Reasons That Your Doctor May Refer You For An Ultrasound Appointment
Many people associate having an ultrasound appointment with being pregnant, and with good reason. When you're expecting a child, you'll attend several appointments with an ultrasound technician to see images of the baby growing. However, being pregnant isn't the only reason that people visit the ultrasound clinic. Your doctor might refer you to this medical practitioner for a long list of reasons. Typically, you'll schedule a visit at an ultrasound clinic, which may be in the same medical building as your family doctor. The technician will then send a report to your doctor, who will call you back in to discuss the report. Here are three reasons that you may need an ultrasound.
Kidney Stones
Having kidney stones can leave you suffering from a wide range of symptoms, including pain while you urinate and even discomfort in your lower back. When you share these symptoms with your family doctor, it's likely that he or she will suspect that one or more kidney stones are present. However, the doctor will often send you for an ultrasound appointment to be sure. When you attend this appointment, your technician will pass the ultrasound wand over your kidneys and obtain an image of these organs. If kidney stones are present, they will be visible on the screen.
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is a term that describes when your thyroid gland is overactive, and it can leave you with a long list of unpleasant symptoms. This list can include extreme fatigue and even irritability. Because many of these symptoms could potentially be related to other medical issues, your family doctor will often refer you to an ultrasound technician to assess your thyroid. If abnormalities are detected during the ultrasound, the doctor will be able to provide you with the next course of action, which could be taking prescription medication.
Heart Issues
If you're complaining of symptoms that could relate to a problem with your heart, your family doctor will recommend ultrasound as a way to see how the heart is behaving. This procedure can reveal a wide range of information about the health of your heart, including how the blood is flowing and whether it is acting in an irregular fashion, making ultrasound a valuable first step to helping your doctor assess what may be going on. The doctor can then refer you to a cardiologist, if necessary, based on the information that is gleaned through the ultrasound.
For more information, contact companies like Kenai Peninsula Imaging Center, LLC.
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