Carotid arteries are located on both sides of the neck. Their purpose is to supply the brain with blood and oxygen. If a build-up of plaque occurs blood flow to the brain can be diminished, resulting in a stroke. Advanced Screening, will use state of the art Duplex Imaging Ultrasound to screen for the presence of blockage or narrowing of Ultrasound Imaging.

Please Review these facts:

• Strokes- Are the third leading cause of death in this country and can be prevented. 600,000 people per year suffer a stroke or what many now refer to as a “Brain Attack”
  
  
• 160,000 die. Many that survive are physically and or mentally disabled. 30% of all victims are under age 65. Over 200,000 Americans under age 45 suffer stroke. (NSA)-National Stroke Association.
  
  
• In 1998, heart disease and stroke killed 33,611 Michiganians: more than cancer, accidents, pneumonia, influenza, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes mellitus combined. Michigan Health Statistic 1998. Division for vital records and health statistics. MDCH
  

News Release:

January 6, 1999
5:00 pm Eastern

Ultrasonography Predicts Heart Attack/Stroke Risk

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)- supports scientists report that ultrasonography, a non-invasive test, predicts the risk of heart attack and stroke in older persons with no cardiovascular disease symptoms.

The test was used to measure the thickness of the walls of two arteries in the neck. The result gave vital information beyond that available from an assessment of the standard cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol.

The NHLBI is part of the National Institutes of Health. The finding appears in the January 7 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.
“This study shows that ultrasongraphy has great potential in the prevention of heart attack and stroke,” said NHLBI Director Dr. Claude Lenfant. “By identifying high risk patients, ultrasonography would allow doctors to provide aggressive treatment early”

Such treatment includes control of high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol, weight loss, increased physical activity, and aspirin and other drug therapies, he added.