Diagnostic screenings Wednesday

Staff Reports

St. Gall Catholic Church will be hosting a Life Line Screening on July 9. Life Line Screening will offer three Doppler color-flow ultrasound screenings and two others for people 40 years older.

n Carotid artery/stroke screening which looks for plaque buildup in the carotid arteries, which can lead to a stroke. Up to 75 percent of all strokes are linked to carotid artery blockage.

n Abdominal aortic aneurysm test which checks for an aneurysm or enlargement in the abdominal aorta that could lead to a ruptured aortic artery. The majority of people who have an abdominal aneurysm have no symptoms and the mortality rate for a ruptured AAA is about 80-94 percent.

n Ankle brachial index which screens for peripheral arterial disease in the lower extremities. Peripheral arterial disease is a strong predictor for heart disease.

n Screening for atria fibrillation, a type of irregular heart beat that can lead to heart failure or stroke.

n Bone density screening, which tests both men and women for the early detection of osteoporosis.

The screenings are painless, non-invasive and require about an hour to complete. This is a prevention program, and with early detection, problems can be treated. Results are sent you to take to primary care physicians.

All five screenings are $149. Call (800)324-1851 for registration.