Carotid Artery Assessment Ultrasound Scan

The carotid arteries supply blood to the brain. If these arteries become narrowed or blocked, your risk of stroke increases. A carotid artery scan is a simple way to check for early signs of reduced blood flow. It’s often used to assess stroke risk or to monitor known conditions like carotid artery narrowing or plaque build-up.

You may require or be referred for a carotid artery scan if you’ve experienced dizziness or light-headedness, blurred or temporary loss of vision, slurred speech, fainting, weakness or numbness on one side of the face or body, sudden loss of coordination or balance, a recent mini-stroke (TIA), ongoing high blood pressure or high cholesterol, a history of smoking or diabetes, or family history of stroke or vascular disease.

No special preparation is needed. You can eat, drink, and take medication as normal. We recommend wearing a loose-fitting top or something with an open neck, as the scan is done on each side of your neck.

The blood test is carried out at the same appointment as your ultrasound scan, so everything is completed in one visit. The clinician will ask you a few basic questions and then take some blood from a vein in your arm. We will then send this to the lab for analysis. The time taken for results is specified on the individual blood test pages.

You can view your results on the web portal (provided by email) or by downloading the Forth app.

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For the most accurate results, schedule your blood test in the morning, ideally within three hours of waking, and fast for 4-6 hours before your test. We can still complete your blood test if you book outside this window, but it may affect your results. To get accurate results for cortisol, the sample should be collected at 9am.

Drinking water is encouraged. Staying well hydrated helps make the blood collection easier. On the day of your appointment, wear a loose-fitting top so your arm is easily accessible.