Abdominal pain can cause serious discomfort. But what happens next? Doctors perform a physical check-up to diagnose the cause of abdominal pain. Sometimes, it is difficult to find out the causing factor of the pain that brings symptoms or signs. To see the inside of the body structure, your doctor may prescribe an ultrasound scan.
The organs inside the abdomen need an ultrasound that gives a clear image and video in real time. It includes high-frequency sound waves that provide an image of internal body structure.
An ultrasound scan is a painless and non-invasive diagnosis procedure. The scan of the abdomen shows the movement and structure of organs, including the kidney, bladder, etc. It is also helpful to see the blood flow through vessels. An expert at Private Abdomen Ultrasound in Glasgow shares that one of the most common uses of ultrasound is to see the development of a baby’s growth inside the womb.
Let’s continue this journey to find out more about it.
The Reasons Why You Need an Abdominal Ultrasound
An abdomen has many organs, including the kidney, pancreas, spleen, gallbladder, and liver that can cause pain. A doctor prescribes an ultrasound scan to find the causing factor of pain. Some many conditions and diseases can bring many symptoms, like pain. People who are 60 or above should try an ultrasound scan every six months.
Your doctor may order an abdominal ultrasound scan if there are signs and symptoms appear. These conditions and diseases may include:
hernia
Appendicitis
Kidney stone
Blood clot
Enlarged organs, like kidneys, liver, etc.
Fluid in the abdominal cavity
Gallstone
In some cases, a treatment plan includes ultrasound scans to perform different procedures. For example, an ultrasound scan allows a doctor to see internal body structure to perform an abdominal biopsy.
What are the Risk Factors of an Abdominal Ultrasound?
Ultrasound scans do not use dangerous frequency waves but involve radiation. The radiation does not cause any harm. During pregnancy, the doctor prescribes an ultrasound scan to check the baby’s development inside the womb because it keeps the fetus safe. But experts suggest avoiding an ultrasound if it is not for a medical need. A pregnant woman can have 2 or 3 ultrasound scans (as per the doctor’s prescription).
There are no harmful or long-term side effects reported so far. But you should discuss with the doctor about the procedure.
How to Prepare for an Ultrasound Scan?
For an abdominal ultrasound, you should discuss every detail with your doctor. A health expert can help you with what preparations you need to follow before a scan. In some cases, a doctor prescribes a fat-free meal an evening before performing the test because indigestion can make it difficult to take an image of your organs. For some specific organs, your doctor may ask you to fast for a few hours before the test.
An ultrasound of the lower abdomen needs a full bladder. You need to drink water or other fluids before the scan as it helps to give a clear image of the internal body organs.
How an Abdominal Ultrasound is Performed?
A technician or a sonographer will ask you to lie on the bed or desk. There is a lubricating gel that is used for an ultrasound scan. A sonographer applies the gel on the abdominal area, which prevents air pockets formation during the procedure. During an ultrasound scan, you may feel slight pain or discomfort. You should tell your technician right away if the pain is severe
An ultrasound transducer is used to send high-frequency sound waves inside the abdomen. When these waves hit the dense object, it creates an image on the computer screen.
Some causes can affect the results of an ultrasound scan, such as having a fat meal. Obesity and intestine gasses can cause interference in the images.
What are the Benefits of an Abdominal Ultrasound?
An abdominal ultrasound is an effective way to diagnose diseases or conditions. It is a popular diagnostic method due to the following reasons:
It is a painless and non-invasive diagnostic method.
An ultrasound helps to capture the image of soft tissues.
It is a cost-effective procedure as compared to other diagnostic methods.
Performing an ultrasound does not cause any side effects.
The Bottom Line!
If you have been experiencing abdominal pain, visit a nearby clinic. Pain with other symptoms often indicates an underlying condition. Your health expert may prescribe an abdominal ultrasound to diagnose the causing factor. If you are living in Glasgow, choose the advanced-equipped clinic. A high-technology ultrasound scan provides 3D or 4D images that give more clarity to your doctor.