Do you need to be more
aggressive in lowering your risk of heart attack and
stroke?
One simple,
inexpensive test can help you decrease your risk of early
disease and death!
The ABI
screening takes only 15 minutes.
Are you at risk
for:
PVD - Peripheral Vascular
Disease &
PAD - Peripheral Artery Disease?
ABI Screening Can Save
Lives
If untreated,
peripheral vascular disease increases the risk
of:
- Heart disease and
heart attack
- Stroke
- Kidney artery
disease
- Amputation or serious
foot and leg damage
Are You at High Risk for
Heart Disease, Stroke, Kidney Disease or
Amputation?
If so, you
can do something about it right now and prevent
and improve your circulation.
A simple test on
your arms and ankles could fore warn you on heart and vascular
disease.
It’s called an ankle brachial
index or ABI. It’s used to detect poor blood flow in your legs,
which can be a symptom of peripheral vascular disease (PVD), a
narrowing of the arteries that is linked to heart disease,
stroke, kidney disease and leg damage.
Why screening is
important Although the symptoms
of PVD usually show up in the legs, the problem is rarely
restricted to that area.
PVD usually develops as a result
of atherosclerosis, the buildup of fatty deposits in the
linings of vascular walls. People with PVD often have the same
fatty buildup in other arteries too, such as those in the
heart, brain and kidneys, which raises the risk for heart
attack, stroke and kidney disease.
People with PVD are 4-5 times
more likely to die of a heart attack. If left untreated, PVD
can also result in loss of feeling in the toes, feet and legs,
gangrene and amputation.
PVD: Are you at
risk? Take this short quiz to see if you could be
at risk for peripheral vascular disease
(PVD).
| 1. Are you age 50 or
older? |
Yes
No |
| 2. Do you
smoke? |
Yes
No |
| 3. Do you have
diabetes? |
Yes
No |
| 4. Do you have high blood
pressure? |
Yes
No |
| 5. Do you have high
cholesterol? |
Yes
No |
| 6. Do you have a family
history of heart disease or vascular (blood
vessel) disease? |
Yes
No |
| 7. Are you
overweight? |
Yes
No |
| 8. Are you sedentary with
little or no exercise? |
Yes
No |
| 9. Are you African
American |
Yes
No |
If you answered
yes to even one of these questions, you could be at risk for
PVD. So be sure to obtain an ABI Screening and share your
results with your doctor.
Approximately 12 million
Americans suffer from PVD, often referred to hardening of the
arteries or atherosclerosis. This narrowing of the blood
vessels in the legs caused by the buildup of fatty plaque and
calcium and is a strong predictor of heart disease.
PVD may show up in leg arteries before there are any signs or
symptoms in your heart.
The
ABI
Screening is a measurement of the blood pressure
in the lower legs compared to the blood pressure in the
arms. During this test, blood pressure cuffs are placed
on the arms and legs. The cuffs are inflated, while a
hand-held device (called a doppler) is used to listen to
the blood flow in the legs and arms. The ABI screening
helps evaluate the amount of blood flow to the legs and
feet, which is decreased in a person with PVD. It is a
highly accurate method for detecting
PVD.
ABI
Screening
- Your screening will last
15 minutes.
- Please wear a
short-sleeved shirt or
blouse.
- Do not wear
pantyhose.
- You will be asked to remove your socks
and shoes.
- You will lie down for approximately
5 minutes to obtain resting blood
pressures.
- Blood pressure cuffs will
be placed on your upper arms and ankles. Systolic blood
pressures are obtained using an ultrasound
doppler.
- Results will be provided immediately. You
will be provided ABI and velocity scores that you can give
to your doctor.
- Cost of the screening and
report is $50.
An additional consultation
is available, at an additional cost, if you would like
information on diet, lifestyle, and dietary supplement
approaches to improve your vascular health.
Insurance and Medicare does not cover health
screenings. ABI Screening does not require a doctor’s referral
in the state of Oklahoma. To schedule an appointment please
call (405) 936-3333.
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