This is a sponsored post with Life Line Screening. Any opinions are 100% my own.
Cardiovascular disease is the #1 cause of death for both men and women in the U.S., and stroke is a leading cause of disability. Understanding risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke is an important part of any preventive screening plan.
80% of heart disease and stroke events are preventable through lifestyle changes1, and knowing your risk is the first step. Review the cardiovascular disease screening tests and stroke risk screenings below. Together with your physician’s care, they go beyond your annual checkup to provide a more complete look at your health.
Carotid Artery Disease Screening
The carotid artery is the major blood vessel that runs up the neck and to the brain. If it becomes blocked with a clot or arterial plaque the result is a potentially deadly stroke.
Our technicians use an ultrasound machine to scan the carotid artery and to check for any plaque buildup in this critical area.
The carotid artery is just one indicator of overall cardiovascular health. That’s why we perform this screening as a part of our 5-Part Health Screening Package. Done together, these five screenings give us a much more complete picture of your health.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening?
An Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA), is a condition in which the aorta, the largest artery in the body, stretches and balloons in the belly region. When an abdominal aortic aneurysm occurs, it weakens the walls of the artery and can rupture or leak, causing bleeding into the abdomen. When this occurs, it is a very serious medical emergency requiring immediate medical attention.
Atrial Fibrillation Screening
Atrial fibrillation (Afib) is an irregular heartbeat (also known as arrhythmia) that occurs when the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) do not beat at a regular pace. They quiver, or fibrillate. Because of the heart fibrillation, the heart sometimes does not pump all of the blood out of the atria, and blood can pool, causing blood clots. When blood clots travel to the brain, this can cause a stroke. People who have Afib are 5 times more likely to have a stroke.1 Receiving an Afib test is simple and painless.
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Screening
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a condition in which the large and medium-sized arteries supplying blood to the legs become narrow or clogged with plaque, constricting the flow of blood. Peripheral artery disease (also known as peripheral arterial disease) is atherosclerosis (more commonly known as hardening of the arteries) occurring in the limbs. Peripheral artery disease may be an indication that atherosclerosis is also present in other areas of the body.
PAD reduces blood flow to the feet and legs and can cause pain in the feet and legs, as well as lead to tissue death (gangrene). People with diabetes and a history of smoking are most at risk of developing peripheral artery disease because circulation is reduced by diabetes and smoking. If this describes you, you could benefit from a peripheral artery disease test.
Complete Lipid Panel/Cholesterol Test
A complete cholesterol blood test (also known as a lipid panel) uses just a finger-stick blood sample to measure the amount of cholesterol (both HDL and LDL) and triglycerides in the blood. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that sometimes binds with protein to cause plaque buildup in the arteries, which can lead to blood clots and risk of stroke or heart attack. Cholesterol levels in the blood are one of many factors that help determine your risk for developing atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in the arteries).
High Cholesterol/Lipid Panel Screening Details
Cholesterol screening is accurate with just a simple finger-stick blood test. Your results will contain four important numbers: LDL (bad cholesterol), HDL (good cholesterol), total cholesterol and triglycerides. Cholesterol is measured in mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter of blood). Standard optimal ranges2 are:
- Total cholesterol: under 200 mg/dL
- LDL (bad) cholesterol: under 100 mg/dL
- HDL (good) cholesterol: 50 mg/dL or higher
- Triglycerides: 150 mg/dL or lower
Risk Factors for High Cholesterol
- Smoking (past, present, OR having regular exposure to secondhand smoke)
- Obesity (body Mass Index 25 or higher)
- High fat/high sodium diet, or frequent consumption of food from animal sources (red meat, eggs, cheese, etc.)
- Lack of exercise
- High Blood Pressure
- Diabetes
- Family History of heart disease, stroke, or atherosclerosis
You can get 5 screenings at 50% off for $149.00
We're an affiliate. We hope you love the products we recommend! Just so you know, we may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page with no additional cost to you. Thank you if you use our links, we really appreciate it! Read more
