Southwest and Life Line Screening® are teaming up to bring valuable—and affordable—vascular screenings to Clark County. It's a partnership designed to spot vascular disease so you can get the help you need to improve blood flow and prevent a catastrophic event like a heart attack or stroke.

Modern medicine is in a constant state of evolution, giving healthcare providers more tools than ever before to diagnose and treat whatever ails you. That's especially true for conditions associated with vascular disease, which has earned a reputation as a silent killer because its symptoms often don't show up until the later stages of the disease.

As with so many medical conditions, early detection of vascular disease is critical to preventing life-threatening damage to your arteries and veins. But because the tests are expensive and typically not covered by insurance, vascular screenings are not usually part of routine physical exams.

That's why Southwest and Life Line Screening are teaming up to bring affordable screenings to Clark County. Life Line is the nation's largest provider of vascular screenings, and Southwest's Heart and Vascular Center is among the region's top hospitals for cardiovascular care. The screening clinics are scheduled at various community locations, and there's no referral required. The screenings are quick and painless, and each test tells us volumes about the quality of your heart and blood flow.

What is included in the screening package?
For less than $140, you can get four tests that identify vascular disease and stroke risk:

1. Stroke/Carotid Artery Disease: A stroke results from the disruption of adequate blood flow to the brain. The carotid arteries are the main blood supply to the brain, and plaque buildup in these arteries is the leading cause of stroke. Up to 50% of all stroke victims never have symptoms.

   Life Line Screening uses ultrasound technology to measure the velocity of the blood flow through these vessels.

2. Peripheral Artery Disease: Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is more commonly known as hardening of the arteries. It is caused by a gradual process in which cholesterol and scar tissue build up in the artery, forming a substance called plaque that clogs the artery. Individuals with PAD are at a four-fold risk of heart attack and a two to three-fold greater risk for stroke, compared to individuals of the same age without PAD.

   Life Line Screening uses an Ankle Brachial Index (ABI index) test to determine a ratio between the pressures in your arms and legs and will identify most cases of PAD.

3. Atrial Fibrillation: Atrial fibrillation is a type of irregular heart beat, which increases the risk of stroke 5 times. Using a quick and painless screening test, we can measure your heart rhythm and check for atrial fibrillation.
4. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: An aneurysm is an abnormal ballooning or enlargement of a blood vessel. When the aneurysm reaches approximately five (5) centimeters, it is at high risk for rupture. The USPTF (U.S. Preventive Task Force) recommends any male 65 and older who has ever smoked be screened of aortic abdominal aneurysm.

   Life Line Screening uses ultrasound technology to determine the presence of an aneurysm on the aorta.

Who can benefit from a screening?
Take a look at the most common risk factors to see if you or someone you know is at risk of heart or vascular disease:

• Anyone with parents or siblings who had a heart attack, heart failure, bypass surgery or heart procedure
• Smokers or people who have quit within the past year
• High blood pressure or taking medications for high blood pressure
• Diabetes or pre-diabetes
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Obesity or overweight
• High cholesterol, treated or untreated

In this country, heart and vascular disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women over 65 years old. The good news is that many risk factors can be modified in time to prevent serious complications. And Southwest's Heart and Vascular Center is equipped with highly-skilled doctors and advanced technology for treating a multitude of heart and vascular issues.

Take charge of your own health and schedule a low-cost heart and vascular screening. Find a screening event near you!