of ultrasound, Dr. Hovorka and Dr. Salinas can determine if you have abnormalities within your blood vessels, like plaque or blood clots. The exam can also identify stenosis, which is a blockage within a blood vessel. 

If ultrasound imaging shows that your blood vessels have narrowed or become partially blocked, you can take action before a serious health condition arises. 

Detecting deep vein thrombosis

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when a blood clot develops in one of your deep veins, most commonly in the legs. Potential symptoms include leg pain, leg swelling, a sensation of warmth in the overlying skin, and skin that takes on a red or purple color. 

However, not all DVTs create a clear set of symptoms. This means you can have the condition without knowing. Left untreated, DVT can cause a pulmonary embolism (PE), which occurs when the blood clot breaks free and travels to your lung, blocking blood flow to that area. PE can be fatal. 

There are several ways to treat DVT, including wearing compression stocking, taking medication, or having a filter surgically placed within your vein to stop blood clots from reaching your lungs. 

Learning more about varicose veins

Varicose veins develop when one or more of a vein’s internal, one-way valves stop working properly, allowing blood to flow backward and pool within the vein. This accumulation of blood blocks the vein, and places pressure on the thin vein walls. 

The result can be visibly twisted, bulging veins that are red or purple in color. In most cases, varicose veins are more of an aesthetic concern than a health risk — but some people do develop symptoms like leg cramping, heaviness, or easy fatigue. It’s also possible to develop skin ulcers in the affected area, which can be slow-healing and increase the risk of infection. 

Wondering if vascular ultrasound is right for you?

Vascular ultrasound can help determine the extent of venous and arterial damage and look for blood clots. It can also help rule out other causes for any symptoms you’re experiencing. The results create a “map” of your veins and arteries that can guide your treatment. 

If you think your health could benefit from vascular ultrasound, we encourage you to reach out to our expert team at Laser Surgical Solutions, RGV, PLLC, to schedule an appointment at  your nearest office in McAllen, Rio Grande City, or Raymondville, Texas.