At Zenith Vascular & Fibroid Center in Memphis, TN, we believe strongly that each of our clients deserves to live a happy, healthy life. That is why we are proud to offer the safest, most effective diagnostic methods to identify illnesses and help you treat them. Today, we answer some of our most commonly asked questions about a vascular ultrasound.

What Can I Expect From a Vascular Ultrasound?

Before your vascular ultrasound, we will ask you to change into a gown and lie down on the examination table. Your specially trained ultrasound tech will ensure your comfort and then conduct your examination. To ensure the ultrasound equipment maintains good contact with your skin, a gel is applied. Then the transducer, which is a small handheld device, is applied to the area.

High-frequency sound waves transmit through your body during a vascular ultrasound. The transducer aggregates data from the sound waves that bounce back. The ultrasound device translates this data into images that appear on a screen in the room. Once your ultrasound technician has collected all the images she needs, she will send them to a radiologist to interpret them and create a full report.

How Long Will the Exam Take?

Because there is no need for anesthesia, you will not have to spend too long in our office. Depending on what we are looking for and where we are looking, your exam will only take between 30 and 45 minutes. Once we have all the images we need, we will remove the ultrasound gel and you are free to get dressed and enjoy the rest of your day.

What Can I Expect From the Results?

There are many reasons why this examination may be performed. For instance, it may be used to detect aneurysms, blockages or blood clots in deep veins. It may be performed to assess how successful a prior procedure was or whether a particular blood vessel is a good candidate for grafting.

If you have heart disease, your physician may request this examination to see the extent of plaque buildup. This imaging test also allows radiologists to monitor blood flow to internal tissues and organs. Finally, it may be used to determine the location and extent of varicose veins and identify candidacy for angioplasty.

What Side Effects Can I Expect?

Ultrasounds have been used safely and effectively for 64 years. In all this time, there have been no reports of harmful side effects from the examination. More importantly, because it is non-invasive, there is no self-care afterward. You may take all your regular medications and drink and eat as normal.

What Preparation Requirements Can I Expect?

During your initial consultation, we will provide you with a comprehensive list of everything you need to do in preparation for your vascular imaging test. The preparation required depends on the area of your body being tested and the goal of the examination.

For aortic, renal artery stenosis or iliac vena cava vascular imaging test, you should not eat or drink for six hours beforehand. You may take a sip of water with medication if absolutely necessary.

Abdominal Vascular Imaging Preparation

Preparation vascular imaging tests are used to test the kidneys, pancreas, liver, spleen, gallbladder, abdominal aorta or biliary system. This exam takes only half an hour, but the preparation requirements are a little more rigid. Adults should not eat or drink for eight hours prior to the exam.

Children should skip a meal or avoid eating and drinking during the four hours leading up to the examination. Diabetics should take insulin as normal. However, any other medication should only be taken with a sip of water if absolutely necessary.

Should I Consider a Vascular Imaging Test?

During your initial consultation, we will help you determine if this imaging test will be beneficial for you. Because it can be used to capture images virtually anywhere, there is an excellent chance this imaging test can help you. Here are some cases when we recommend this type of test:

You May Have Deep Vein Thrombosis

If you have been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or you think you may suffer from deep vein thrombosis, you can benefit from a vascular imaging test. This will tell us exactly where the blood clot is, how large it is and how severely it is narrowing your veins.

You Have Varicose Veins

If you suffer from varicose veins or spider veins, you can also benefit from this diagnostic imaging test. Primarily, it tells us exactly where the affected veins are, the extent of their effect, how many veins are affected and if there are any blood clots attached to the affected veins.

Moreover, ultrasound technology can be used to help us treat varicose veins. We proudly offer ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy to provide the safest, most comfortable, most effective varicose vein treatments. Among other things, this tells us if there are venous or arterial vascular problems.

