06-SYSMKTG-2217-Good Shep PVD Color
2/5/07
2:57 PM
People who should consider
screening include those with:
• Coro n a ry art e ry disease
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Family history of carotid
artery disease
• Fear of a stroke
• Past history of transient
ischemic attacks (TIA)
• Significant risk factors,
including smoking, obesity,
diabetes and high cholesterol
• Age 55 or older
For any questions or information
regarding your Stroke and Vascular
Wellness Screening, Please call:
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Peripheral Vascular Wellness Scre e n i n g s
a re available at two locations:
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
450 West Highway 22
Barrington, Illinois 60010
and
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
Physician and Diagnostic
Services – Algonquin
2284 County Line Road
Algonquin, Illinois 60102
One Block East on County Line Road and Randall Road
Screening appointments for either location
can be made by calling:
847-842-4130
847-842-4130
Cost: $145.00
© Advocate Health Care
0000-0/00 MC
06-SYSMKTG-2217-Good Shep PVD Color
2/5/07
2:57 PM
The Importance
of Vascular Health
E v e ry day vascular disease robs people
of their quality of life. It is a progressive
systemic condition that, left untre a t e d ,
leads to disability and possibly even death.
It is important to know if you are at risk.
Seeking treatment is the key to feeling
better and being healthier.
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital offers
s c reening evaluations for early detection
of vascular diseases. Highly trained staff
will perf o rm the screening exams and
you will receive the results that day.
The ultrasound tests for disease are
simple and painless.
What is an ultrasound?
Ultrasound (or “sonography”) is a pro c e d u rethat
uses high-frequency sound waves to show what is
inside your body.
How does an ultrasound work?
Because the body contains over 90% water, sound
waves can be used in some parts of the body just as
sonar is used in the ocean. Each time the sound
hits a tissue interface, like a blood vessel, an echo
is sent back. Sophisticated, high-speed computers
can use these echoes to create a picture of your
i n t e rnal organs. This results in a very detailed
examination which aids the physician in his or her
diagnosis.
An ultrasound examination is fast with very little
d i s c o m f o rt. No radiation or x-rays are necessary.
Page 2
Four Vascular
Wellness Scre e n i n g s
There are four screening exams available to test
for your risk for stroke and vascular disease:
• Carotid art e ry
• Abdominal aorta
• Lower leg screening for PVD
• Lipid
C a rotid Artery Screening
The carotid art e ry is the major vessel that runs
along either side of your neck and carries blood
to your brain. If disease is discovered in these
arteries, a person may have a 15-20 percent
chance of having a stroke within the next two
years. However, if it is discovered early, treatment
will eliminate that possibility.
Carotid art e ry disease typically occurs when
the carotid arteries, the main blood vessel to
the brain, develop a buildup of plaque caused
by athero s c l e rosis, or hardening of the arteries.
When the buildup becomes severe, it can cause
a stroke which can be fatal or perm a n e n t l y
disabling. If a carotid art e ry disease is detected
and treated, most strokes can be prevented.
Abdominal Aorta Scre e n i n g
The aorta carries oxygenated blood from the heart
to the body. There is a junction in the abdomen
where the aorta splits, allowing fresh blood to be
channeled into either leg. A weakness in this
region can result in a rupture, rapid loss of blood,
and in severe circumstances even death.
Aortic aneurysms occur when the wall of the aorta,
the main artery in the chest and abdomen,
progressively weakens. This causes a dilation
or enlargement of the vessel. If not diagnosed
and treated, the aneurysm will grow larger
and eventually ru p t u re. According to the American
Vascular Association (AVA), a rupture abdominal
aortic aneurysm (AAA) is the tenth leading cause
of death in men over the age of 55 in this country.
Lower Leg Screening for
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Poor circulation in the lower extremities can
signal several abnormal conditions. A simple
test using a blood pre s s u re cuff can find many
of these pro b l e m s .
Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) is a blockage
in the arterial circulation to the arms and legs
due to athero s c l e rosis which may threaten the
limbs. PVDcan impair circulation to the legs
and lead to serious disability or amputation.
Between 25 and 30 million people over the age
of 70 have PVD. These people are three times
as likely to die of heart attacks and strokes as
those without the disease.
Lipid Screening
High cholesterol can also contribute to your risk
for vascular disease because it also contributes to
a rt h o s c l e rosis which builds in the art e r i e s .
T h e re f o re we also conduct a Cholestech
(simple finger prick) to obtain your lipid levels.