The most reliable method of diagnosing varicose veins and cardiovascular problems
Do you have any doubts about varicose veins? Don’t worry, you’re not the only one – as many as 20% of the world’s population faces the problem of varicose veins. Although varicose veins are most often an aesthetic problem, they can carry a number of warnings that could point to more serious health conditions.
This is why a proper diagnosis is key to identifying any problems with your veins.
The method most often used to diagnose varicose veins and similar cardiovascular problems is ultrasound of the leg veins or color Doppler of the leg veins.
Color Doppler of the leg veins is most often one of the first tests in the treatment of diseases of the blood vessels.
Although the standard type of ultrasound is used to diagnose almost all soft tissues, objects and organs in the body, it is not able to identify the movement of fluid, that is, blood through the vessels.
This function is performed by color Doppler ultrasound. This means that it goes without saying that color Doppler will be done during ultrasound of the veins of the legs.
The goal of color Doppler is to give insight into the venous systems and see if there is damage to one of them.
At the same time, this method is completely safe and painless.
The color Doppler veins are blue and the arteries are red.
What is important about him is the shade of a particular color that indicates certain states. The darker the color in the depiction, the slower the flow of blood through the vessels. Lighter shades indicate faster blood flow.
Slower blood flow can indicate possible blockage of blood vessels, varicose veins, thrombosis and even hormonal changes during pregnancy
In addition to colors, ultrasound can also show thickenings in certain places, which also indicates problems with varicose veins.
In addition to new diagnoses, color Doppler ultrasound of the veins of the legs can help us determine changes in the veins after deep vein thrombosis or inflammatory changes in superficial veins (thrombophlebitis).
This method of diagnosis is the best for detecting any abnormalities of the cardiovascular system for now.
A textbook example of the Doppler effect would be a motorcycle or a passing car. When a motor vehicle approaches us, it emits a higher frequency, but once it passes by and starts moving away, it emits another, lower frequency.
Although the Doppler effect is fundamentally applicable to changing the motion of sound signals, it can also manifest itself in visual form. If the source of the waves is approaching, colors that lean towards the violet spectrum are displayed, the so-called blue shift. If the source of the waves is moving away, the colors shown will tend towards the red spectrum, the so-called redshift.
Color Doppler ultrasound is set to record a blue shift in the veins and a red shift in the arteries. The darker the colors in the images shown (dark blue or dark red), the slower the flow of blood through the vessels. If the ultrasound shows lighter shades, then the blood flow is faster.
This type of diagnosis can give a broad insight into possible complications of the cardiovascular system.
A great advantage of ultrasound examination is minimal preparation before the appointment.
There are few things you should avoid before color Doppler of the leg veins, but there are still little things to follow. So, for example, smoking is prohibited two hours before the ultrasound. Namely, nicotine constricts blood vessels, so the final results would not be precise.
In case of latex allergy, inform our staff so that the examination is carried out with probes that have other materials on them.
Once you arrive for the examination, the staff will direct you to the table where the ultrasound equipment is located.
When you lie down on the table, the doctor will apply the gel to the part of the skin on which the probe will emit waves. During the procedure, you may feel a slight pulse from the probe that will slide over the skin, which is a completely normal situation.
The ultrasound will simultaneously record and convert the sound signal into an image, and the doctor will be able to give you an insight into your health condition based on what is shown.
During the vein imaging procedure, the doctor will compare the blood flow in different circumstances, for example, imaging while the leg is raised, the imaging while the leg is lowered.
With this approach, the doctor can see differences in the speed of blood flow and a possible slower flow that can indicate problems such as varicose veins, thrombosis, etc.
Color Doppler ultrasound imaging usually takes about 30 minutes, is painless, and radiation does not pose any risks, which makes it safe for pregnant women.
Once your doctor diagnoses you with varicose veins problems, he can give you adequate therapy and refer you for further tests as time goes on.
In severe cases of varicose veins, laser surgery may be the best solution.
If the varicose veins are negligible, or only of an aesthetic nature, the doctor may opt for sclerotherapy – a liquid that instantly destroys the varicose veins by injecting them. Such an approach is common in the phenomenon of spider veins.
If you notice sluggishness in the legs, unpleasant burning or tightness, itching or redness that may be the result of varicose veins, we recommend coming for an examination of varicose veins.
Based on what we have seen, we can judge whether it is really varicose veins or another health problem that has similar symptoms.
Communication with the doctor is very important and useful in such situations, because by listening to your experiences, the doctor can come to conclusions that were not immediately obvious.
If complications such as blockage of blood vessels, varicose veins or pressure problems are suspected, an appointment for an ultrasound of color Doppler veins is the optimal solution for a proper diagnosis.
Our main goal at Lohuis Filipović Polyclinic is to improve the quality of life and health of our clients by providing them with top-notch health services. That is why we have gathered a team of top experts, specialists and subspecialists who are the backbone of our multidisciplinary centers and specialist clinics.
In order to maintain the high quality of our medical services, we strive to be always available to our clients. For a consultation and examination with our expert team, you can contact us by phone at +3851 2444646 or via our online form. Opening hours for orders are Monday to Friday 10:15 a.m. – 6:15 p.m.
We will warmly welcome you at the premises of the LF Polyclinic at Vrbik 8a, Zagreb.
Contact us with confidence and let us come up with the best solutions and answers to all your questions together.
