As a leading cause of death in the United States, heart disease must take every precaution to prevent heart disease. Vascular screenings offer one of the best precautionary tools to screen for it. But how do you know if you need one? We’ve compiled some of the most common signs you need a vascular screening in Evansville, IN, so you can receive immediate treatment.
Common signs that you need a vascular screening include:
- Diabetes
- Being overweight or obese
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Stress
What Is a Vascular Screening?
Vascular screenings are essential beginning at age 50. These diagnostic procedures assess your risk of health problems related to your blood vessels and arteries — the crucial components of your cardiovascular system responsible for circulating blood throughout your body.
Also known as vascular ultrasound, vascular screenings help detect warning signs of cardiovascular disease, such as:
- Heart attacks
- Strokes
- Abdominal aortic aneurysms
This allows for early intervention and treatment to promote long-term health.
At Vascular Surgical Associates, we offer screenings for three specific vascular conditions:
- Carotid artery disease
- Peripheral artery disease
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm
For carotid artery disease, we use ultrasound to look for fatty deposits in the neck’s carotid artery, as blockages here can raise stroke risk. For peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which affects blood flow in the legs and feet due to plaque, we check blood flow in your ankles noninvasively. Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) involves using ultrasound to check the abdomen and aorta for any abnormalities.
The primary benefit of vascular screenings is the early detection of potential health issues you might not be aware of. These non-invasive screenings are effective tools for establishing your risk for various conditions, enabling your doctor to recommend appropriate treatments to prevent future health problems. Additionally, follow-up screenings may be suggested to monitor the effectiveness of the treatments.
Vascular screening costs can vary based on the number of screenings you undergo. Each screening is $35 individually, but all three can be done for a total of $100.
Signs You Need a Vascular Screening
1. Diabetes
High blood sugar can have drastic effects on your heart and vascular system. Over time, high levels of sugar in your blood will damage the nerves and blood vessels that control your heart. This puts those with diabetes at much higher risk for heart disease than those who don’t have it.
Diabetics also run a higher risk of developing high:
- Blood pressure
- Cholesterol
- Triglycerides
You also run a higher risk of heart failure if you have diabetes. Heart failure doesn’t mean that your heart stops beating. Instead, it refers to your heart’s inability to pump blood efficiently. This can result in swollen legs and fluid buildup in your lungs. Heart failure usually gets worse as time goes on. Vascular screenings can catch these problems early and help you get treatment.
Risk factors for diabetes include:
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Family history
- Age
Vascular screenings can help by detecting early signs of vascular damage or reduced blood flow, which are complications of diabetes. This allows for timely interventions to prevent severe outcomes.
2. Obesity
Being overweight or obese can lead to all sorts of health problems as time goes on. Both are on the rise in the United States, making more people uncomfortable and reducing their quality of life. Being overweight also affects your heart health and plays a part in one in every four deaths in the U.S. resulting from heart disease.
Obesity increases your risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. While it does cause spikes in bad cholesterol, being overweight also actively lowers your good cholesterol. This can make it especially dangerous for your vascular health. Getting a vascular screening in Evansville, IN, allows us to spot these issues so you can take steps toward a healthier lifestyle.
Risk factors for obesity include:
- Poor diet
- Lack of exercise
- Genetics
Vascular screening can help by detecting early signs of cardiovascular issues, which are often associated with obesity. This enables early intervention to prevent severe complications like heart disease and stroke.
3. High Blood Pressure
Also known as hypertension, high blood pressure can be devastating for your vascular and overall health. It has the potential to damage your:
- Arteries
- Heart
- Brain
- Kidneys
- Eyes
High blood pressure damages your arteries by causing them to narrow, become damaged, or bulge out (aneurysm). It damages the heart through coronary artery disease, enlargement of the heart, and heart failure. The brain can become damaged due to a ministroke, stroke, mild cognitive impairment, and even dementia.
Hypertension affects the kidneys by causing them to become scarred (glomerulosclerosis) or to fail. With kidney failure, your body is no longer able to filter waste from the blood naturally. This can leave you dependent on dialysis or a kidney transplant. Your eyes can also be affected by high blood pressure, leading to blurred vision, scarring, nerve damage, and even blindness.
Risk factors for high blood pressure include:
- Obesity
- High salt intake
- Stress
Vascular screening can help by identifying early signs of arterial damage or blockages. This ensures that you receive timely management to reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other complications.
4. High Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a type of fat that your body needs to function correctly. However, too much of it can result in high cholesterol and put you at risk for a number of vascular conditions.
This includes:
- Coronary heart disease
- Stroke
- Peripheral vascular disease
Coronary artery disease is the biggest threat associated with high cholesterol. It’s caused by cholesterol building up (plaque) in the walls of your arteries. This causes your arteries to harden (atherosclerosis) as time goes on and to become narrow. Cholesterol can also break off and lead to a total or partial blockage of blood flow to the heart, possibly leading to a heart attack.
Cholesterol buildup isn’t limited to the arteries and blood vessels around your heart. It can also collect in pathways that lead to your brain. A blockage can result in a stroke that has long-lasting effects on your quality of life. It can also lead to peripheral vascular disease which can cause cramping in your legs and feet, often requiring rest until the pain subsides.
Risk factors for high cholesterol include:
- Lack of exercise
- Smoking
- Genetics
Vascular screening can detect plaque buildup in arteries, indicating a risk for cardiovascular diseases. Early detection allows for interventions to manage cholesterol levels and prevent heart attacks or strokes.
5. Stress
Your mental health can affect your body in positive and negative ways. Stress, for example, can increase inflammation in your body. This has been linked to other problems such as a reduction in “good” cholesterol (HDL) as well as increased blood pressure. Both of these conditions put you at risk for a wide range of health issues including heart attack and stroke.
Stress can also affect your vascular system in indirect ways. For instance, it can result in poor sleep and make you feel more tired. It can also cause you to make poor lifestyle choices such as being sedentary, eating unhealthy foods, and gaining weight. Vascular screenings can alert you to the effects stress has on your life and help you make better long-term choices.
Risk factors for stress include:
- Work pressure
- Financial issues
- Lack of support
Chronic stress can lead to cardiovascular issues. Vascular screening can identify stress-related damage to blood vessels, enabling early intervention to prevent serious conditions like hypertension and heart disease.
What Happens During a Vascular Screening?
At Vascular Surgical Associates in Evansville, IN, scheduling a vascular screening is straightforward as no referral is needed. You can easily arrange an appointment by calling at your convenience.
Upon arrival, your vascular specialist will conduct an initial assessment to review your medical history and discuss any vascular symptoms or concerns. The screening may include non-invasive tests such as the Siemens ACUSON Sequoia™ ultrasound system—recognized as the industry leader in advanced imaging—and the state-of-the-art bi-directional Doppler Parks Flo-Lab arterial machines.
Do you need a vascular screening in Evansville, IN? Contact us today to schedule your appointment!
Evansville Surgical Associates has been providing comprehensive and compassionate surgical care for over 50 years. Call us at (812) 424-8231 or (800) 264-8231 to contact us or schedule an appointment. We are available from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Time.
