Question

How is the Doppler effect used to measure blood flow?

Answer 1

Explanation:

1. A Doppler ultrasound is a noninvasive diagnostic that uses circulating red blood cells to reflect high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to assess the blood flow via your blood arteries.
2. Normal ultrasounds employ sound waves to create images, but they are unable to depict blood flow.

Although the process can vary significantly, generally speaking, you can anticipate the following:

1. You must take off your clothes, jewelry, and other belongings before entering the study area. You don't have to take off your hearing aids, dentures, contact lenses, or spectacles, though. The wearing of a hospital gown may be required.
2. You will be asked to lie down on a bed or examination table before the procedure.
3. The next step is for your doctor to apply a water-soluble gel to a transducer, a portable instrument that emits high-frequency sound waves into the arteries or veins being examined.
4. The person performing the test may wrap blood pressure cuffs across various parts of your body to look at your arteries.
5. The cuffs will be placed on various parts of your arm, thigh, calf, or ankle. These cuffs make it easier to compare the blood pressure in various areas of your arm or leg.
6. As the transducer is moved along your arm or leg and pushed against your skin, images are produced.
7. Through your skin and other body tissues, the transducer transmits sound waves to your blood vessels.
8. Your blood vessels serve as an echo chamber for the sound waves, which then transmit the information to a computer for analysis. The computer will generate charts or images that depict how blood moves via veins and arteries. To make comparisons, the transducer will be moved to various locations. Blood flow detection may cause a "whooshing" sound to be heard.