Before heading into the depth of the subject, it is crucial to understand why angiogram is necessary. Angiogram provides the opportunity for a doctor or cardiologist to see the flow of the blood and point at the regions where there are occurrences of swollen arteries and veins. In many cases, patients displaying symptoms related to heart undergo the test. However, one can use it to check several parts of the body and understand their functionality.
What Does an Angiogram Show Up and Why Do Doctors Prefer It?
An angiogram is an easy way to show up the flow of the blood in the body. Putting it in a simple way, it can calculate the amount of blood flow at different parts of the body quickly and with ease. Due to this, there is a high chance of recovery for a patient when a doctor senses presence of illness in the first stage. In many of the cases, the physician uses the technique to look at the blocked regions in the heart and veins that pass through the thighs. Apart from this, the angiogram test is further helpful in detecting the performance of other organs.
Doctors prefer to use the angiogram test, as the process is simple and they can quickly view the affected region using the X-ray. Based on the results, they can head towards the treatment that eliminates the threat and improves the condition of the patient. The doctor may once again ask the patient to go for the angiogram test after a specified period to check for improvements and whether the treatment provided is targeting the right region. Depending on this, the physician chooses to alter the treatment or lower the dosage of medicines.
What Does the Angiogram Test Involve?
The angiogram involves the patient to swallow a thin catheter tube, which the doctor sends inside through the groin or the veins from the wrist. They will control externally and move the tube to the segment of the body that the doctor wishes to notice for the abnormal changes. Once the tube reaches the desired location, the doctor or nurse will inject the dye through the tube. They will then capture the region using X-rays. The presence of the dye in the region makes the area visible in the X-ray.
It is how the doctor possesses the ability to locate the area that requires attention. The angiogram test results will be helpful in understanding about the blood flow, the blockages, and condition of other organs within the body.
Prerequisites for Angiogram
On the day of the angiogram test, the doctor will ask you to arrive on an empty stomach. It is the best way through which the dye functions and helps in bringing out clear images of the affected regions. In addition, you should speak to your doctor if you are on medication or suffering from other illnesses. These factors will be helpful for the physician to alter the testing procedure or ask the patient to stop the medicine the day before of the angiogram test. For women, who are pregnant and in the breastfeeding stage, the doctor will take additional care to protect the unborn and ensure that the radiation does not affect the feeding capability.
With all the things moving at the right pace, the doctor will determine the underlying cause and begins with the treatment. After a certain period, he/she might ask you to visit again for the angiogram test to check whether the treatment is functioning in the required direction. If not, they will change the course or medications and ask you to adjust lifestyle. The addition of exercises and diet control further help in speeding the recovery process, thereby, preventing emergencies.
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