You Have Spider Veins

Vascular imaging can also benefit you if you suffer from spider veins. But it doesn’t just help us identify and assess the affected veins. It also helps us inject treatment exactly where it will be the most effective.

You Have Kidney Problems

The problem with most imaging tests is they require special dyes that are damaging to the kidneys. If one of your kidneys is already damaged, you are not a good candidate for that type of imaging test. This is not the case with vascular imaging. Moreover, this type of imaging test can create accurate pictures of the kidneys to identify problems quickly.

You Suffer From Peripheral Arterial Disease

Particularly if you will receive an endovascular procedure to treat peripheral arterial disease, you should strongly consider diagnostic vascular imaging. Peripheral arterial disease is a medical condition that leads the arteries in your lower extremities to become so clogged or narrowed that circulation is impeded. Eventually, your leg muscles can’t receive enough oxygen to function.

Angioplasty and stenting are the most common endovascular procedure recommended to treat peripheral arterial disease. This procedure is also used to treat angina caused by blocked arteries to the heart. In the case of peripheral arterial disease affecting your legs, bypass may be recommended to prevent you from losing a foot or leg due to extreme arterial narrowing.

You Have Emboli

You may know that thrombi are clots of blood that are commonly associated with varicose veins. But did you know that emboli are just as dangerous as thrombi? These are clots that form inside blood vessels. They are most commonly comprised of clusters of bacteria, fat globules or air.

However, they may also be made up of foreign matter, such as shrapnel. Vascular imaging allows us to remove whatever type of clot you have safely and effectively. Removal of thrombi is particularly important because thrombi can break off, travel through your circulatory system, lodge into your lungs and prove fatal.

You Have Venous Inflammation

Ultrasound can also be used to treat internal venous inflammation. Venous inflammation may occur due to trauma, infection or an autoimmune disorder. Examples of trauma include chemical trauma, like from the injection of an irritant, or physical trauma, like from a fall. Autoimmune disorder examples include aortic arch syndrome, Raynaud’s disease and polyarteritis.

Is a Vascular Ultrasound the Same Thing As a Doppler Ultrasound?

A Doppler ultrasound is often performed concurrently with a vascular ultrasound memphis. They are not the same thing. A Doppler ultrasound is used to measure blood flow and create color images to indicate the speed and direction of blood flow through the vascular system. This examination is usually conducted on the veins and arteries of the neck, legs, arms and abdomen.

What Can I Expect Before a Doppler Ultrasound?

During your initial consultation, we will provide you with a comprehensive list of instructions so you can prepare for your Doppler ultrasound. Neither sedation nor fasting will be required. However, you should avoid smoking and drinking caffeine for two hours before the exam.

What Can I Expect During a Doppler Exam?

At the start of your exam, you must remove any jewelry or accessories that may interfere with the exam. However, you are free to wear dentures, spectacles or hearing aids. If your exam requires you to remove clothing, you will put on a gown. Then, you will lie down on the exam bed. Your ultrasound tech will apply the gel to the area she wants to hear a pulse from.

Your ultrasound tech will apply a blood pressure cuff in three different locations in the area. For instance, in the case of the legs, cuffs will be placed around the thigh, calf and ankle. The cuff on the thigh will be inflated first. The Doppler transducer placed just below the cuff will determine the blood pressure. Next, the calf cuff will be inflated. Blood pressure is measured. Last, the ankle cuff is inflated and blood pressure measured.

What Can I Expect After a Doppler Exam?

After a Doppler exam, you are free to go about your day. There is no special after-care or restrictions. Once the radiologist analyzes the images and makes a diagnosis, you will schedule a follow-up appointment. During this appointment, we will create a customized treatment plan to address whatever medical concerns you have.

How Can I Keep My Veins Healthy?

While vascular imaging can be used to help treat your veins, it is important to keep your veins healthy once they are healed. Here are some actionable steps you can take to protect your venous health:

Eat Right

The health of your vein walls depends largely on a healthy diet. Consume your recommended daily allowance (RDA) of nutrients by trying to eat fruits and vegetables with every meal. Consuming no more than three grams of sodium daily will also protect venous health by not impeding circulation.

