8, 12, 2023

Exploring Arterial Exams: Comprehensive Vascular Care at La Jolla Vein and Vascular

2023-10-11T16:01:37-07:00

Exploring Arterial Exams: Comprehensive Vascular Care at La Jolla Vein and Vascular

Exploring La Jolla Vein & Vascular Arterial Assessments and Vascular Diagnostic Center

When it comes to preserving vascular health, the keys are early identification and precise diagnosis. At our facility, we present an all-inclusive solution for vascular imaging and consultations with expert physicians, all conveniently under one roof. With our cutting-edge non-invasive vascular diagnostic center, we leverage advanced imaging technology to detect and evaluate vascular conditions affecting blood circulation within arteries and veins. This blog post will take you through the advantages and expertise of our vascular diagnostic center, the array of conditions we diagnose, and the range of ultrasound testing we provide.

The Perks of Our Vascular Diagnostic Center

Our dedication to your vascular well-being transcends conventional healthcare. We offer an array of advantages to ensure your comfort and convenience:

Non-Invasive Testing: Our vascular diagnostic center specializes in non-invasive testing methods, guaranteeing a comfortable experience for our patients.

Same-Day Imaging Appointments: We acknowledge the importance of swift diagnosis. Thus, we provide same-day imaging appointments to promptly address your vascular concerns.

Comprehensive Care Under One Roof: Bid farewell to the hassle of juggling multiple locations for imaging, diagnosis, and treatment. At our facility, you can undergo vascular imaging and consult with a healthcare provider all in one place.

Private, Tranquil Rooms: Your comfort takes precedence in our book. Our private examination rooms are thoughtfully designed to offer a serene environment for your vascular tests.

Conditions We Identify

Our vascular diagnostic center is equipped to identify a wide spectrum of vascular conditions, including, but not limited to:

Venous Ailments:

  • Varicose Veins
  • Chronic Venous Insufficiency
  • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
  • Carotid Artery Disease and Stroke (Transient Ischemic Attack or Stroke)*

Arterial Disorders:

  • Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)**
  • Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)
  • Upper Extremity Arterial Disease

Unpacking Duplex Ultrasound

Duplex ultrasound stands as a powerful diagnostic tool deployed in our vascular diagnostic center. It melds Doppler flow data with traditional imaging (B-mode) to deliver a comprehensive picture of your blood vessels. Essential elements of duplex ultrasound encompass:

Visualization of Structure: Duplex ultrasound empowers us to visualize the structure of your blood vessels, including their diameter and any obstructions.

Assessment of Blood Flow: It ascertains the velocity of blood flow within your vessels, examines the direction of blood flow, and identifies any impediments or blood clots.

Valve Function: This technology also evaluates the functionality of valves within your veins and arteries.

Deep Vein Evaluation: Duplex ultrasound has the capability to visualize deep veins nestled within the muscles, furnishing invaluable data for diagnosing conditions like varicose veins.

Varieties of Ultrasound Testing on Offer

Our vascular diagnostic center extends a diverse array of ultrasound testing options, including:

Direct Testing (Duplex Imaging):

  • Venous Assessments for Deep Vein Thrombosis and Venous Reflux
  • Arterial Examinations for the Abdominal Aorta, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening, and Carotid Duplex
  • Lower Extremity Duplex

Indirect Testing (Non-Imaging):

  • Arterial Testing like Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) with waveforms and Segmental pressures with waveforms (P&Ws) for the upper or lower extremity
  • Venous Reflux or Venous Insufficiency Evaluation

Our Duplex Ultrasound examination empowers us to visualize blood vessels that remain concealed to the naked eye, even when they’re tucked deep within the muscles. This examination plays a pivotal role in evaluating the underlying cause of varicose veins by identifying veins with malfunctioning valves and mapping out their anatomical structure, ultimately charting a path for a precise assessment and an effective treatment strategy.

Preparing for Your Examination

Getting ready for our ultrasound study is a straightforward affair. Just keep these pointers in mind:

No specific preparation is needed for this study.

On the day of your examination, avoid wearing compression stockings.

Stay hydrated to ensure the best possible experience.

Our vascular diagnostic center is steadfast in delivering top-tier vascular imaging services in a setting that is both convenient and comfortable. Through non-invasive testing, same-day appointments, and a comprehensive approach to vascular health, our goal is to guarantee your well-being and peace of mind. Entrust us with your vascular concerns, and let us guide you on the path to enhanced health.

“Bringing Experts Together for Unparalleled Vein and Vascular Care”

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care. 

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Amanda Steinberger, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care. 

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence. 

