Why AngioScreen

The 6 ultrasound photos in the AngioScreen^® report show the neck arteries that go to the front of the brain. These arteries are called carotid arteries, and there is one on the right and one on the left. The color pictures show flowing blood in the carotid arteries. The color outlines the inside of the blood vessel. In these pictures blood is flowing from the heart on the right side of the image and to the brain on the left side of the image. Blockages also called plaque in the blood vessel interrupt the color band and at times will narrow or constrict it.

Underneath each color image is a black and white image of the same blood vessel. Careful inspection of the black and white image will let you see the buildup of cholesterol called plaque within the wall of the blood vessel. Often the plaque is more easily identified in the black and white images than in the colored ones. The color images help you locate where the blood vessel is located in the picture and guide your eyes along the path of the flowing blood.

If there is narrowing in the artery, then the flowing blood can become or becomes turbulent just as in a river that gets narrower, where the water flows faster in the center stream. The Peak Systolic Velocity of flowing blood can be measured in arteries by Doppler methods which determine the shift of flowing blood.

When there is no blood flow, there is no velocity or PSV equals 0. If there is narrowing in the artery, then the flowing blood can be turbulent. When the PSV is 125 cm/sec or greater, then there is at least 50% narrowing of the artery. A 50% narrowing is considered “significant” and further testing is needed. Generally when the PSV is 125 cm/sec or greater, the color picture of the artery will show a yellow color at the point of blockage. When the blockage is very severe, there may be a gap in the color picture of the artery.

Normal PSV value is 1 – 124 (less than 50% blockage). If the PSV is 125 or greater, or 0, please inform your personal physician that screening has suggested a 50% blockage or greater. A PSV of 0 is considered severe and further testing is needed.

Your blood pressure is a measure of the work that your heart performs by driving the flow of blood throughout your body. High blood pressure is an important risk factor for heart attack and stroke and is called the “silent killer.” You can have high blood pressure and feel perfectly fine.

However, 25% of all Americans have high blood pressure and yet one third do not know it. Those with uncontrollable high blood pressure are three times more likely to have a heart attack and seven times more likely to have a stroke. High blood pressure affects organs other than the heart and brain. High blood pressure can lead to kidney failure and accelerate hardening of the arteries.

Your pulse is a measure of vascular fitness. A low resting pulse in the absence of disease is a sign of fitness. A low pulse is less than 60 beats per minute. A high resting pulse is greater than 100.

Your heart rhythm is an important measure in AngioScreen^®. The normal heart rhythm is called sinus rhythm. At times there can be irregularities in the rhythm. One of the important cardiac rhythms to identify is ATRIAL FIBRILLATION (AFib). AFib is a rapid and irregular heart beat where the heart’s upper and lower chambers are not synchronized in the pumping of blood. The fast and irregular beating of the heart’s top chambers in AFib can lead to clotting within the heart. When such clots travel to the brain’s arteries they produce a stroke.

Individuals with AFib have an annual stroke risk of 4-5%. More than 10 million Americans have AFib; it is the most common adult arrhythmia. Medication can lower the stroke risk in AFib by more than 75%. While some people have no symptoms of AFib, some experience palpitations, shortness of breath, lightheadedness or fatigue. If you experience any of these symptoms, or any symptoms, you should consult your physician immediately. Even if your AngioScreen^® report does not detect AFib and you have no symptoms, this does not mean that you do not have AFib. Sometimes AFib can only be detected by monitoring over an extended period of time to reflect what happens when you are walking or exercising. It is important to see your physician regarding a full study of your heart rhythm.

Body Mass Index is a formula used to determine obesity. It is calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by height in meters squared (kg/m2). It is a simple and validated measure for predicting the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack and diabetes. The higher the number, the more excess body fat is present and the greater the risk for heart attack or stroke. The ideal range is 18.5-24.9.

Ankle Brachial Index is a screening test for blockages in the arteries that go to the legs. Such blockage or plaque is call Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD). More than 10 million Americans have PAD, and 90% do not know they have it. A person with PAD is two to four times more likely to have a heart attack compared to the general population. ABI screening can help determine if you have PAD. Make sure that you show your personal physician your ABI measurements.

The normal range is 0.91 - 1.30. If your ABI is greater than 1.30, the presence of other disease besides vascular can occur. Please discuss your ABI measurements with your physician. At times the ABI cannot be measured if the leg arteries are so full of calcium that the blood pressure cannot be determined. This is sometimes seen in patients with diabetes or severe kidney disease.

Expansion of the aorta is normal to some extent with age. However, if more extensive, it may result in an aneurysm. An aneurysm is a weak area in the aorta, the main blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The weak area bulges like a balloon and can burst. If the aneurysm becomes large, the risk of rupture increases significantly and an operation may be necessary. Unfortunately, most aortic aneurysms present no symptoms until it is too late.

This may be a supplemental test available that includes taking an ultrasound of the abdomen. The normal aortic diameter is 3.0 cm and less depending on age, gender, size and weight of the person. If your aortic diameter is above 3.0 cm, then you should contact your personal physician.