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Learn the Advantages of Wellness Screenings
 Strokes
Ultrasounds are a form of imaging that uses sound waves to produce visual
representations of the body that can not be seen by the naked eye. It is the reflection
of the sound waves that produces the final visual image seen in real time. Because
the screenings are real time, movement is shown allowing the test to be very helpful
in detecting conditions of the heart. Ultrasounds are non-invasive and do not emit
any radiation, making the screening a painless and safe way to assist in preventing
possible health complications.
What is a Stroke?
A stroke is caused by a lack of blood getting to the brain, commonly caused by a
blockage or narrowing in the carotid artery. Symptoms include paralysis of the arm
or leg and the loss of speech, vision, or the inability to understand spoken language.
With new ultrasound technology, the carotid artery can be screened and blockages
can be easily detected. This test is specifically designed to detect buildup of
plaque and fatty deposits inside carotid arteries that deliver blood and oxygen
to the brain, thus showing if you are at risk for a stroke.
Carotid Artery Screening
 SWI Diagnostics uses painless and non-invasive Doppler color
flow ultrasound technology to provide images of the carotid to arteries on both
side of your neck and measure the velocity of the blood flow through the vessels.
An acoustic gel is applied to the patient's neck while a painless instrument known
as a transducer, is moved around the outside of the neck to visualize the inside
of the carotid artery. The procedure takes approximately five to ten minutes and
is recommended for men and women over the age of forty.
Peripheral Artery Disease Screening
 Peripheral Artery Disease or PAD is
the narrowing of the blood vessels in the legs or arms caused by the buildup of
fatty plaque. The effects are not only pain and disability, but PAD is also a strong
predictor of heart disease and puts individuals at higher risk of heart attack and
stroke. To screen for the disease, a painless, quick and non-invasive Ankle Brachial
Index (ABI) test is performed using blood pressure cuffs on arms and ankles. The
ABI index is a ratio between the pressures in your arms and legs and will identify
most cases of PAD.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurism (AAA) Screening
 An aneurysm is an abnormal ballooning or enlargement of a blood
vessel caused by a breakdown of the lining in the vessel. When the aneurysm reaches
approximately five centimeters in size, it is at high risk for rupture. An aneurysm
shows no symptoms before rupture occurs. SWI uses ultrasound-imaging technology
to image your abdominal aorta and measure its size along the course of the vessel
to detect and prevent rupture of an aneurysm. Much like the Carotid Artery Screening,
an acoustic gel is applied, this time however, on your abdomen, while a transducer
is moved around your stomach to visualize the inside of the abdominal aorta.
What to expect during your screening?
All the screening processes are short, painless, and easy. The only test that requires
any sort of preparation is the Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm screening, which requires
the patient to fast six hours prior to imaging. To ensure accurate results, all
screenings are reviewed carefully by our qualified and registered technicians abdominal
aorta.
Who should be screened?
It is recommended that people over the age of forty consider these screenings, especially
if the individual has diabetes, pre-existing heart disease, a family history of
stroke, PAD, or AAA, high blood pressure, hardening of arteries, smokes, and is
more than thirty pounds over weight. Ask your doctor if you are at high risk or
may benefit from an preventative ultrasound screening. Please contact SWI diagnostics
for more information about our imaging services or to schedule an appointment.
Did you know?
Young African-Americans have a two to three fold greater risk of ischemic
stroke, and African-American men and women are more likely to die of stroke.
Did you know?
During a 24-hour period, about one-fifth of heathy adults are likely to have frequent
or multiple types of premature ventricular heartbeats.
Did you know?
Many patients experience no symptoms and are unaware they have carotid disease until
they experience a stroke.
Are you at risk?
Some stroke risk factors are hereditary. Others are a function of natural processes.
Still others result from a person's lifestyle. You can't change factors related
to heredity or natural processes, but those resulting from lifestyle or environment
can be modified with the help of a healthcare professional.
Risk factors you can't change
Age The chance of having a stroke more than doubles for each decade of life after
age 55. While stroke is common among the elderly, a lot of people under 65 also
have strokes.
Heredity (family history) and race Your stroke risk is greater if a parent, grandparent,
sister or brother has had a stroke. African Americans have a much higher risk of
death from a stroke than Caucasians do. This is partly because blacks have higher
risks of high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.
Sex (gender) Stroke is more common in men than in women. In most age groups, more
men than women will have a stroke in a given year. However, more than half of total
stroke deaths occur in women. At all ages, more women than men die of stroke. Use
of birth control pills and pregnancy pose special stroke risks for women.
Prior stroke, TIA or heart attack The risk of stroke for someone who has already
had one is many times that of a person who has not. Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs)
are "warning strokes" that produce stroke-like symptoms but no lasting damage. TIAs
are strong predictors of stroke. A person who's had one or more TIAs is almost 10 times more likely to have a stroke than someone of the same age and sex who hasn't. Recognizing and treating TIAs can reduce your risk of a major stroke. If you've had a heart attack, you're at higher risk of having a stroke, too.
Diabetes mellitus Diabetes is
an independent risk factor for stroke. Many people with diabetes also have high
blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and are overweight. This increases their
risk even more. While diabetes is treatable, the presence of the disease still increases
your risk of stroke.
Carotid or other artery disease
The carotid arteries in your neck supply blood to your brain. A carotid artery
narrowed by fatty deposits from atherosclerosis (plaque buildups in artery walls)
may become blocked by a blood clot. Carotid artery disease is also called carotid
artery stenosis. Peripheral artery disease is the narrowing of blood vessels carrying blood to legand arm muscles. It's caused by fatty buildups of plaque in artery walls. People with peripheral artery disease have a higher risk of carotid artery disease, whichraises their risk of stroke.
Atrial fibrillation This heart
rhythm disorder raises the risk for stroke. The heart's upper chambers quiver instead
of beating effectively, which can let the blood pool and clot. If a clot breaks
off, enters the bloodstream and lodges in an artery leading to the brain, a stroke
results.
Sickle cell disease (also called
sickle cell anemia) This is a genetic disorder that mainly affects African-American
and Hispanic children. "Sickled" red blood cells are less able to carry oxygen to
the body's tissues and organs. These cells also tend to stick to blood vessel walls,
which can block arteries to the brain and cause a stroke.
Risk factors you can change
High blood pressure High blood
pressure is the most important controllable risk factor for stroke. Many people
believe the effective treatment of high blood pressure is a key reason for the accelerated
decline in the death rates for stroke.
Cigarette smoking In recent years,
studies have shown cigarette smoking to be an important risk factor for stroke.
The nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke damage the cardiovascular system
in many ways. The use of oral contraceptives combined with cigarette smoking greatly
increases stroke risk.
High blood cholesterol People
with high blood cholesterol have an increased risk for stroke. Also, it appears
that low HDL ("good") cholesterol is a risk factor for stroke in men, but more data
are needed to verify its effect in women.
Poor diet Diets high in saturated
fat, trans fat and cholesterol can raise blood cholesterol levels. Diets high in
sodium (salt) can contribute to increased blood pressure. Diets with excess calories
can contribute to obesity. Also, a diet containing five or more servings of fruits
and vegetables per day may reduce the risk of stroke.
Physical inactivity and obesity
Being inactive, obese or both can increase your risk of high blood pressure, high
blood cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. So go on a brisk walk, take
the stairs, and do whatever you can to make your life more active. Try to get a
total of at least 30 minutes of activity on most or all days.
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