Cardiovascular disease (heart and circulatory disease) causes more than one in four of all deaths in the UK http://www.ultrasound-direct.com/

1. Vascular Stroke Screening Helps Indicate
Early Stroke Detection Risks
Cardiovascular disease (heart and circulatory disease) causes more than one in four of all deaths
in the UK - that's around 160,000 deaths a year. This figure includes deaths from stroke, heart
attacks, heart failure, cardiomyopathy and atrial fibrillation.
How can vascular stroke screening help?
Because strokes and heart attacks are so-called 'silent killers' in that they rarely have any
symptoms and strike without warning, it makes good sense to have your vascular health (that's
the health of your arteries) checked. Vascular Stroke Screening is a comprehensive package of
scans and ultrasound tests, which can you, give a representative snapshot of the state of your
arteries.
Finding out if you have a problem with your arteries gives you the chance to lower your risk
factors for a stroke or heart attack before it happens by making lifestyle changes such as taking
more exercise, giving up smoking and losing weight, as well as taking medication to help lower
you blood pressure and cholesterol and controlling your blood sugar.
What 's included in vascular stroke screening?
Our package of scans costs £179 and is available to men over 45, the purpose is to examine three
key areas of the body to assess the state of your vascular system (arteries).
These examinations include:
 An abdominal aorta scan: The aorta is the main blood vessel leading from the heart down
to your abdomen and the rest of the body. It's normally about the width of a hosepipe
(approximately 2cm), but if the wall weakens it can 'bulge' to (this is called aortic
dilatation) double the size at 5.5cm and can be in danger of bursting. This is called an
abdominal aortic aneurysm and is rare but very serious, because if it bursts it can cause
fatal bleeding. A rupture accounts for one in 50 deaths in men aged over 65 and causes
6,000 deaths a year in England. Ultrasound Direct's scan of your aorta will examine the
aorta to check for signs of an abdominal aortic aneurysm and also examine the iliac
arteries, a network of arteries that supply a number of areas of the body including the
lower limbs and pelvis. The scan will be checking for signs of narrowing caused by
calcification (fatty deposits) or thrombus build-up (clotted blood) and can also monitor
aortic dilatation (swelling of the aorta).
If an abdominal aortic aneurysm is detected, both kidney and renal arteries will be checked too.

2.  A carotid scan: The carotid arteries are in the front of your neck and carry oxygenated
blood to the brain. When the carotid arteries narrow due to a build-up of plaque it raises
the risk of you having a stroke. Carotid artery disease accounts for 20 in 100 of all
strokes. Our Doppler ultrasound examination will check the size; condition and blood
flow of your carotid arteries, from their origin to where they divide in two, to supply
different areas of the brain/ head. We will also check internal and external carotid arteries
and vertebral arteries. The scan will check for plaque build-up and narrowing.
 A scan for peripheral arterial disease: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is where your
arteries begin to narrow - it affects one in five men aged 50 to 75 and one in eight women
in the same age group. It mainly affects the arteries supplying blood to the legs. The main
symptom of PAD is pain in one leg or both on walking (this is called intermittent
claudication), but only one in four people experience any symptoms - hence why
scanning is a good idea as it can help build up a picture of your arteries. Ultrasound
Direct uses a Doppler scan to measure blood flow in the brachial arteries in both arms
and also takes a blood pressure measurement in the arm and the ankle while a person is at
rest called the ankle brachial index. The Doppler scan also checks the tibial arteries in
both legs. The tests will help your sonographer determine whether you have signs of
PAD, and can also help with on-going monitoring of aortic dilatation.
If you do have PAD, taking 30 minutes of exercise a day (walking is regarded as the best form)
has been shown to improve PAD symptoms, as it encourages a network of smaller blood vessels
to grow and improves blood flow to the legs.
We will provide a sonographer's report at the time of the scan with a medical follow-up
recommendation if needed.
Preparing for your vascular stroke screening
Prior to your appointment you'll be asked to fast for eight hours - so no breakfast if your
appointment is in the morning and no lunch if it's in the afternoon. Stick to clear fluids (black tea
or coffee are allowed). Diabetics are allowed to eat but must avoid fatty/dairy products.
We advise wearing a loose-fitting top, which is easy to get on and off, as you'll need to expose
the upper and lower parts of your abdomen, neck, upper arms and ankles.
Stroke screening and heart attack screening can be combined in Ultrasound Direct's Vascular
Stroke Screening tests - a thorough MOT of three main areas in your vascular system