Vascular HealthScreen is a free heart and vascular disease education and screening program. If caught early, vascular disease can be treated to prevent serious problems such as heart attack or stroke.

Every year, more than 795,000 Americans will have a stroke caused by heart or vascular disease. Up to 80% of strokes are preventable.

How does Vascular HealthScreen work?

This is a free screening program if you’re at least 60 years old, or if you’re at least 50 years old and have certain risk factors for vascular disease. A referral is not required, but we’ll send your screening results to your primary care physician.

Through Vascular HealthScreen, individuals are screened for common diseases such as:
 

• Carotid artery disease — a primary cause of preventable strokes
• Abdominal aortic aneurysms — ruptured aneurysms (bulging in the wall of a weakened artery) cause death in up to 90% of cases
• Renal artery stenosis — when untreated, frequently leads to the need for hemodialysis, a procedure to remove waste from the blood when kidneys can no longer do it
• Extremity artery disease — affects up to 12 million Americans, especially those over age 50

Who’s eligible for the screening?

Because plaque builds up over time, the risk of vascular disease increases with age. You’re eligible* for a free screening if you have an established primary care physician and are:
 

• Greater than 60 years old
• Greater than 50 years old with one or more of the following risk factors: high cholesterol, high blood pressure, a smoker, family history of vascular disease (including stroke, heart attack, high blood pressure, kidney failure, sudden cardiac death or abdominal aortic aneurysms)
• Greater than 40 years old with diabetes
• Have an active MyHealthMate by Community Medical Centers account. (If not, we can help you get one set up!)

*In an effort to make the best use of this free screening program, we’re unable to provide screenings to individuals who do not meet the eligibility requirements noted above.

Please note: Individuals who receive a normal result from their Vascular HealthScreen are eligible to return for a follow-up screening in 5 years.
 

How much does a screening cost?

All screenings are offered free.
 

What can I expect at the screening?

The Vascular HealthScreen program screens for the four common vascular diseases — carotid artery disease, abdominal aortic aneurysms, renal artery stenosis and extremity artery disease.

The process includes a blood pressure check and a non-invasive ultrasound examination of the carotid arteries, abdominal aorta and evaluation of the circulation in the lower extremities. We’ll also check your Body Mass Index (BMI) and will need to measure both your height and weight during the screening.
 

How long will the screening take? 

The painless, non-invasive screening will take between 15-20 minutes to complete.
 

How will I get my results?

Your results are available to you through your MyHealthMate account and via your primary care physician. Please note that Vascular HealthScreen only offers preliminary findings.

If the screening uncovers a disease, you’ll need to follow up with your primary care physician to discuss any further recommendations for care.

To schedule your free vascular screening, call (559) 433-8170.