WJHG - Medical Minute - Headlines

Tom Lewis Gets an Angio Screen

By: Elizabeth Prann Email
Posted: Thu 10:39 AM, Mar 05, 2009

Every 30 seconds an American has a heart attack.

Every 45 seconds an American has a stroke.

This explains why heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide.

The morning show viewers had a very special treat this morning; Tom Lewis, News Channel Seven's evening anchor and news director joined us live as Gulf Coast Medical Center technicians Fleta, Martha and Laura poked and prodded all morning.

The all-inclusive screening Angio Screen only takes 12 minutes – and it could save your life.

For $75, you walk in and get a blood pressure, pulse, heart rhythm and BMI check.

Technicians will then take an ultra scan of the flow of blood in your neck arteries which provide blood flow to the front of your brain. Narrowing of these carotid arteries by the buildup of cholesterol called plaque within the wall of blood vessels can increase the risk of stroke.

During this test, technicians are also hard at work at your ankles!

It’s there where they check your ABI – or Ankle Brachial index, a screening test for blockages in the arteries that go to your legs. A blockage here is called a PAD or Peripheral Arterial Disease and more than 10 million Americans have it but don’t know it – symptoms include achy legs and fatigue.

Before you get away technicians will check your belly! That’s right, your belly. An ultrasound of your abdomen shows the possible expansion of your abdominal aorta – the main blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body.

The AAA – or Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm is known as the silent killer, many people have no symptoms so early screening is often a life saver.

Keep in mind techs are there to answer any questions you may have during the process and you’ll leave with a printed summary as well as 6 ultrasound photos.

Interested? Call Gulf Coast Medical, they can come to your business or you can go to them. 850-747-3600.


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