Stroke screening offered in Alexandria

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Stroke Detection Plus, a mobile ultrasound service that does preventative health screenings throughout the Midwest will be conducting stroke and vascular screenings in Alexandria on Thursday, August 7 at the Eagles Lodge from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The company specializes in identifying the third leading cause of death, the number one leading cause of nursing home admission, and the number one leading cause of disability, which is stroke.

Stroke Detection Plus’ goal is to prevent disease before it disables. Using ultrasound for early detection, 75-80 percent of strokes can be prevented. The condition of plaque buildup that leads to stroke can also be reversed.

Of the 750,000 strokes that occurred last year, two-thirds of those people showed no signs or symptoms prior to having a stroke. It is estimated that 97 percent of people would not recognize a sign or symptom if they were having one. This can be a silent disease until it disables.

The warning signs of a stroke are:

•?Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arms, or legs, especially on one side of the body.

•?Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.

•?Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.

•?Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.

•?Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

If someone has one or any combination of these warning signs it is critical to dial 911. Also important to know are the risk factors that are a predictor of stroke. They are:

•?Older than the age of 40.

•?More than 20 pounds overweight.

•?Family history of stroke or heart disease.

•?Diabetes.

•?Smoking.

•?High cholesterol.

•?High blood pressure.

•?Not exercising at least three times a week for 20 minutes.

•?Hypertension.

•?Irregular heartbeat.

Stroke Detection Plus screens the carotid arteries looking for plaque buildup or blockage. The vast majority of strokes occur because of a lack of blood flow to the brain. This test can determine the percentage of blockage restricting that flow.

The second test looks for aortic aneurysm, which is an enlargement of the vessel that feeds the lower extremities with blood.

The third test is for peripheral vascular disease, which is blockage in the arms and legs. An abnormal result here puts people at a four to six times greater risk of coronary artery disease.

The final screening is for osteoporosis, which looks for low or abnormal bone mass.

All four tests are $120, or any three tests are $100 and each individual test is $40. The screening will be held at the Eagles Lodge, 526 North Nokomis Street in Alexandria on Thursday, August 7, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Appointments are necessary and can be made by calling toll free 1-877-732-8258.

Tags: stroke, screening, alexandria