Parkridge Health System will offer AngioScreen - a simple, non-invasive vascular screening designed to provide men and women with information about heart rhythm, neck and leg artery blockage, blood pressure, and body mass index in addition to an overall fitness assessment.
The Feb. 8 screening will be held from 8 a.m. till 5 p.m. at Parkridge Medical Center in the Fowler Classroom. The cost for the Angioscreen is $50. A screening for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm can be added for an additional $30.
According to Parkridge, 100 people in the United States lose their lives each hour to vascular disease, a form of cardiovascular disease that primarily attacks the blood vessels and is the leading cause of heart attacks and strokes. Vascular disease occurs when calcium deposits or fats build up in the arteries, narrowing the vessels to the point where blood cannot pass through. When the vessels in the heart become narrowed or blocked, a person is at high risk for a heart attack. A stroke occurs when the vessels that carry blood to the brain are blocked.
“The AngioScreen is a useful tool - in less than 15 minutes, men and women can get information about their circulation and learn more about their personal risk for heart attack or stroke,” said Barry Bell, director of the Parkridge Heart Center. AngioScreen measures Ankle Brachial Index, which is a screening test for blockages in the arteries that go to the legs. It is normally not performed by doctors unless patients are symptomatic. Immediately following the AngioScreen, individuals will receive a consultation in addition to a color ultrasound picture and printout, and a digital record that includes a picture of their carotid arteries.
For more information or to schedule a screening, call MedLine at 800 242-5662.