FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 6, 2007

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

Detroit, MI -- Life Line Screening, the nation’s leading provider of preventive health screenings, is offering free carotid artery screenings at the NAACP conference July 7 -- 10th in order to educate delegates and other attendees about the role of preventive screening to avoid stroke.

The carotid arteries are the main arteries in the neck that bring blood to the brain. Blockages in these arteries are a leading cause of stroke. The blockages are caused by plaque build-up in the arteries, a condition known as atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis can lead to strokes.

Atherosclerosis and stroke are of particular concern to the African-American community. According to the American Stroke Association:

• Blacks have almost twice the risk of first-ever strokes compared to whites.
   
• Blacks have higher death rates for stroke compared to whites.
   
• The prevalence of high blood pressure in African Americans in the United States is the highest in the world. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for stroke.
   
• Among non-Hispanic blacks age 20 and older, 62.9 percent of men and 77.2 percent of women are overweight or obese, which places them at higher risk for stroke.
   
• In 2001, 27.7 percent of African-Americans used a tobacco product. Heavy cigarette smoking approximately doubles a person’s risk for stroke when compared to light smokers.
   
• Black women have higher prevalence rates of high blood pressure, obesity, physical inactivity, and diabetes than white women, all stroke risk factors.

The atherosclerosis screenings are identical to those used throughout the nation by Life Line Screening, using painless, non-invasive Doppler ultrasound to visualize the carotid arteries and check their blood flow. The ultrasound images will be sent to a board-certified physician for review. All participants will receive their results within 21 days. Those that have blockages that appear to be of an urgent nature will be informed immediately.

“We hope to increase the number of African-Americans being screened for stroke,” explains Andrew Manganaro, MD, FACS, FACC, vascular and cardiothoracic surgeon, National Medical Director of Life Line Screening. “While the exact number being screened is unknown, the percentage is certainly less than it should be when you consider the prevalence of stroke in the African-American community. By identifying the blockages before a stroke occurs, physicians can help patients make lifestyle changes or begin treatment that can prevent disability or death.”

The free stroke prevention screenings are available with assistance from the NAACP, who provided the required booth space free of charge and ten Life Line Screening staff members who are volunteering to share their time.

“We are very pleased to be a part of this important outreach,” says Myisha Patterson-Gatson, NAACP National Health Coordinator. “Given the devastating effect of stroke in the African-American community, promoting prevention just makes sense.”

“As an African-American man who works for a company that specializes in stroke prevention I feel I have an obligation to let people know how a simple screening can avoid the devastation of stroke,” says Alonzo Mitchell, a Life Line Screening employee and NAACP conference volunteer. “I hope the delegates at this conference will see the power of these screenings and bring the information home to their communities. As leaders they can make a real difference if they just spread the word.”

Nationwide, stroke is the third leading cause of death and a leading cause of nursing home admissions.

About Life Line Screening

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 and is committed to partnering with physicians and hospitals to provide preventive vascular screenings to communities. Visit http://www.lifelinescreening.com