Vascular Surgeons Group Recommends Screenings

An organization that represents the 2,400 vascular surgeons in the United States is now recommending three vascular screening tests for people age 55 and older who have risk factors for cardiovascular disease. In April 2007, the Society for Vascular Surgery announced that for the first time it was recommending the following screenings for that population:

• Ultrasound of the carotid artery to detect blockage that could lead to a stroke.
   
• An ankle brachial screening, using blood pressure cuffs on the arms and ankles, to detect peripheral arterial disease.
   
• Ultrasound to screen for abdominal aortic aneurysm.

The risk factors that indicate a need for vascular screening tests include smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, a family history of abdominal aortic aneurysm, or high cholesterol. Life Line Screening offers all three screenings.

SCHEDULE A SCREENING

Source: The Wall Street Journal