Who might have a carotid Doppler ultrasound?
If you have never had a stroke but have very high blood pressure and your doctor suspects or has heard an abnormal whooshing sound in your neck (carotid bruit) with a stethoscope, a carotid Doppler ultrasound may be done to see if there are blockages or narrowing in your carotid artery.1 A carotid bruit is a sign that plaque is interfering with the blood flow in your carotid artery and you may be at risk for stroke. Routine screening for stroke is not recommended if you do not have any symptoms.2 A carotid Doppler ultrasound is also the first screening test to determine if you are eligible for treatment to prevent a first or repeat stroke.3 If you have recently had a stroke, an ultrasound to evaluate your risk of another stroke will only be performed after your first stroke has been diagnosed (with CT or MRI) and treated (with tPA, if you are eligible). If the test shows signs of severe narrowing (70% or more) you will usually undergo a more sensitive test such as angiography to determ
