Heart-Health Screenings are an important aspect of lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease These screenings are instrumental in managing health behaviors and risk factors, such as diet quality, physical activity, smoking, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, total cholesterol or blood glucose.

Heart-health screenings include:

• PVI: Stroke/Carotid Artery Screening Ultrasound
  Carotid Ultrasound allows for early detection and prevention of heart disease and stroke. Plaque (P) – we do an ultrasound of the Carotid Arteries in the neck and identify any plaque build-up. Specifically, soft plaque that can rupture or cause blockages which increase the risk for heart attack and stroke. Velocity (V) – with Doppler, we look for elevated or dampened velocities in the Common Carotid which can indicate disease and/or blockage. Intima-Media Thickness (I) – in B mode ultrasound, we scan the Common Carotid Artery and measure the thickness of the Intima and Media layers, giving us a vascular age of the arteries compared to the patient’s actual age.
• ABI: Peripheral Arterial Disease Screening
  Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) test allows for early detection of atherosclerosis which can clog arteries and restrict blood flow.A quick, easy and non-invasive procedure, PAD screening is done by using the ankle-brachial index (ABI). A small ultrasound device is used to measure the systolic pressures in both arms and legs. A ratio less than 0.90 indicates plaque buildup and possible peripheral arterial disease. A ratio of 0.90 to 1.3 is considered normal.
• AAA: Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening
  Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Ultrasound checks for aneurysms in the abdomen that may be at risk of rupturing.An ultrasound of the abdominal aorta is performed with measurements taken throughout. The examination screens for the presence of an aneurysm that is 3cm or greater in size.