Carotid ultrasounds are used to identify any narrowing of the neck arteries, which can increase the risk of a stroke. Your doctor may refer you for a carotid ultrasound if you have elevated blood cholesterol levels, a family history of strokes, TIAs or diabetes.
As a carotid ultrasound produces images in real-time, it’s possible to see the flow of blood through the artery at the very moment of the scan. In most cases, a carotid ultrasound will highlight an arterial narrowing or an obstruction that’s reducing the flow of blood through the artery.