Screening for atherosclerosis
What if you don’t have an advanced stage of atherosclerosis? Maybe you don’t have any symptoms but your lifestyle, habits or family history put you at risk if this condition. In such cases, doctors can also perform screening tests and scans to diagnose atherosclerosis, even if you don’t have any symptoms.
Ultrasound scans can be very helpful in this regard because they will monitor how the blood flows and if there is any reduction in the blood flow, which can be due to atherosclerosis. Another test is the computed tomography (CT) scan, which uses X-rays to create a detailed image of the heart and the vessels.
Finally, the ankle-brachial index is a simple test that compares the blood pressures in the ankles and arms. It can indicate narrow arteries in the legs, which may be a sign of atherosclerosis.
All of these tests and screenings can help diagnose atherosclerosis, and alert people to the potential of developing cardiovascular diseases.
