Vascular screening is a painless and straightforward way to check the status of your blood vessels. It helps find disorders like blocked or narrowed arteries before they become serious. Many people don’t think about their vascular health until something goes wrong. But like heart check-ups, vascular screenings are essential for staying healthy as we age.
So, how often should you get a vascular screening? The answer depends on age, health, family history, and risk factors.
What Is Vascular Screening?
A vascular screening looks at the major arteries in your body to see how well blood is flowing. It can detect early signs of conditions like:
- Carotid artery disease – narrowing in the arteries of the neck that can lead to stroke.
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm – a bulge in the aorta, the main artery within the body, can burst if not treated.
- Peripheral artery disease (PAD) – blocked arteries in the legs that cause pain and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. And many other disorders.
Who Should Get Screened?
Not everyone needs a vascular screening, but for certain people, it’s strongly recommended. You may need one if you:
- Are over 65
- Smoke or used to smoke
- Have high blood pressure.
- Have diabetes
- Have high cholesterol
- Have a family history of stroke, heart disease, or aneurysms.
- Have leg pain while walking, which could be a sign of PAD
If you have any of these risk factors, ask your doctor about getting a vascular screening even if you feel fine. Many vascular diseases are asymptomatic until they become dangerous.
How Often Should You Get Screened?
The frequency of vascular screenings depends on your risk level:
- Low-Risk Individuals: If you’re healthy, under 60, and don’t have any significant risk factors, you likely don’t need regular vascular screening. Your doctor might check your blood pressure and heart health during routine visits, which is often enough.
- Moderate-Risk Individuals: If you’re over 60 or have one or two risk factors (like high cholesterol or a family history), you may need a screening every 2 to 3 years. Talk to your doctor about your regular vascular health and what schedule is right for you.
- High-Risk Individuals: If you have multiple risk factors or a known history of vascular disease, your doctor might recommend screening every 1 to 2 years or even more often. These check-ups help monitor your condition and detect any changes early.
Why Early Detection Matters
Vascular diseases can be life-threatening if not detected on time. Early detection also helps you make healthy changes. If a screening shows early signs of PAD, you can start treatment, eat better, exercise more, or take medicine to lower your risk of stroke or heart attack.
Vascular screening doesn’t take much time, but it can make a big difference in your health. While not everyone needs regular testing, people with certain risks should take it seriously. Taking care of your vascular health is really important, especially nowadays when most people live sedentary lifestyles. A simple screening today could prevent a serious problem tomorrow.