Use Compression

If you have suffered from venous insufficiency in the past, you are at risk of developing it again in the future. An excellent preventative measure you can take is wearing a prescription compression garment. These help your body move blood from the extremities back to your heart.

Seek Treatment

Venous insufficiency rarely gets better on its own. The best thing you can do to keep your veins healthy is to seek treatment if you start to notice signs of a vein condition. The sooner you are diagnosed with vascular imaging and treated, the better off you will be.

Schedule Your Initial Consultation Today

For the best organ care you can receive in Memphis, we strongly urge you to call us today at Zenith Vascular & Fibroid Center in Memphis, TN to schedule your initial consultation. With the help of vascular ultrasound equipment, we can quickly and accurately diagnose what ails you so we can get you on the best possible treatment plan for your needs.

Do you frequently experience leg pain when doing simple things such as walking around? If so, you may be suffering from peripheral arterial disease (PAD), also known as peripheral artery disease. Some sufferers of PAD do not exhibit any symptoms, so it is important to understand the risk factors so you can effectively reduce your likelihood of contracting this disease.

If you would like more information, or if you believe you may be suffering from PAD, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the team at Zenith Vascular & Fibroid Center. We are conveniently located in Memphis, TN, and our professionals would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!

What is Peripheral Arterial Disease?

In essence, PAD is a circulatory disease. It occurs when the blood flow is constricted due to narrowed arteries. That’s why you may experience pain when walking; the blood isn’t able to reach the areas it’s supposed to go. This leg pain is also known as claudication, and it is the main indicator for PAD.

Peripheral arterial disease can also occur when there are fatty deposits built up in your arteries. These deposits restrict blood flow, which affects your heart and your brain. It can also affect your legs, which causes pain.

Non-Medical Treatments for PAD

Some advisable steps you can take to treat PAD on your own include:

• Quitting the use of any tobacco products
• Exercising regularly
• Eating a healthy diet

If these lifestyle changes have little to no effect on your condition, then it may be time to consult with medical professionals to explore your treatment options.

Symptoms to Look out For

Simply looking for pain in the legs while walking isn’t the best way to spot PAD. There are a few more specific symptoms you can look out for to help you determine if it is time to seek medical help. If you have peripheral arterial disease, you may experience painful cramping that occurs in one or both of your legs after walking, running, or climbing stairs.

Leg numbness or weakness that has no discernable cause can also be a sign of PAD. Sore that won’t heal, hair loss on the feet and legs, as well as shiny skin on your legs can all indicate peripheral arterial disease.

Contact Us

This is simply a general overview of peripheral arterial disease and what to look for. For more comprehensive information, please visit Zenith Vascular & Fibroid Center in Memphis, TN. We can provide you with more information about PAD as well as which treatments may be right for you. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!

Varicose veins are known as the big brother of spider veins. Like spider veins, they can be clearly seen and are aesthetically unappealing. Both types of disordered veins appear discolored and twisted, but that’s where the similarities end. At Zenith Vascular & Fibroid Center in Memphis, TN, we value your health and wellbeing. Today, we answer one of your most commonly asked questions, when should I consider varicose veins treatment and many others.

What Are Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins are enlarged twisted veins usually found near the surface of the skin, though can also be found deeper within the body. They most commonly develop in the ankles and legs. But they can appear on the face, hands, chest and other locations, as well. You may have them on one side of your body or the other or on both sides of your body.

Symptoms of Varicose Veins

Everyone experiences varicose veins differently. The universal symptom of this type of disordered vein is its appearance. Other extremely common symptoms include localized pain, discomfort, tingling, heaviness and swelling.

