Though vascular health is often coupled with heart health when discussing men’s wellness topics, it’s a vital part of maintaining overall physical well-being that often goes overlooked. Approximately 6.5 million people age 40 and older are impacted by peripheral artery disease (PAD), 40% of which show few, if any, symptoms.
PAD is a vascular disease that causes blockages in the arteries to the legs and arms. This can build up over time and develop as men age. It can cause a hardening of arteries that would prevent blood flow to the heart and brain, eventually leading to coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, heart attack or even stroke if left untreated. If you notice that your legs or arms are feeling abnormally weak and achy, or if you’re experiencing cold or numb toes and fingers, hair loss on your extremities or frequent cramps, it’s best to schedule a visit with your doctor.
They may recommend a doppler study to help determine your risk. A Doppler ultrasound is a noninvasive test that can be used to estimate the blood flow through your vessels, including the body’s major arteries and veins in the abdomen, arms, legs and neck. It does this by bouncing high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) off circulating red blood cells and measuring their direction and speed. A computer translates the sound waves into moving images that can be seen live on a screen.
Mas Imaging can conduct these studies right in the comfort of your own home or environment, and at the convenience of your schedule. And our ability to provide fast results can help speed up your treatment so you can get back to optimal health much faster!
Learn more on our Services page.
Explore last week’s topic – Heart Disease.
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