What a Carotid Duplex Scan Reveals About Your Health

A carotid duplex scan is a simple, non-invasive test to evaluate your risk of stroke and overall vascular health. Here’s why you might need a carotid duplex scan, how it works, and what it can reveal about your well-being.

Your arteries play an essential role in carrying oxygen-rich blood throughout your body, and your carotid arteries, located on each side of your neck, supply blood directly to your brain.

When these arteries get narrowed or blocked, your risk of having a stroke increases significantly. The good news is that advanced diagnostic studies can help detect changes like these, and a carotid duplex scan is a non-invasive test to evaluate your risk of stroke.

Our team at Vascular & Interventional Specialists offers diagnostic testing to give you a clear picture of your vascular health. We also offer personalized treatment plans to protect your heart, brain, and overall well-being.

Here’s what a carotid duplex scan can tell us about your health.

Why you might need a carotid duplex scan

We might recommend a carotid duplex scan if you have certain risk factors for stroke or vascular disease.

Common reasons for the test include a history of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, or a family history of heart or vascular disease. You may also be referred for this test if your doctor hears a bruit ( a whooshing sound over the carotid artery) during a physical exam. A bruit can indicate turbulent blood flow.

If you’ve had a stroke, mini-stroke (TIA), or unexplained dizziness, a carotid duplex scan can provide valuable information about the cause and guide further treatment.

How a carotid duplex scan works

A carotid duplex scan combines two types of ultrasound imaging: traditional ultrasound, which uses sound waves to create images of the blood vessels, and Doppler ultrasound, which measures how fast blood is flowing through your arteries.

During the test, a technician applies a special gel to your neck and moves a small handheld device called a transducer over your skin. The transducer sends painless sound waves into your body, which bounce off the blood vessels and return to the machine, creating real-time images on a monitor.

Carotid duplex scans are entirely non-invasive, and they don’t involve radiation. There’s typically nothing special you need to do to prepare, and the test usually takes less than an hour.

What the scan can tell us about your health

A carotid duplex scan can reveal whether your carotid arteries are narrowed or blocked by plaque buildup — a condition known as carotid artery stenosis. Even a moderate narrowing can increase your risk of stroke because plaque can restrict blood flow or break off and travel to your brain.

The scan can also show how well blood is flowing through your arteries and whether the blood flow is turbulent, another indicator of potential problems. Based on the results, we can recommend the next steps, which might include medication, lifestyle changes, or, in more severe cases, procedures to restore proper blood flow.

At Vascular & Interventional Specialists, we believe early detection is key to maintaining good vascular health. If you have risk factors for stroke or you’ve been advised to undergo a carotid duplex scan, our experienced team is here to provide expert care and clear answers.

Contact us online or call our Miami, Florida, office at 305-230-4664 to learn more about our diagnostic studies and how proactive testing can help you protect your long-term health.