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Louisiana Cardiovascular And Thoracic Institute » Get Screened

Vascular Screening

Vascular disease is among the leading causes of death in the US. Vascular disease is usually asymptomatic until a catastrophic event occurs. Screenings for Strokes, Heart Disease, abdominal aneurysms can save lives. Knowing your risk or your loved ones risk for vascular disease and catching disease early will also reduce the cost of medical bills, disabilities or death.

LACVT offers four “hidden threat” screenings that can identify any immediate vascular concerns, including screenings for carotid artery disease, thyroid masses, abdominal aortic aneurysms, and peripheral artery disease. Our mission is to provide accurate health screenings to identify the people that have undetected health problems. Our local physicians and staff are committed to community awareness of vascular disease.

Consider these facts:

97% of the adult population cannot recognize the warning signs of a stroke
Strokes are the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S and the number one cause of disability.
A majority of all victims of vascular disease have no symptoms
Medical costs can range from $40,000 – $60,000 for one stroke victim
HOWEVER, Strokes are the Number 1 most Preventable catastrophic disease
Only 10% of all aneurysm ruptures will survive
Vascular disease can impair circulation to the legs, reducing the ability to walk and, in some cases, lead to amputation.

Early detection can save lives. Call 318-442-0106 for more information.

FACTS

The SVS (Society of Vascular Surgery) recommends individuals 55 years of age or older with cardiovascular risk factors such as a history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, hypercholesterolemia, or known cardiovascular disease may benefit from preventive screening for vascular disease.

Here in central Louisiana, we are seeing vascular disease in people in their 40’s. Noninvasive screening examinations have proven to be accurate in detecting vascular disease prior to active warning signs and before a major medical incident such as stoke, or sudden death from aneurysm rupture. Appropriate screening examinations in high-risk individuals include:

Ultrasound scan of the aorta to identify aortic aneurysms
Ultrasound scan of the carotid arteries to assess stroke risk
Blood pressure measurements in the legs to identify PAD and risk of heart disease

Why should I be screened?

Strokes

The carotid artery supplies the brain with oxygen. Any blockage or narrowing of the carotid artery can cause a stroke. You may have no symptoms before the stroke happens. Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the US. Stroke is the leading cause of permanent disability in older people.

A quick carotid screening ultrasound can tell you if you have plaque in the arteries in your neck. Knowing you have disease will help you decide on what choices you need to make to prevent more build up of plaque.

Signs of stroke

Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

Signs of AAA

Often Silent: Most abdominal aortic aneurysms cause no symptoms and are found incidentally through routine checkups
Abdominal Pulse: A noticeable throbbing or pulsing sensation in the abdomen near the belly button.
Deep Back/Belly Pain: Constant, deep, or dull pain in the lower back, abdomen, or side (flank).
Emergency (Rupture): Sudden, severe, and tearing pain in the belly or back.
Emergency (Shock): Signs of rupture and internal bleeding, such as dizziness, clammy skin, and fainting.

Peripheral Arterial disease (PAD)

Peripheral Arterial Disease is a common circulatory problem where narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the limbs, most often the legs. It is primarily caused by atherosclerosis (plaque buildup) and is a serious health condition.

Key Facts

Systemic Disease: PAD is an indication of widespread atherosclerosis, significantly increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Leading Cause: The most common cause is the buildup of plaque (fat, cholesterol, and calcium) in the arteries.
Prevalence: It affects approximately 8-10 million adults in the U.S., most commonly those aged 65 and older.
Asymptomatic Cases: Up to 40% of people with PAD have atypical symptoms or no symptoms at all, which is why screening high-risk individuals is crucial.
Complication Risk: Untreated PAD can lead to non-healing wounds, infection, severe pain at rest, and ultimately, limb amputation.

Symptoms (When Present)

The classic symptom is called Intermittent Claudication (IC):

Leg Pain with Activity: Pain, aching, cramping, or heaviness in the leg or hip muscles (most commonly the calf) that occurs consistently during exercise (like walking).
Relief with Rest: The pain typically goes away within a few minutes of resting and returns when activity is resumed.

Other signs of more advanced or critical PAD include:

Foot or toe wounds that will not heal.
Coldness in the lower leg or foot, especially compared with the other side.
Color changes (paleness or a bluish tint) in the skin of the legs and feet.
Decreased or absent pulses in the feet.

Major Risk Factors

Smoking: Current or former smokers have a dramatically higher risk (the strongest modifiable risk factor).
Diabetes: People with diabetes are four times more likely to develop PAD.
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
High Cholesterol (Hyperlipidemia)
Age: Over age 65 (or over age 50 with other risk factors).
Family History: A history of PAD, heart disease, or stroke.

Screening for Peripheral Arterial Disease

The primary, non-invasive screening tool for PAD is the Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI).

What it Is: A quick, painless test that compares the blood pressure measured at the ankle to the blood pressure measured in the arm.
Procedure: A blood pressure cuff and an ultrasound device (Doppler) are used to measure the systolic blood pressure in both the arms and the ankles.

Venous Reflux Screening

Varicose veins are enlarged veins that can be blue, red or flesh-colored. They are often raised above the skin on legs and look like twisted, bulging chords. Varicose veins occur when the valves in the leg veins no longer function, causing blood to pool in the legs.

Go to rethinkvaricoseveins.com and take a quick assessment to see if you suffer from venous reflux disease.

A personal physician cannot order an ultrasound test unless you actually have symptoms. That may be too late for some people. That’s why our screenings are so important. Our screenings offer a low cost screening of disease with a high reward to preserve your quality of life. Call today 318-442-0106.