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Our Services / Ankle Brachial

Cardiovascular Disease Specialist & Interventional Cardiology in Brandon, Sun City Center, Sun City Center, Riverview, Riverview and EAST TAMPA, Tampa, FL

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Ankle Brachial

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is most likely to affect your legs when narrowing of the arteries restricts blood flow. At Bay Area Cardiology Associates PA, their experienced cardiovascular specialists check to see if you have PAD by doing an ankle brachial index test. This simple blood pressure test is available at the practice’s offices in Brandon, Sun City Center, Riverview, and Tampa, Florida. Call your local Bay Area Cardiology Associates PA office today or book an appointment online to find out more about the ankle brachial index test for PAD.


Ankle Brachial Q & A


What is an ankle brachial test?

An ankle brachial index test is a fast, noninvasive way of checking for peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

PAD occurs when the narrowing of your arteries reduces blood flow to your legs. It can cause leg pain when you walk (claudication). PAD is also a risk factor for heart attacks and strokes because it indicates your arteries aren’t healthy.

An ankle brachial index test compares the blood pressure in your ankle and the blood pressure in your arm. A low ankle brachial index result indicates narrowing or possibly a blockage in your leg arteries.

Why would I need an ankle brachial index test?

Your provider at Bay Area Cardiology Associates PA might do an ankle brachial index test if you suffer from claudication and they suspect that you have PAD. They also do an ankle brachial index test if you’re at risk of having PAD caused by:

  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure (hypertension)
  • High cholesterol
  • History of smoking

If you have atherosclerosis (narrowed arteries) in other parts of your body, they’ll do an ankle brachial index test to see if you also have PAD.

What happens when I have an ankle brachial index test?

Before your provider at Bay Area Cardiology Associates PA does your ankle brachial index test, they might ask you to rest for up to 30 minutes to settle your blood pressure.

For the test, you lie on a treatment table. Your provider uses inflatable blood pressure cuffs and a hand-held Doppler ultrasound instrument that they press against your skin. 

The Doppler device uses sound waves that enable your provider to hear the pulse in your ankle arteries after they deflate the blood pressure cuff.

The ankle brachial index test takes only a few minutes and should be painless. When the blood pressure cuff tightens, you might feel some discomfort, but this only lasts a few seconds.

After your test, you can carry on with your day as usual.

What do the ankle brachial index test results show?

If your ankle brachial index test result is between 1.0 and 1.4, there’s no sign that you have PAD. However, if you have symptoms, your Bay Area Cardiology Associates PA provider will also do an exercise ankle brachial index test to make sure.

An ankle brachial index of 0.91-0.99 signifies you have borderline PAD. If your ankle brachial index is below 0.90, it indicates that you have PAD. Your provider at Bay Area Cardiology Associates PA will probably advise additional tests like an ultrasound or angiography to look at your arteries.

Call the nearest Bay Area Cardiology Associates PA office today or book an appointment online to learn more about the ankle brachial index test and PAD.

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Bay Area Cardiology Associates PA