Vascular Screening Program

Many people with vascular disease have suffered a devastating stroke or fatal aneurysm with no advance warning or noticeable symptoms.  For that reason, vascular disease is often referred to as the “Silent Killer.”  Union Hospital’s Vascular Laboratory offers low-cost health screening tests that could uncover hidden risks from vascular disease. 

Carotid Artery Screening

-To detect potential risk of stroke

The carotid arteries supply blood to the brain.  A blocked carotid artery is the leading cause of stroke.  Ultrasound technology is a painless and non-invasive method to provide images of the carotid arteries on both sides of the neck and measure blood flow.

 

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening

-To detect potential rupture of the aorta

When the aorta, the largest blood vessel in the body, shows an abnormal ballooning or enlargement, there is the risk of a potentially fatal rupture.  Our vascular sonographers use painless ultrasound to obtain and image of the aorta in the abdomen and detect enlargement of the vessel. 

 

Peripheral Arterial Screening

-To detect arterial disease in the legs.

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), or hardening of the arteries, is a condition in which the large and medium sized arteries supplying blood to the legs become narrowed or clogged, slowing or stopping blood flow.  This condition may cause leg pain, reduce mobility, and increase risk of amputation.  Screening is a painless test using blood pressure cuffs on the arms and ankles. A small handheld Doppler device checks for the pulse in leg arteries.  The doctor uses this information to determine risk for PAD.

 

Venous Insufficiency Screening

-To detect poor blood flow in legs, risk of varicose veins.

 

Candidates for Screening

-People of any age who have experienced swelling or pain in their legs, or who have a family history of varicose veins, should consider this screening procedure.

Leg veins that cannot pump enough blood back to the heart may cause ankles to swell, the calves to feel tight, and the legs feel heavy, tired, or achy. You may feel pain while walking or shortly after stopping.  Venous Insufficiency may be associated with varicose veins. They often look blue, bulging, and twisted.  For this screening procedure, the sonographers will use ultrasound technology to image the veins and blood flow in the legs.

Are You A Candidate for Vascular Screening?

If any two of these apply to you, consider vascular screening:

• have high blood pressure or take meds for it?
• have diabetes?
• have high cholesterol or take meds for it?
• are age 55 or older?
• have an irregular heart beat?
• have family history of stroke/heart disease?
• are male?
• eat diet high in saturated or animal fat?
• have family history of AAA
• have leg swelling or varicose veins

Screening Cost

Cost is $35 per screening test. Package of Carotid Artery, AAA, and Peripheral Arterial Disease - $99

NOTE: Most insurance and Medicare will not cover vascular screening exams. UH will not bill insurance. You are asked to pay by check or credit card at the time of screening.

Make an Appointment

Screening is done at Union Hospital’s Vascular Laboratory one day each month between 7 am and 3 pm. 

Call for the next date and an appointment:   (330) 364-0856

Physician Report

After the screening is completed, patients will receive the doctor’s report and evaluation within 20 days.  If findings are negative, the patient will be advised to consider screening again in five years.  If findings show the potential for a serious medical condition to develop, the patient will be urged to consult with their doctor and review the screening report.  If during the screening procedure the technologist discovers a potentially life threatening condition, the patient will be advised to seek immediate medical treatment.