Unfortunately, the symptoms do not end there. Varicose veins can develop clots. When your varicose veins are deep within your body, they can develop clots and cause a condition known as deep vein thrombosis. If one of these clots breaks off from the vein, it can travel all the way to your lung. When a blood clot is implanted into one of your lungs, the condition is known as a pulmonary embolism. This is a potentially life-threatening condition.

When Should I Consider Varicose Vein Treatment?

If you notice varicose veins on your body, come in for an in-person consultation to determine the best varicose vein treatment for your needs. Depending on the cause, extent and severity of your varicose veins, you may try one or more at-home treatments before opting for a medical treatment or procedure. Here’s a general overview of a few of the most popular:

Weight Loss

If your varicose veins are caused by obesity, weight loss is the first line in defense against developing future varicose veins once your existing ones have been treated. Keep in mind that even a 10% reduction in excess body fat will make a drastic improvement in the quality of your life, including your health and happiness. If you need help to lose weight, consult a licensed nutritionist to help you get your diet in check. Diet accounts for 90% of weight loss.

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is one of the most popular methods of varicose vein treatment because it is non-invasive and effective. It involves the injection of a sclerosant in either liquid or foam form. Foam is most often used to treat larger varicose veins.

Liquid sclerosants are composed of a saline (saltwater) solution. These are used for smaller varicose veins and for individuals who are allergic to both types of foam sclerosant. You should consider this type of varicose vein treatment if you are not pregnant and at-home treatments are ineffective.

What Can I Expect During This Treatment?

This non-invasive treatment requires no general anesthesia. The needle used is fine enough to not cause pain during injection or removal. However, lidocaine is included in the injection to numb the treatment area and prevent any discomfort.

What Results Can I Expect From Treatment?

The results of sclerotherapy can be seen within a few weeks of treatment for spider veins and smaller varicose veins. For larger varicose veins, you will experience immediate relief from physical symptoms, but the visual improvement may not be seen for two to four months. In 17% of cases, larger varicose veins will require a second treatment a month after the initial treatment.

Where Can Sclerotherapy Be Performed?

Sclerotherapy can be performed virtually anywhere you have varicose veins. Most often, it is used to treat varicose veins and spider veins in the face, particularly the sides of the nose, as well as the feet, ankles, calves and thighs.

What Is the Recovery Process Like?

The recovery process for sclerotherapy is minimal. For the first 24 hours, you should wear a compression garment. Other than that, you can return to most of your daily routine immediately.

What Aftercare Steps Are Necessary?

One of the reasons sclerotherapy is so popular is how few aftercare steps there are. To avoid affecting your body’s blood clotting process, avoid taking NSAIDs and aspirin for the first 24 hours after treatment. If you feel any discomfort, take Tylenol as directed on the package.

Avoid excessive heat for the first 48 hours after treatment. This means no vigorous exercise. It’s also important not to sunbathe, take hot baths or showers, try to unwind in a sauna or swim in a heated pool.

How Should I Prepare?

To prepare for sclerotherapy, do not take NSAIDs or aspirin for 48 hours before treatment. You should also avoid vitamins and herbal supplements which thin your blood. During your initial consultation, we will provide you with a comprehensive list of which medications and supplements to avoid.

Do not shave or apply lotion to the treatment site on the day of your treatment and let us know of any historic or current medical conditions, including active skin infections and a history of blood disorders.

Watch Your Diet

If you suffer from varicose veins, diet is the first method of varicose vein treatment. Excess venous blood pressure, which you can lower by drastically reducing your sodium intake, can form varicose veins. The easiest way to reduce sodium intake without reading the nutrition labels on everything you consume is to avoid processed foods and cook with fresh food, instead. Processed foods, and especially processed meats and fast foods, contain extremely high levels of sodium.

You should also reduce your consumption of bad cholesterol, reduce your sugar intake, drink more water and limit caffeine and alcohol consumption. As part of a healthy lifestyle, it is important to consume plenty of fiber, too. This fiber should come from natural sources like whole grains, vegetables and low-carb fruits.

