Test that Found Risk of Stroke Caught Kentucky Woman by Surprise

Bev Reed didn't think she had any reason to be concerned about having a stroke. She was not overweight, didn't have high blood pressure, and her cholesterol wasn't particularly high. Nor did strokes run in her family.

But after visiting a Life Line Screening in the winter of 2007, she found out she did have reason to be concerned. Although she was mainly interested in being screened for osteoporosis, she had a variety of other tests as well, including a scan of the carotid arteries in her neck. The scan found moderate blockages in the arteries.

“My daughter's a nurse, and she said, 'Mom, you need to go to the doctor about that and have it double-checked,' “she says. So she went to her doctor for more testing. “It came back that the arteries were 50 percent blocked on one side and 30 percent on the other.”

Fortunately, her doctor recommended simply monitoring the blockages and reserving surgery for the future if they progress past a certain point. “I probably won't need an invasive procedure because I can change my diet and lifestyle to be able to prevent that,” says Bev, a 48-year-old insurance agent who lives in Murray, Kentucky.

“I walk a lot and started eating healthier. I lost 17 pounds and my cholesterol dropped from 198 to 159,” she says. She also takes a daily aspirin and her doctor is monitoring her annually to keep an eye on the blockages. (The test she originally was interested in getting, by the way, found that she didn't have osteoporosis).

“I'm just really thankful for Life Line Screening. If I hadn't known, I could have had a stroke. I tell everyone to go get screened as soon as they can, because I feel like it really saved my life,” she adds.

Learn more about stroke screening.