Try This At Home: ABI Test For Clogged Arteries

Arterial plaque is a big deal, and statistically it’s more of a risk as we get older, often coming to a head around age 72 for women and 65 for men—these are the median ages at which people who are going to get heart attacks, get them. Or get it, because sometimes one is all it takes.

The Ankle-Brachial Index Test

Dr. Brewer recommends a home test for detecting arterial plaque called the Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI), which uses a blood pressure monitor. The test involves measuring blood pressure in both the arms and ankles, then calculating the ratio of these measurements:

• A healthy ABI score is between 1.0 and 1.4; anything outside this range may indicate arterial problems.
• Low ABI scores (below 0.8) suggest plaque is likely obstructing blood flow
• High ABI scores (above 1.4) may indicate artery hardening

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), associated with poor ABI results (be they high or low), can cause a whole lot of problems that are definitely better tackled sooner rather than later—remember that atherosclerosis is a self-worsening thing once it gets going, because narrower walls means it’s even easier for more stuff to get stuck in there (and thus, the new stuff that got stuck also becomes part of the walls, and the problem gets worse).

If you need a blood pressure monitor, by the way, here’s an example product on Amazon.

Do note also that yes, if you have plaque obstructing blood flow and hardened arteries, your scores may cancel out and give you a “healthy” score, despite your arteries being very much not healthy. For this reason, this test can be used to raise the alarm, but not to give the “all clear”.

For more on all of the above, plus a demonstration and more in-depth explanation of the test, enjoy:

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Want to learn more?

You might also like to read:

• Dietary Changes for Artery Health
• What Matters Most For Your Heart?

Take care!