Vascular & Circulation
Articles

Peripheral artery disease affects an estimated 8.5 million Americans, and most of them don't know it. It develops quietly — plaque narrows an artery over years, blood flow drops, and the first sign is often leg pain that shows up on a walk and disappears at rest. By the time it's noticed, the disease is frequently well established.

Venous disease works differently but is just as easy to miss. A deep vein thrombosis can form with almost no symptoms and, if it breaks loose, travel to the lungs within hours. Chronic venous insufficiency is less acute but still progressive — untreated, it leads to skin changes, ulceration, and significant discomfort. Both conditions are identifiable long before they become emergencies, but only if someone looks.

A vascular ultrasound is how we look. It's non-invasive, uses no radiation, and takes about 30–45 minutes to map the arteries or veins in question. At BlackPoint Diagnostics, arterial and venous duplex studies are performed at your home or workplace, and in Maine you don't need a physician referral to schedule one. The articles below cover the specific symptoms and conditions we're asked about most.