Stroke Screening

A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is stopped, causing brain cells to die. There are two kinds of stroke: ischemic and hemorrhagic. Ischemic strokes happen when a blood clot or plaque build up blocks a blood vessel in the brain. Hemorrhagic strokes result from blood vessels breaking and leaking into or around the brain.
Before having a stroke, some people experience Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs), also known as “mini-strokes". These are mild strokes that result from a brief interruption of blood flow to the brain.
We offer preventive screening for the blood clots and plaque buildup that cause ischemic stroke.
Screening for Stroke risk
five screenings to help you understand your stroke risk.

• Carotid Artery Disease Screening
  
  • Simple, painless and non-invasive, this screening uses cutting-edge Doppler color flow ultrasound technology to create images of the carotid arteries while also measuring blood flow through them. 

• Atrial Fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) Screening
  
  • A non-invasive procedure used to detect irregular heartbeat (a major risk factor for stroke), an Atrial Fibrillation screening is performed by attaching EKG electrodes above your wrists and ankles. 

• Complete Lipid Panel Screening
  
  • A simple finger-stick screening, this procedure measures three different kinds of lipids in your blood (HDL, LDL and triglycerides) as well as total cholesterol. Your lipid levels are important in determining heart health and stroke risk. 

• Glucose Screening
  
  
  • A quick and easy finger-stick screening that measures blood sugar levels following eight hours of fasting, our Blood Glucose test helps identify diabetes —a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke — as well as monitor blood sugar levels for those already diagnosed with the disease.  

• C-reactive Protein Screening
  
  
  • A simple finger-stick screening that measures C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in your blood, this test can help determine heart disease and stroke risk levels. As a part of your immune system, CRP levels become elevated because of infection or inflammation. 

Who should have a stroke screening?

• Anyone over age 50
• Anyone over age 40 with risk factors

How often should I get a stroke screening?

• Annually

*Recommended guidelines only. Consult with your physician. How do I prepare for a stroke screening?

• Wear a shirt that is open at the collar and short-sleeved
• Do not wear a turtleneck

Warning signs
Often there are no warning signs for stroke, but if you experience any of the following symptoms you should seek medical care immediately:

• Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arms or legs, particularly on one side of the body
• Sudden loss of speech or trouble understanding speech  
• Sudden unexplained memory loss
• Sudden dimness or loss of vision in one eye
• Sudden onset of double vision
• Sudden severe, acute headache
• Sudden dizziness or loss of balance

Risk factors
Men and women of all ages and races have strokes, but there are many different factors that increase your risk of stroke:

• Age (3/4 of all strokes occur in people over the age of 65)
• Gender (males have an increased risk)  
• Family history of stroke
• Race (African Americans are at an increased risk)
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Heavy alcohol consumption
• Poor diet 
• Being overweight or obese
• Physical inactivity
• High cholesterol levels
• Drug abuse
• Head and neck injuries  

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