What is a carotid ultrasound?
A handheld probe passes over the neck and uses sound waves — no radiation — to image the carotid arteries and measure the blood flowing through them in real time. It is one of the simplest ways to spot narrowing before it causes trouble.
What does it show?
- Plaque building up in the artery wall
- The degree of any narrowing (stenosis), as a percentage
- The speed of blood flow through the artery
- The thickness of the artery lining, a marker of cardiovascular risk
How does it help with treatment?
- Assessing stroke risk in people with risk factors such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol
- Planning ahead of heart surgery or other vascular procedures
What happens on the day?
- Before — wear comfortable clothing; no fasting is needed
- During — gel is applied and the probe is moved over each side of the neck; it takes about 10–15 minutes
- After — you can return to normal activity immediately