FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 5, 2007

Contact: Joelle Reizes
Office: 1-800-897-9177, ext. 1159
Joelle.Reizes@llsa.com

Life Line Screening is now offering three simple blood tests, with one finger-stick sample, to detect risk factors for heart disease and diabetes. These tests are currently offered in most states. The nation's leading provider of preventive health screenings, Life Line Screening has added a complete lipid panel, high sensitivity C-reactive protein and blood glucose tests to the company's existing screenings for stroke, vascular disease and osteoporosis.

"Convenient blood testing for risks associated with diabetes, stroke and coronary heart disease is an important, natural addition to Life Line Screening's current preventive health screenings," said Andrew Manganaro, M.D., Medical Director for Life Line Screening. "It is important to remember that the complications of these diseases constitute the number one cause of death in the United States in both genders. In addition, the risk factors, including diabetes, hypertension, obesity, lack of regular exercise, elevated cholesterol and tobacco abuse, among others, are extremely common in the continental United States."

The new screening tests include:

1. Complete Lipid Panel
This comprehensive test measure four items - total cholesterol, LDL or "bad cholesterol", HDL or "good cholesterol" and triglycerides. High levels of cholesterol, particularly LDL, contribute to the formation of plaque on the artery walls. Plaque is a major contributor to stroke risk and carotid artery disease. It also can restrict the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart, which can cause a heart attack. HDL is the good kind of cholesterol because it carries excess cholesterol away from the arteries. A high HDL level is protective against cardiovascular disease.

A 10 percent decrease in total blood cholesterol levels can reduce the incidence of heart disease by as much as 30 percent. Knowing your cholesterol levels can help you and your physician develop a plan to prevent heart disease.

2. C-Reactive Protein
C-reactive protein or CRP is part of the immune system and is a new marker for cardiovascular disease. A new test called high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) can detect low, clinically meaningful levels of CRP in apparently healthy adults who do not have any symptoms. Medical studies have shown that elevated levels of CRP increase a person's risk for stroke, heart disease, peripheral arterial disease and type-2 diabetes.

Since almost half of all heart attacks affect apparently healthy adults with normal or even low cholesterol levels, it is important to know your CRP levels in addition to your cholesterol levels.

3. Glucose
Glucose is a measurement of the blood sugar level and is used to determine a person's risk of diabetes. Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin - the hormone needed to convert food into energy. Diabetes is strongly linked with stroke and heart disease.

A glucose screening will indicate if a person has "pre-diabetes." This occurs when a person's blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. People with pre-diabetes are at higher risk of stroke and heart disease, but they can delay or prevent the onset of type-2 diabetes through lifestyle changes that can normalize glucose levels.

All three tests are conducted with just a single finger-stick sample, and lab accurate results are provided immediately. The equipment used by Life Line Screening is the same as the equipment used throughout physician offices, pharmacies and hospitals nationwide.

Life Line Screening also offers stroke, and vascular disease screenings, which involve the use of ultrasound technology and scan for potential health problems related to: blocked arteries, which can lead to a stroke; aortic aneurysms, which can lead to a ruptured aorta; and hardening of the arteries in the legs, which is a strong predictor of heart disease. In addition to the tests for blocked arteries, a bone density screening is also available to assess the risk for osteoporosis.

Life Line Screening empowers Americans age 50 and older and those at risk to protect their independence, health and vitality by offering non-invasive, inexpensive, painless and easy-to-obtain preventive ultrasound screenings to identify risk of stroke, vascular diseases and osteoporosis. Established in 1993, the Cleveland, Ohio-based company is the nation's leading provider of mobile preventive health screenings with more than 85 extensively-trained ultrasound teams conveniently bringing preventive health screenings to communities across America. Life Line Screening has screened nearly 5 million Americans and has discovered carotid artery disease, peripheral artery disease, abdominal aortic aneurysms and osteoporosis in hundreds of thousands of asymptomatic people.

Facts and Stats

Complete Lipid Panel

• Cholesterol is a waxy fat that is carried through the blood stream by lipoproteins.
• LDL= low-density lipoproteins (bad cholesterol)
• HDL= high-density lipoproteins (good cholesterol)
• A 10% decrease in total blood cholesterol levels can reduce the incidence of heart disease by as much as 30%.
• Total cholesterol less than 200 mg/dL, LDL less than 130 mg/dL and HDL greater than 40 mg/dL are desirable levels.
• LDL and triglycerides require an 8 hour fasting period (no calorie intake).
• Total cholesterol and HDL measurements do not require fasting.

C-Reactive Protein

• C-reactive protein is a non-specific marker for inflammation in the body. It is released into the bloodstream in response to an infection or injury or if the blood vessels to the heart are weakened.
• Since almost half of all heart attacks affect apparently healthy adults with normal or even low cholesterol levels, it is important to know your CRP levels in addition to your cholesterol levels.
• A new test for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) can detect elevated levels of CRP in healthy, asymptomatic adults.
• In 2003, the American Heart Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published cardiovascular risk levels for the hs-CRP test. A value less than 3 mg/L is desirable.
• Fasting is not required for the hs-CRP test.

Glucose (Diabetes Risk)

• More than 20 million Americans have diabetes, but nearly 1 in 3 does not know it.
• Diabetes is strongly linked with cardiovascular disease, including stroke and heart disease.
• Strokes and heart attacks are 2-4 times more common in diabetics, occur at a younger age, and have a much greater death rate.
• Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults 20-74 years of age and the leading cause of kidney failure in the U.S.
• Fasting glucose levels should be below 100 mg/dL.
• Non-fasting glucose levels should be below 200 mg/dL.

To learn more about the cardiac risk factors, blocked arteries, cholesterol levels, and more, contact Life Line Screening to schedule a health screening.