If you have poor circulation in your legs, your doctor might recommend the ankle-brachial index (ABI) test to determine your risk of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). At PrudentMD, internal medicine physician Maitri Patel, MD, uses ABI testing to measure your blood pressure and identify the early signs of arterial disease. Call the office or book online today to make an appointment in Iselin, New Jersey.
The PrudentMD providers will test your circulation to determine your risk of chronic conditions like heart disease. You might benefit from circulation testing if you’ve been diagnosed with:
That’s especially true if you have a history of tobacco use or alcoholism.
The PrudentMD providers test your circulation with the ankle-brachial index (ABI). ABI is a noninvasive, outpatient test that compares the blood pressure in your ankle with the blood pressure in your arm. If your ABI number is low, it means there’s a narrowing or blockage of the arteries in your legs.
An ABI test doesn’t require special preparation. Simply visit PrudentMD on the day of your appointment.
The test is similar to having your blood pressure checked. Your provider wraps a velcro cuff around your ankle that’s attached to a pressure-measuring gauge. You’ll feel mild pressure when the cuff inflates, but any discomfort should ease quickly.
Before starting the circulation test, your PrudentMD provider has you lie down on an exam table. After about 30 minutes, they measure the blood pressure in both of your ankles and arms.The information collected helps your doctor diagnose peripheral artery disease (PAD) and develop a custom treatment plan.
After a circulation test, you receive a diagnosis based on your blood pressure. There are three possible diagnoses:
An ABI result of 1.0-1.4 means you probably don’t have PAD. Even so, your provider might recommend additional testing, especially if you experience symptoms like leg cramps or weakness.
If your ABI test result is 0.91-0.99, you have borderline PAD. Your provider might recommend an exercise ABI test to collect more information. Your doctor may suggest medications and lifestyle changes.
An ABI test result of 0.90 or less means you have PAD. Your doctor may suggest medications, lifestyle changes and seeing a specialist for such a severe disease.
To explore the benefits of circulation testing, make an appointment at PrudentMD. Call the office or book online today.