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330. 

 For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link, and our website https://ljvascular.com

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency,

Please follow our social media Instagram Profile and Tik Tok Profile for more fun videos and educational information. 

For more blogs and educational content, please check out our clinic’s blog posts

Exploring Arterial Exams: Comprehensive Vascular Care at La Jolla Vein and Vascular2023-10-11T16:01:37-07:00

30, 3, 2022

What is Carotid Artery Disease?

2022-03-30T16:49:46-07:00

What is carotid artery disease? 

Your carotid arteries are two main arteries that carry blood from your heart, up through your neck, to your brain. Healthy carotid arteries are smooth and unobstructed, allowing blood to flow freely to the brain and provide oxygen, glucose and other nutrients that your brain cells need. Carotid artery disease is a vascular disease.

Typically with age, the carotid arteries build up plaque, made up mostly of fat and cholesterol. Plaque narrows the insides of the arteries and makes them stiff. This process is commonly referred to as “hardening of the arteries,” or atherosclerosis. Carotid artery disease results when the carotid arteries become narrow or obstructed and provide a risk of the plaque traveling to the brain and causing a stroke.

What is a stroke?

Strokes are the third leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of perma- nent disability in older Healthy Plaque Build Up adults. Approximately 25% of strokes occur when bits of carotid plaque or clot break off and flow to the brain. If left untreated, carotid artery disease may lead to stroke, where lack of oxygen and other essential nutrients cause damage to the brain. Depending on its severity, a stroke can be fatal.

Symptoms of carotid artery disease: 

  • There may be no symptoms in the early stages of carotid artery disease, and stroke could be the first sign of the condition.
  • Stroke, however, typically has warning signs, referred to as mini-strokes or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs).
  • Mini-stroke symptoms are usually temporary, lasting a few minutes to a few hours, and should be treated as serious medical emergencies requiring immediate treatment because they are strong predictors of future stroke.

Some symptoms of stroke or TIA may include:

– Weakness, numbness, or tingling on one side of the body

– Inability to control movement of a body part

– Loss of vision or blurred vision in one or both eyes

– Inability to speak clearly

– Difficulty talking or comprehending what others are saying

Causes and risk factors of carotid disease:

  • High blood pressure and age
  • Diabetes
  • Smoking
  • High cholesterol and obesity
  • Lack of exercise
  • Family history of hardening of the arteries and/or stroke

Diagnosis of carotid artery disease: 

If your doctor suspects carotid artery disease, it can be confirmed by undergoing a noninvasive duplex ultrasound examination. The ultrasound can also show how severe the disease is. If you experience symptoms of a mini-stroke, seek medical attention immediately. Your physician may then ask you to see a vascular specialist since they are highly trained in every type of vascular procedure.

 

Treatment:

Depending on the severity of your condition, treatment options may include lifestyle changes, medications, or procedures such as carotid endarterectomy (cleaning out the plaque with surgery), or in select cases, carotid artery stenting. Some patients benefit from surgery even if they are having no symptoms based upon life expectancy and degree of narrowing.

 

What is Carotid Artery Disease?2022-03-30T16:49:46-07:00

3, 6, 2020

Blood Vessel Diseases that can be Diagnosed with Duplex Ultrasound

2020-09-18T18:19:53-07:00

Duplex ultrasound combines Doppler flow information and conventional imaging information, sometimes called B-mode, to allow physicians to see the structure of your blood vessels. Duplex ultrasound uses sound waves to get images of your blood vessels. It also helps determine how fast blood moves through the vessels. It can also be useful to estimate the diameter of a blood vessel as well as the amount of obstruction, if any, in the blood vessel. Using duplex ultrasound technology, the structure of your blood vessels, the valve function, the movement of your red blood cells and direction of blood flow through the vessels, and any blockages or blood clots can be seen.

Diseases of the blood vessels can affect both veins and arteries.

Vascular refers to the blood vessels in the body. There are two main types of blood vessels; the arteries and veins. Arteries bring oxygen-rich blood from the heart to every inch of the body; vein return the blood back to the heart and lungs for more oxygen. Vascular disease is when the blood vessels are no longer healthy.

Common types of vein disease include:

  • Varicose veins
  • Chronic venous insufficiency
  • Deep venous thrombosis

Common types of artery disease includes:

  • Carotid artery disease and stroke (TIA or Stroke)*
  • Lower extremity arterial disease (PAD)**
  • Upper extremity arterial disease
  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)
Blood Vessel Diseases that can be Diagnosed with Duplex Ultrasound2020-09-18T18:19:53-07:00
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