By Barbara Vieiralves, FNP, Family Practice
Q: What are Life Line Screenings?
A: Monroe Clinic's partnership with Life Line Screening offers risk awareness tests for stroke/carotid artery disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD). These screenings can help identify your risk and prevent the development of traumatic health problems.
Q: Why should I be concerned about these diseases?
A: These health issues often have no signs or symptoms that allow you to acknowledge the problem. They also can be very serious health concerns, leading to disability or even death. Understanding each health problem is the first step to prevention.
Stroke and Carotid Artery Disease Screenings
You can develop carotid artery disease when the carotid arteries become blocked with plaque build up. This build-up can compromise the brain's blood supply, greatly increasing your risk of experiencing a stroke. Carotid artery disease is the leading cause of strokes, and strokes are the third leading cause of death in the United States.
To screen for stroke and carotid artery disease, a painless, non-invasive Doppler ultrasound offers a look at the carotid arteries, which is where a majority of strokes occur.
Factors that put you at a high risk for a stroke or carotid artery disease include:
• High blood pressure
• Tobacco use
• High cholesterol
• Obesity/overweight
• Lack of physical activity
• Diabetes
• Irregular heartbeat
• Unhealthy diet
• Cardiac disease
• Age over 50
• Males
• Family history of stroke
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screenings
Ultrasound provides visualization and measurement of the diameter of the abdominal aorta, the largest artery in the body. This measurement can indicate if there is a weakening in the aortic wall, which can cause a ballooning effect known as an aneurysm. If left untreated, aneurysms can burst and are usually fatal.
Risk factors for developing AAA include:
• High blood pressure
• Tobacco use
• Hardening of the arteries
• Age over 50
• Males
• Family history of AAA
Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Screenings
PAD is a circulatory problem where narrowed arteries limit the blood flow to the limbs - also known as "hardening of the arteries".
Common factors that put you at risk for PAD include:
• High blood pressure
• Tobacco use
• High cholesterol
• Excessive alcohol use
• Poor diet
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Lack of physical activity
• Obesity
• Family history of PAD
• Age over 50
While these screenings do not represent a diagnosis or a substitute for a visit with your physician, they can help identify if further testing and treatment is needed, hopefully preventing life-altering events from occurring. Contact your healthcare provider for more information on important health screenings.
- Barbara Vieiralves is a family nurse practitioner in family practice at Monroe Clinic. She received her Master's of Science degree in nursing from Pace University in Pleasantville, New York.
Q: What are Life Line Screenings?
A: Monroe Clinic's partnership with Life Line Screening offers risk awareness tests for stroke/carotid artery disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD). These screenings can help identify your risk and prevent the development of traumatic health problems.
Q: Why should I be concerned about these diseases?
A: These health issues often have no signs or symptoms that allow you to acknowledge the problem. They also can be very serious health concerns, leading to disability or even death. Understanding each health problem is the first step to prevention.
Stroke and Carotid Artery Disease Screenings
You can develop carotid artery disease when the carotid arteries become blocked with plaque build up. This build-up can compromise the brain's blood supply, greatly increasing your risk of experiencing a stroke. Carotid artery disease is the leading cause of strokes, and strokes are the third leading cause of death in the United States.
To screen for stroke and carotid artery disease, a painless, non-invasive Doppler ultrasound offers a look at the carotid arteries, which is where a majority of strokes occur.
Factors that put you at a high risk for a stroke or carotid artery disease include:
• High blood pressure
• Tobacco use
• High cholesterol
• Obesity/overweight
• Lack of physical activity
• Diabetes
• Irregular heartbeat
• Unhealthy diet
• Cardiac disease
• Age over 50
• Males
• Family history of stroke
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screenings
Ultrasound provides visualization and measurement of the diameter of the abdominal aorta, the largest artery in the body. This measurement can indicate if there is a weakening in the aortic wall, which can cause a ballooning effect known as an aneurysm. If left untreated, aneurysms can burst and are usually fatal.
Risk factors for developing AAA include:
• High blood pressure
• Tobacco use
• Hardening of the arteries
• Age over 50
• Males
• Family history of AAA
Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Screenings
PAD is a circulatory problem where narrowed arteries limit the blood flow to the limbs - also known as "hardening of the arteries".
Common factors that put you at risk for PAD include:
• High blood pressure
• Tobacco use
• High cholesterol
• Excessive alcohol use
• Poor diet
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Lack of physical activity
• Obesity
• Family history of PAD
• Age over 50
While these screenings do not represent a diagnosis or a substitute for a visit with your physician, they can help identify if further testing and treatment is needed, hopefully preventing life-altering events from occurring. Contact your healthcare provider for more information on important health screenings.
- Barbara Vieiralves is a family nurse practitioner in family practice at Monroe Clinic. She received her Master's of Science degree in nursing from Pace University in Pleasantville, New York.
