Ankle Brachial Index - ABI Test

An ankle-brachial test compares the blood pressure measured at both ankle and arm immediately after walking on a treadmill. A low ankle-brachial index score probably means that you have poor blood flow in your legs.

ABI Testing can help establish:

• How severe your PAD is, but it can’t identify the exact location of the blood vessels that are blocked or narrowed.
• If your arms and legs are getting enough oxygen.
• How bad your vascular injury is after a trauma.
• Your risk of dying from a cardiovascular issue. Even if you aren’t having symptoms, having PAD is a sign of a higher risk of death from a cardiovascular cause.

What is peripheral artery disease (PAD)?

Peripheral artery disease is a condition that causes poor blood flow to your legs and other parts of your body. This happens when your blood vessels are blocked or narrowed from atherosclerosis.

Peripheral artery disease increases your risk of:

• Stroke
• Transient ischemic attack (TIA/mini-stroke).
• Heart attack
• Other cardiovascular problems

When would an ankle-brachial index be needed?

You may want to have an ankle-brachial index test done if you:

• Have a history of using tobacco products.
• Have diabetes and are older than age 50.
• Are older than age 65.
• Have high cholesterol, high blood pressure or a family history of heart disease.

You should not have the ankle-brachial index test if you have:

• Severe leg pain.
• Cut(s) on your legs or feet.
• Deep vein thrombosis.

We at Lomack Primary Care offers the testing needed to establish if you are at a risk of PAD.
Call us today: (301) 593 1700