According to the American Vascular Association, an estimated 20-30 million Americans are at risk for vascular disease. In fact, vascular disease outside the heart causes almost as much death and disability as heart disease, and more than any cancer.
So what can you do to prevent future health problems from vascular disease? In most cases, with early detection, vascular disease can be treated effectively.
Medicare now offers a free, one-time, ultrasound screening benefit to check for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA). For more information, visit www.vascularweb.org.
Several simply screening tests, which are non-invasive and painless, are offered at Swedish Covenant Hospital:
- Carotid (Neck) Ultrasound. In this painless test, a technician holds a small ultrasound device to the outside of your neck. The device emits high-frequency sound waves that bounce off of blood cells and blood vessels to show blood flow and problems with the vessels' structure. This test can show your physician how open your carotid arteries are and how quickly blood flows through them.
- Abdominal Ultrasound. In this painless test, a technician holds a small ultrasound device to your abdomen and scans for any abnormalities, including an enlarged aorta.
- Ankle-Brachial Index (for Legs and Arms). For the ABI, your physician measures your blood pressure in your ankle and in your arm, using an ordinary blood pressure cuff and an ultrasound device.
