Life Saving Tests

According to the American Heart Association, we should seriously consider undergoing a vascular and/or cardiovascular screening. Both are painless procedures that can predict our risk for developing coronary heart disease within the next ten years.

A vascular screening, which takes only 15 minutes, includes an ultrasound of the neck and abdominal arteries and a Doppler measurement of the arteries in our ankles. A cardiovascular screening, which takes only 20 minutes, is more in depth. It includes a cardiac health history, a physical examination with blood pressure check and glucose and cholesterol blood tests, an electrocardiogram, and a personal Framingham Risk Assessment to determine our risk for having Cardio Vascular Disease (CVD).

CVD is the number one cause of death in the nation. In fact, more than 80 million people in the United States have one or more forms, and some of us are at greater risk for the disease. Be concerned if you are a man over 45 or a woman over 55 and have diabetes, high blood pressure or cholesterol, a family history of heart disease or stroke, or if you smoke.

The danger of developing CVD increases with age and early detection is critical. A vascular or cardiovascular screening is the best way to determine the extent of your risk, and what you find out might be just the motivation you need to make important lifestyle changes to prevent a stroke, a heart attack, or heart failure that can result in your death.

Contact the American Heart Association at 1-800-AHA-USA1 for more information.