Test for Blocked Arteries

Arteries are an important part of the human body as they are responsible for carrying blood to different parts of the human body. Besides carrying blood rich in oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body, it also transports nutrients. If there is too much fat deposited on the inner surface of the arteries, they narrow down, thereby reducing the flow of blood to the part of the body they server. This situation is also known as clogged arteries, atherosclerosis or clogged arteries. Usually, in this condition the atherosclerosis symptoms or clogged artery symptoms does not show up at an early stage, and it's only when the situation deteriorates, when the blood flow to vital organs like heart or brain reduces, that the blocked arteries is detected. A doctor may suspect narrowed or blocked arteries, if during the course of physical examination he find hears a peculiar sound. There are different tests for blocked arteries which you will need to go through to detect this condition.

Test for Carotid Arterial Blockage

It's the carotid artery that supplies blood to the brain and it passes through the neck. Blocked arteries in neck, may lead to stroke if not taken care of. In the past, test for blocked arteries was not that advanced as it is today. The doctor examines the patient with a stethoscope and looks for a peculiar sound which may be heard. If he suspects anything wrong, you may need to go through a ultrasound test, which would give a clear idea of whether there's any blockage of your arteries. If there is any blockage, he would prescribe medications accordingly. Another test for clogged arteries which you may need to go through includes magnetic resonance angiography or contrast angiography. In a magnetic resonance angiography, MRI scans of your blood vessels are done to pinpoint and determine the extent of blockage.

How do they Test for Blocked Arteries

Tests for blocked arteries follow a long drawn out process. Initially if the doctor suspects blocked arteries, he checks for your blood pressure. If he finds that your blood pressure has increased, it means that you may have hypertension or atherosclerosis, a condition in which the walls of the arteries thickens due to excess fat. If he thinks that one of these conditions is the case, then he may prescribe further tests, which may include vascular lab studies, blood tests, electrocardiogram, angiogram or cardiac stress test.

A vascular lab test includes checking the blood pressure in different parts of the body, especially the arms and ankles. In this test, duplex ultrasonography method is used so as to assess the vertebral, carotid and cervical arteries and pin point the exact location of the blockage. Blood tests may also be prescribed to check for cholesterol levels in the body besides taking a look at the diabetes levels.

You may also be required to go through an electrocardiogram (ECG) test. This tests and records the electrical signals which come out of the brain, besides recording the rate of heartbeat. The test gives a good idea of any heart diseases or a heart attack which may have occurred in the past. An Angiogram test can also be carried out to detect blocked arteries. The procedure includes injecting a special dye into the arteries after which a scan of the arteries is carried out. During the scan, blockages and narrow spots are detected. Cardiac stress test, computed tomography, coronary angiography, positron emission tomography (PET) and ultrasound are the other procedures which may be carried out to detect blocked arteries.

Test for blocked arteries needs to be carried out as soon as possible or else it may lead to serious medical conditions one of which is cardiovascular diseases. As with all medical conditions, the doctor knows best, and so you need to consult one as soon as you find some discomfort.