Quit Smoking

It’s hard to stop smoking, but even reducing your tobacco intake gradually will greatly improve your varicose veins and overall quality of life. Nicotine is one of the hundreds of chemical compounds found in tobacco that elevates your blood pressure. This excess blood pressure can cause your veins to warp and damage the venous walls and valves responsible for healthy blood flow. This is another form of varicose vein treatment you should consider implementing immediately.

Wear Compression Garments

For immediate relief from varicose vein symptoms, wear compression garments, which can be purchased “over-the-counter” at your favorite local pharmacy. If you do not find relief from these low-pressure compression garments after a few months, come in for an initial consultation. We can determine the ideal pressure your compression garments and write you a prescription for the right garment.

When your varicose veins are in your legs, compression stockings or compression stocks are most often prescribed. When varicose veins affect your arms, a high-pressure sleeve will be prescribed. Compression garments are most often prescribed during pregnancy. This is because between the average venous blood volume increase of 40% and the hormonal changes that cause rapid weight gain in your lower abdomen, pregnancy is the most significant risk factor for varicose veins, second only to age.

Move More

Once again, moving more is a treatment for varicose veins that we strongly recommend implementing immediately. A sedentary lifestyle, whether that involves standing in place for excessive periods or sitting still excessively, is a very significant risk factor for varicose veins. There are innumerable health benefits associated with physical activity. One of them is improved circulation. The stronger your circulatory system, the easier it is for your veins to pump blood against the effects of gravity back to your heart.

Physical activity also strengthens the muscles surrounding your veins. This also supports your vein’s ability to circulate blood. If you have a sedentary job, set a quiet alarm for every 15 minutes and do squats or wall sits at your desk.

Every hour, you should get up and walk around a little. Whether this is getting another cup of water, using the restroom or filing paperwork you’ve been putting off, make sure you get up and walk for a minute. According to the American Heart Association and CDC, you should perform 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise weekly for heart health and disease prevention.

Elevate Your Legs

If you have varicose veins caused by pregnancy, there is no need to consider sclerotherapy or invasive techniques like varicose vein stripping. What you can do is walk and swim regularly, watch your diet, stay hydrated, wear compression garments and elevate your legs above your heart.

If you do not have a bed that allows you to adjust the incline of your mattress, lie on your back and place a couple of throw pillows under your ankles. You should also elevate your legs above your heart if you will be sitting for an extended period of time. Implement this treatment for varicose veins as soon as you notice them.

Varicose Vein Stripping

Varicose vein stripping, also known as vein stripping with ablation, avulsion or ligation, is used as a last resort to treat varicose veins. It is performed under general anesthesia using a handheld ultrasound device to pinpoint the precise locations of the damaged valves. A duplex scan may also be ordered to determine the extent of the effect on blood flow.

You should consider this form of treatment for varicose veins if you have deep vein blood clots. Before your procedure, let us know of all over-the-counter and prescription medications you are taking. You may need to suspend the use of these drugs and supplements temporarily before and after treatment.

How Can I Prepare for This Procedure?

This procedure is performed under general anesthesia. You cannot drive within 24 hours of being under general anesthesia, so you must arrange for a friend or relative to drive you home. If your body does not respond well to general anesthesia and you are nervous about your procedure, you may be given spinal anesthesia and anti-anxiety medication.

You should also prepare to spend between two and four weeks in recovery. You will receive prescription narcotics to keep you comfortable. Expect to stay off your feet as much as possible for the first 72 to 96 hours post-op. This depends on how many veins were stripped and the locations of those veins.

Learn More Today

Do you suffer from varicose veins? Are you wondering if varicose vein treatment is right for you? Would you like to learn more about the best options for your unique situation? We’re here to help. To schedule your initial consultation, contact the professional vein experts at Zenith Vascular & Fibroid Center in Memphis, TN today.