How Does ABI Relate to Blood Pressure?
How does ABI relate to blood pressure? You can track down best explanation in this article. This article supplies some relevant information about Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) in connection with blood pressure, relative to its procedure, and analysis of the results. Blood pressure is the pressure that flowing blood pushes on the walls of blood vessels. Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) is the proportion of the blood pressure value at the ankle to that at the arm. It has been proven to be a sensitive and very specific measurement for the medical diagnosis of Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD). PAD is a health condition where the arteries in your arms or legs are tightened or blocked. Most people with peripheral artery disease are at an escalated danger of cardiovascular disease, stroke, bad blood circulation and leg pain.
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Interrelation between ABI and Blood Pressure
Generally, the blood pressure is figured at the brachial artery, found in the arm, and also is representative of the all-embracing blood pressure in the physical body. In case of arterial clog in the outer arteries, the blood pressure might differ in body areas that are away from the cardiovascular system. The ankle-brachial index test examines your blood pressure determined at your ankle with your blood pressure assessed at your arm. A low ankle-brachial index level can suggest constricting or clog of the arteries in your legs, intensifying your risk of blood circulation complications, and potentially triggering heart problem or stroke.
If the blood pressure in the ankle is considerably different than that determined at brachial artery, it is definitely considered to be a sign of PAD. PAD relates to the development of plaque in the outer arteries, which push blood to the head and arm or legs.
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Ankle Brachial Pressure Index Test
The ankle-brachial pressure index test is in some cases recommended as part of a program of 3 tests, including the carotid ultrasound examination and abdominal ultrasound examination, to look for obstructed or infected arteries. The benefit for ABPI is gotten by splitting the maximum pressure captured at the ankles by the maximum pressure captured at the brachial artery. Sometimes, the person might be asked to practice on a treadmill machine for 10-15 minutes, and after that blood pressure might be determined once again to get the ABPI value after workout. In case the resting ABPI value for a person falls in the normal range, but goes down after training, it might suggest the existence of PAD.
For many people, there are no physical problems associated with an ankle-brachial index (see Wikipedia: ankle-brachial index) test. You might feel some annoyance when the blood pressure cuffs pump up on your arm and ankle; however this pain is short-term and will stop as soon as the air is released from the cuff. It might be recommended in people experiencing discomfort and cramping in calf bones or thighs, while walking, climbing, or working out. These are considered to be the most typical indications of PAD. Just in case of irregular outcomes, extra tests might recommended to identify the exact area and degree of clog. Your medical professional might not suggest an ankle-brachial index test if you have extreme leg or arm discomfort. Rather than an ankle-brachial index test, your physician might advise various imaging tests of the arteries in your legs.
Image attribution:By Jmarchn (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons