Vascular System Overview

The vascular system, also called the circulatory system, is made up of vessels that carry blood throughout the body. The system is responsible for transporting blood, oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and waste products throughout the body. It consists of a network of arteries, veins, and capillaries that work together to ensure that every part of the body receives the necessary substances to function properly. It is closely connected to other systems in the body:

• The respiratory system
• The digestive system
• The kidney and urinary system

Vascular Screening in Singapore

Personalised Assessment for Your Arteries, Veins and Vascular Health

Vascular screening helps identify potential problems affecting the arteries and veins before they become more serious. The right type of screening depends on your age, medical history, symptoms and risk factors, not everyone needs the same tests or a full vascular scan.

At the Supreme Vascular & Interventional Clinic, vascular assessment is personalised to your individual risk and concerns. Where appropriate, this may include vascular ultrasound or other imaging to assess blood flow and look for conditions affecting the brain, neck, aorta and peripheral circulation.

Vascular conditions can develop gradually and may not always cause obvious symptoms in their early stages. Depending on your age, medical history, symptoms, family history and vascular risk factors, a specialist may recommend further assessment to look for conditions such as peripheral arterial disease (PAD), carotid artery disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), venous disease or other vascular abnormalities.

At the Supreme Vascular and Interventional Clinic, vascular screening is approached on an individual basis. Rather than recommending the same tests for everyone, Dr. Manish Taneja assesses your symptoms, medical history and risk factors to determine whether vascular investigation is appropriate and which tests may provide useful information.

This may include non-invasive tests such as vascular ultrasound, Doppler studies or the ankle-brachial index (ABI), with more advanced imaging considered when clinically appropriate.

Vascular Screening at a Glance

• Vascular screening assesses the health and blood flow of arteries and veins.
• It may help identify narrowing, blockage, aneurysms or other vascular abnormalities.
• Screening may be particularly relevant for people with vascular risk factors or a family history of certain vascular conditions.
• Tests may include ultrasound, Doppler studies or other vascular imaging, depending on the clinical assessment.
• Screening does not mean that every person requires extensive imaging; the appropriate assessment depends on individual risk and symptoms.

What Is Vascular Screening?

Vascular screening is an assessment of your blood vessels to look for signs of vascular disease or identify people who may need further evaluation. Depending on your individual circumstances, assessment may focus on areas such as:

• the carotid arteries, which supply blood to the brain
• the aorta, the body's main artery
• the arteries supplying the legs and other parts of the body
• the veins, where symptoms or risk factors suggest venous disease

Screening is different from diagnostic testing. If you already have symptoms such as sudden weakness, significant leg pain, unexplained swelling or other concerning symptoms, you may need a diagnostic vascular assessment rather than a routine screening examination.

Who May Benefit From Vascular Screening?

Screening Should Be Based on Individual Risk

Not everyone needs the same vascular tests. A vascular assessment may be particularly relevant if you have risk factors or symptoms associated with vascular disease.

Your specialist may consider:

• Increasing age
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Smoking or previous smoking
• Obesity or overweight
• Sedentary lifestyle
• A personal history of cardiovascular or vascular disease
• A family history of aneurysm or vascular disease
• Previous stroke or transient ischaemic attack
• Symptoms suggesting reduced blood flow
• Symptoms suggesting venous disease

Family history can also be relevant when assessing certain vascular conditions. However, having a risk factor does not automatically mean that a particular scan or screening test is required. The appropriate assessment depends on your individual circumstances.

Singapore's current screening guidance similarly emphasises choosing screening tests according to individual risk rather than automatically performing every available test.

Why Consider Vascular Screening?

Many vascular conditions can develop gradually without obvious symptoms.

A vascular assessment may help identify:

• narrowing or blockage of an artery
• reduced blood flow
• an aneurysm or abnormal widening of an artery
• changes associated with atherosclerosis
• vascular abnormalities that may require monitoring or further investigation

Finding a problem does not automatically mean that you need a procedure. The next step depends on what is found, your symptoms, your overall health and your individual risk.

Causes and Risk Factors

Certain health conditions and factors can increase your risk of developing vascular diseases.

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• High Stress
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Being overweight

If you have risk factors for vascular disorders, it’s important to consider getting a vascular screening. This is particularly crucial if you have a family history of conditions like aneurysms, PAD, or stroke. For those with a family history, especially when combined with other risk factors, it’s advisable to start screenings in your 30s.

What Conditions Can Vascular Screening Assess?

Carotid Artery Disease

The carotid arteries carry blood to the brain. Narrowing caused by plaque can increase the risk of stroke in some people.

Carotid ultrasound is one of the key non-invasive tests used to assess the carotid arteries.

However, routine carotid screening is not appropriate for everyone. Whether assessment is useful depends on your individual risk factors and clinical history.

Aortic Aneurysm

An aneurysm occurs when part of an artery becomes abnormally enlarged or weakened.

Depending on your risk profile, imaging may be used to assess the aorta and determine whether an aneurysm is present and whether monitoring or treatment is required.

Peripheral Artery Disease

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) occurs when arteries supplying the limbs become narrowed, reducing blood flow.

Assessment may be appropriate if you have symptoms such as leg pain when walking, reduced circulation or other risk factors for arterial disease.

Venous Disease

Vascular assessment may also investigate problems affecting the veins, including certain forms of venous insufficiency, varicose veins or suspected blood clots.

The appropriate investigation depends on your symptoms. Venous ultrasound is commonly used when a venous problem needs to be assessed.

Using non-invasive and advanced imaging techniques like ultrasound and Doppler imaging, our vascular specialist can assess the health of your blood vessels, examine the blood flow, and see the structure of your veins or arteries. If any issues are detected, they can perform minimally invasive procedures, such as angioplasty or stenting, to repair or improve blood flow. These treatments are often less painful and require a shorter recovery time compared to traditional surgery, making vascular screening an important and effective way to maintain vascular health and prevent severe complications.

Who May Benefit From Vascular Screening?

Vascular screening is not a one-size-fits-all test.

Your doctor may consider vascular assessment if you have factors such as:

• a personal or family history of vascular disease
• previous stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
• diabetes
• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol
• smoking history
• known atherosclerosis
• symptoms suggesting reduced circulation
• a known aneurysm or vascular abnormality
• other factors that increase your vascular risk

The purpose of assessment is to determine which tests, if any, are appropriate for you.

Using non-invasive and advanced imaging techniques like ultrasound and Doppler imaging, our vascular specialist can assess the health of your blood vessels, examine the blood flow, and see the structure of your veins or arteries. If any issues are detected, they can perform minimally invasive procedures, such as angioplasty or stenting, to repair or improve blood flow. These treatments are often less painful and require a shorter recovery time compared to traditional surgery, making vascular screening an important and effective way to maintain vascular health and prevent severe complications.

What Tests Are Used for Vascular Screening?

Your assessment may begin with a discussion of your medical history, symptoms and vascular risk factors. The appropriate test depends on the suspected condition and the patient's clinical risk.

Ultrasound and Doppler

Ultrasound and Doppler imaging can assess blood flow and the structure of blood vessels without the need for invasive procedures. They may be used to assess arteries and veins in different parts of the body.

CT Angiography

CT angiography can provide detailed images of blood vessels and may be recommended when more detailed assessment of an artery or aneurysm is required.

MR Angiography

MR angiography uses magnetic resonance imaging to assess blood vessels and may be appropriate in selected circumstances.

Other Vascular Imaging

Further vascular imaging or investigations may be recommended depending on the initial findings, symptoms and suspected condition.

The appropriate test is determined by the clinical question rather than by a one-size-fits-all screening package.

What Happens If a Vascular Problem Is Found?

Finding a vascular abnormality does not automatically mean that treatment is required.

Depending on the condition, the next step may be:

• Monitoring and follow-up imaging
• Lifestyle and risk-factor management
• Medication
• Further diagnostic assessment
• Referral to another specialist
• Minimally invasive vascular treatment
• Surgery in selected circumstances

The appropriate approach depends on the type and severity of the vascular abnormality, symptoms, overall health and individual risk.

Does Everyone Need Vascular Screening?

No. Vascular screening should be based on individual risk, symptoms, medical history and clinical assessment.

Some vascular conditions may warrant targeted screening or surveillance in people with particular risk factors or family histories, while routine imaging of people without relevant risk may not always be appropriate.

A vascular specialist can help determine whether screening is appropriate and which investigation, if any, would provide useful information.

When Should I Consider a Vascular Assessment?

A vascular assessment may be appropriate if you:

• Have symptoms suggesting reduced blood flow
• Have been told you have an abnormal vascular scan
• Have a strong family history of aneurysm or vascular disease
• Have multiple vascular risk factors
• Have previously experienced a TIA or stroke
• Have unexplained leg pain, swelling or changes in circulation
• Have been diagnosed with a vascular condition and need further assessment or monitoring

If you have sudden neurological symptoms, sudden loss of circulation or other potentially serious symptoms, seek urgent medical attention rather than arranging routine screening.

Vascular Screening in Singapore

If you are concerned about your vascular health or have risk factors for vascular disease, a specialist assessment can help determine whether targeted vascular screening is appropriate.

At the Supreme Vascular and Interventional Clinic in Singapore, Dr. Manish Taneja provides personalised vascular assessment based on the patient's symptoms, medical history, risk factors and relevant previous investigations.

Assessment may include clinical evaluation and, where appropriate, non-invasive vascular imaging such as ultrasound and Doppler studies. If an abnormality is identified, Dr. Taneja can explain what the finding means and whether further evaluation, monitoring or treatment should be considered.

Frequently Asked Questions