Bay Area residents can be screened to reduce their risk of having a stroke or serious bone fracture. Life Line Screening will be at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 2250 16th Street, North Bend, on Thursday, Jan. 17. Appointments will begin at 9 a.m.

A stroke, also known as a “brain attack,” is ranked as the third leading killer in the world, and the leading cause of nursing home admissions. Stroke often occurs without warning.  The good news is that painless screening can help identify problems that can lead to stroke before it is too late.

Screenings are fast, painless and low cost. They test for blocked carotid arteries, abdominal aortic aneurysms, and hardening of the arteries in the legs.  Bone density screening is also offered to assess the risk of osteoporosis.

These screenings are important because of the silent and often debilitating nature of the conditions. The majority of strokes are caused by plaque build up in the carotid arteries.  The abdominal aorta is the largest artery in the body, and a weakness in the walls of the artery can cause a ballooning called an aneurysm, which can rupture. A ruptured aneurysm is generally fatal. Peripheral arterial disease or PAD is also known as “hardening of the arteries.” Sufferers have a 4-6 fold increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Risk is evaluated through a measurement called the “Ankle-Brachial Index,” which is obtained by reading the systolic pressure in the ankle and arm.   

A Complete Wellness Package with Heart Rhythm costs $149. All five screenings take 60 to 90 minutes to complete.

Life Line Screening was established in 1993, and has since become the nation’s leading provider of vascular screenings. Over 85 ultrasound teams are on staff to travel to local communities, bringing the screenings to residents. These non-invasive, inexpensive and painless ultrasound tests help people identify their risk for stroke, vascular diseases or osteoporosis early enough for their physician to begin preventive procedures.

For more information regarding the screenings or to schedule an appointment, those interested can call (877) 237-1377 or visit http://www.lifelinescreening.com.  Pre-registration is required.