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When it comes to vascular health, patients should be proactive. Vascular screenings are a great way to detect problems early and prevent them from advancing. 

What Is Vascular Screening?

Vascular screenings are designed to identify problems with the blood vessels in the body. They’re often non-invasive, painless and can be performed in a doctor’s office. These screenings may involve tests such as an ankle-brachial index (ABI) test, which compares the blood pressure in the ankle to the blood pressure in the arm, or a vascular ultrasound, which uses sound waves to evaluate blood vessels and circulation.

One of the main benefits of vascular screenings is that they can help detect and prevent serious vascular health conditions such as abdominal aortic aneurysm and peripheral artery disease (PAD), early on. Many vascular conditions like PAD do not have noticeable symptoms until they have progressed to an advanced stage. 

By catching these conditions early, individuals can begin treatment before they become more serious and potentially irreversible. For example, a screening may uncover major risk factors for these conditions, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Individuals can then take steps to manage them and reduce their risk of developing more serious health problems.

When Should You Get a Vascular Screening?

Patients should get screened if they have multiple risk factors or a family history of vascular disease. It’s recommended that these tests are performed every 3-5 years. For people with type 1 diabetes, they should start getting screened at the age of 30. 

Some of the risk factors for vascular disease include:

• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Obesity
• History of smoking
• Poor diet
• Certain genetic disorders

How Can Vascular Associates of South Alabama Help?

The physicians at Vascular Associates of South Alabama perform vascular screenings using a multitude of tests like vascular ultrasounds at our on-site endovascular lab in Mobile, AL. They use the most advanced technology to obtain accurate and reliable results about your vascular health.

Book an appointment today by calling 251-410-8272! Same day appointments available!

Contact: 

Phone: 251-410-8272
Fax: 251-410-8273
Email: info@myvasadoc.net
Main Office: 1551 Old Shell Road
Mobile, AL 36604
Hours: Mon - Fri 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Resources:

https://www.sanfordhealth.org/medical-services/vascular/vascular-screenings

Vascular disease and heart disease are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing. Both conditions can have serious consequences for a person's health, but they affect different parts of the body and have different causes.

What Is Vascular Disease?

Vascular disease refers to any condition that affects the arteries, veins or small vessels in the body. This can include conditions such as peripheral artery disease (PAD) affecting blood flow to the extremities and bulging, purplish varicose veins just beneath the skin’s surface. Vascular disease can be caused by a number of factors, including smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

What Is Heart Disease?

On the other hand, heart disease refers specifically to conditions that affect the heart muscle or the blood vessels that supply the heart. Some examples include coronary artery disease (CAD) from a buildup of plaque in the blood vessels that supply the heart and heart failure due to a weakening of the heart muscle.

How Are Vascular and Heart Disease Similar?

Both can lead to serious health problems, such as a heart attack, stroke or even death. However, the risk factors and causes of the two conditions are different, and so are the treatments. It's important to understand the differences between these two diseases so that steps to prevent them can be taken and the best care team can be selected. If you have risk factors for either condition, then it’s time to see a physician who can deliver the proper care and treatment.

When it comes to vascular disease, the physicians at Vascular Associates of South Alabama are highly trained in a multitude of innovative vascular treatments to keep patients in optimal health.

Book an appointment today by calling 251-410-8272! Same day appointments available!

Contact: 

Phone: 251-410-8272
Fax: 251-410-8273
Email: info@myvasadoc.net
Main Office: 1551 Old Shell Road
Mobile, AL 36604
Hours: Mon - Fri 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM