What Is Arterial Doppler?
Arterial Doppler testing uses high-frequency sound waves to capture images of your blood vessels. This procedure helps your doctor deduce how well your blood is flowing through the arteries — and whether there are any blockages. Blood clots pose a health concern, as they can be caused by a build-up of fatty deposits. If the pieces of fat break free, they can travel to your heart or your brain, which can be fatal.
How Can I Prevent Clogged Arteries?
The first step is arriving at an accurate diagnosis. To determine what’s wrong, your doctor performs a physical exam, takes a medical history and if necessary, conducts some tests to confirm the diagnosis. If there’s sufficient evidence of an arterial blockage in your body, you may need to undergo an imaging test, such as:
- Arterial Doppler. This imaging test gives your doctor a view of your main arteries.
- Venous Doppler. This test lets your doctor examine the veins in your body.
- Carotid Doppler. This test exposes problems associated with your carotid artery, the primary artery carrying blood from your heart to your brain. Strokes are often the result of a narrowing in the carotid artery.
When Is Arterial Doppler Testing Necessary?
If you’re exhibiting specific symptoms, they may signal a serious medical condition. An arterial Doppler test helps your doctor clarify your diagnosis. Tell your doctor if you have symptoms that include:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Tightness in your chest, a potential sign of angina
- Poor circulation in your legs and feet
- Numbness in your legs or feet
- Your legs and feet feel cold to the touch
- Heart palpitations
- Sores on your toes, legs or feet
- Shiny skin on your legs
- Cramps with pain in one or both hips or legs
What Is the Arterial Doppler Test Procedure?
The arterial Doppler test is completely non-invasive. A small device known as a transducer is used that emits the sound waves. When the sound waves bounce back to the transducer, a live image is created in real time. During the 60-minute examination, the steps performed include:
- Your doctor determines which areas of your body need to be examined.
- For each, a sonographer first covers the area with a gel that produces clearer images.
- The sonographer places the transducer on the location to capture images of your arteries.
- The images are recorded and transferred onto a computer monitor for observation.
- The sonographer may need to capture images from multiple locations on your body to pinpoint exactly where the arterial problem lies.
Through the use of the Doppler technology, your doctor can actually measure the blood flow in your arteries. The amount of blood pumped with each heartbeat gives a clear indication of whether any arterial blockage exists. Your doctor also recognizes areas where the blood flow is noticeably slow.