Looking Deeper: Advanced Imaging Sees How Blood Is Flowing

Vascular disease is any condition that affects the blood flow in your veins and arteries.

These conditions include clots, plaque buildup in your arteries and ruptures. They can cause serious harm, such as stroke, heart attack or loss of circulation. Vascular problems can happen anywhere in your body but typically occur in your legs, neck, brain, kidneys, heart and abdomen.

In some cases, there are no symptoms of the disease. In others, like a blood clot in the leg, for example, you may experience swelling, pain or cramps. If you are at risk for developing a condition that disrupts your blood flow, your doctor may recommend vascular imaging.

“For those with hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, nonhealing wounds, a family history of aneurysm and who may be at high risk for stroke and heart attack, we can help detect potential disruptions in blood flow that can cause serious medical issues if left untreated such as loss of a limb or damage to the heart or kidney,” said Zahide Erkmen, MD, director of Vascular Imaging with Adventist HealthCare Imaging.

An Easier Option for Diagnosis

By using noninvasive imaging techniques that don’t necessarily use radiation, such as ultrasound, specially trained radiologists and technologists can image your veins’ and arteries’ function and help your doctor determine the best treatment options for you.

As one of the only comprehensive, diagnostic vascular imaging programs in the area, the experts at Adventist HealthCare Imaging can help get a clear picture of potential problems in the veins and arteries in the neck, leg, brain and abdomen. With easy scheduling and convenient appointment times, our outpatient imaging offices can ensure you get care when you need it.

“Having this service easily available helps community members receive a faster diagnosis so they can get treatment quicker and resume their lives faster,” Dr. Erkmen said.