When the arteries in your feet, legs, and other extremities become clogged, you may develop a number of issues. For example, you might feel pain in your legs or develop cold feet. In addition, injuries on your feet can take a long time to heal.
Other Symptoms
In addition to developing feet and leg issues, clogged arteries can cause you to experience dizzy, weak feelings, and heart palpitations. You may also sweat, feel nauseated, or have difficulty breathing.
Addressing Your Symptoms
If you are experiencing chest pain, cold feet, or other warning signs of clogged arteries, you should not ignore your symptoms. Receiving a diagnosis will allow you to improve your health and reduce your risk of experiencing a stroke or heart attack.
At the Commonwealth Vein Center, we can use a variety of tests to analyze your arteries and determine the cause of your symptoms. For example, an angiogram is a minimally invasive test that allows us to diagnose many different cardiovascular illnesses.
How Does an Angiogram Work?
This diagnostic test uses specialized technology to create images of your arteries and heart. We will begin your angiogram by gently inserting a small tube into one of your arteries. This tube, which is called a catheter, will allow us to transmit a specialized contrast dye into your artery.
Usually, we cannot view your blood vessels on an X-ray. However, this specialized dye will allow us to create X-ray images of your arteries. Watching the dye move through your blood vessels will allow us to create detailed images of any damage that exists in your heart or arteries. We will use these images to determine whether you have clogged blood vessels or other health issues.
What Medical Issues Can This Test Be Used to Diagnose?
We can use this imaging test to diagnose a variety of cardiovascular conditions.
Coronary Atherosclerosis
Coronary atherosclerosis, also called coronary artery disease, occurs when plaque, fat, and other materials collect on the walls of the arteries that deliver blood to your heart. As these substances build up in your arteries, your blood vessels will become narrower. As a result, your blood flow can become completely or partially blocked.
Aneurysms
An aneurysm develops when your blood pressure causes the wall of one of your arteries to bulge. Aneurysms often form in arteries in your stomach and chest. If you do not treat an aneurysm, you might have a stroke or develop bleeding issues and blood clots.
Pulmonary Embolisms
A pulmonary embolism is an arterial blockage that harms the blood flow in your lungs. In many cases, this issue develops when blood clots block the flow of blood through one or more of the arteries in your lungs.
Other Conditions
In addition to the illnesses described above, we can use this imaging test to diagnose heart issues that you’ve had since birth. We can also use this test to analyze your arteries in preparation for a medical procedure.
How Should I Prepare for My Test?
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