Published: October 12, 2009 04:29 pm      

An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure

By: Dr. Collin Ball

Recently, three of my close family members informed me that they were getting a health check called “Lifeline” Screening. Of course, I’m a specialist and not an internist or family doctor. I also am not a spokesperson nor do I have stock in this company, but I immediately saw the benefit in these potentially lifesaving health checks.

Of course we all try to eat right, stay fit, and maintain our health either in theory or actuality, but we are all susceptible to health problems at any time in our lives. Health problems such as stroke, heart attack, aneurysm, and hip fractures are all potentially life threatening events that are now screenable in one session of simple tests. Those I have talked to tell me these tests are very simple, require less than 30 minutes of your time, and are virtually pain-free.

The simple tests include:

1. Carotid Artery Ultrasound- this is a screening to check for plaque buildup which can be a cause of stroke. Plaque can either buildup and cut off blood flow to the brain or can break off and travel to the brain also causing a stroke.

2. Abdominal Aorta Ultrasound- this checks your risk for an aortic aneurysm which is an abnormal bulge in the wall of the aorta. The aorta is the body’s largest artery.

3. ABI Index for Peripheral Artery Disease- P.A.D. occurs when the arteries in the extremities (feet, legs, arms, and hands) become clogged and harden with plaque buildup. To do this test, blood pressure cuffs containing ultrasound probes are used. Diabetics and smokers are most at risk for P.A.D. while men are even more so. The most common symptom of P.A.D. is claudication, or pain in the legs while walking or exercising, that goes away with rest. P.A.D. and heart disease are linked very closely so your doctor may recommend a cardiac workup if you have a positive reading for P.A.D.

4. Bone Density Scan- this is not a full body scan, but they do check the heel of your foot for deterioration and tell the person if he/she is at risk for or has a decrease in bone density. It provides a T-Score, which can give your degree of osteoporosis and a measurement of your fracture risk.

Your test results are generally available by mail in about 2 weeks. They recommend following up with your medical doctor for discussion or treatment if needed. If your level of any of these tests is severe to life-threatening, they will tell you the day of the screening so that you may contact your physician or local hospital immediately. For a lot of older folks it’s peace of mind and money well spent. More information is available at www.lifelinescreening.com