As the leading cause of death in the United States, heart disease and stroke claim nearly 1 million lives annually. In fact, according to the American Heart Association, it affects almost half of American adults. But most people don’t know they have a heart or blood vessel condition, or even know they are at an elevated risk, until their symptoms become severe.
What if there were a quick, affordable way to discover if you have signs or a higher risk of heart and vascular disease? Well, good news—there is. For $75 out-of-pocket—the cost of dinner for two or a night at the movies—The Christ Hospital Health Network, one of the top cardiovascular hospitals in the U.S., offers a comprehensive screening with four easy-to-access, noninvasive heart and vascular tests that can give you the answers you need.
Why heart and vascular screening matters
Many heart and vascular conditions are symptomless until they’re advanced and require complex therapy. Heart and vascular screenings help us detect these problems early when they are more likely to require simpler, less intense treatments, and when chances are higher for better outcomes.
“With these tests, we can catch diseases and conditions early when they’re easier to treat,” says Christopher Paprzycki, MD, FACS, a vascular surgeon with The Christ Hospital Physicians-Vascular Surgery. “By acting early, we can prevent a lot of disability, day-to-day symptoms, and impact on quality of life. We can also determine if you’re at risk for developing various conditions in the future.”
Depending on your results, screening exams may help you avoid expensive, in-depth tests. But they may also show that you need more extensive assessments
“Screenings usually tell us if it’s worth it for you to go through a full, comprehensive exam that’s going to cost more and take more time out of your day,” he says. “Think of screenings as lead-in tests that help your doctor determine if they need to investigate a possible condition.”
Who should consider heart and vascular screening?
Dr. Paprzycki says heart and vascular screening is a good idea for anyone who wants to be proactive about heart and vascular health.
“These screenings can give you baseline measurements of your heart and vascular health. They can also give you a head start in preventing bigger problems down the road,” he says. “If you don’t have a desire to follow in your parents’ or grandparents’ health footsteps, getting screened can give you peace of mind.”
Anyone can schedule a screening with no referral required. But Dr. Paprzycki strongly recommends making an appointment if you:
Where to find heart and vascular screenings
Heart and vascular screening has been a popular service at our Mt. Auburn Medical Office Building for many years. To make scheduling an appointment easier and more convenient, we recently added our Mobile Heart Health Unit.
“With the van, we can go into neighborhoods and communities. It gives us ultimate flexibility to screen patients anywhere and everywhere,” Dr. Paprzycki says. “We’re now able to offer many more appointments, so patients aren’t waiting months for screening. Instead, you can find an appointment within a week.”
Thanks to a donation from the Wyler Family Foundation and the Wyler Automotive Family, this 40-foot van offers on-site testing at six of our outpatient centers. It includes a workroom; two exam rooms and all the equipment needed for complete testing.
Tour Our Mobile Heart Health Unit
The heart and vascular conditions we screen for
Our screening tests target several heart and vascular conditions that often remain silent until they are severe. We screen for:
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA): This potentially life-threatening condition develops when part of your aorta, the main vessel that carries blood from your heart to the rest of your body, begins to bulge or balloon.
Atrial fibrillation (AFib): This fast, irregular heartbeat can cause other heart-related complications.
Carotid artery disease: When plaque buildup narrows or blocks the carotid arteries that deliver blood to your brain, you may have a stroke.
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD): This condition restricts blood flow through the arteries in your legs.
What to expect during your heart and vascular screening appointment
If your appointment is with the mobile unit at one of our outpatient centers, you check in at the registration area inside the building, where the sonographer (an ultrasound technician) will greet you and escort you to the van
Our heart and vascular screening appointments last roughly 30 minutes. During that time, our sonographer discusses your medical history and explains the screening tests. They will ask you for the name of the doctor who should receive your test results.
Our goal is to make your screening experience as comfortable and as easy as possible, Dr. Paprzycki says.
“Everything we do is noninvasive,” he says. “There are no needle pokes, injections or numbing medicine. Nothing burns, and we even pre-warm the ultrasound gel so you don’t get cold during the exams.”
To complete your screening, we offer these four tests:
Abdominal ultrasound to detect an aortic aneurysm
Blood pressure measurements, using cuffs, from both arms and both ankles to check your circulation
Ultrasound of the neck to detect plaque in your internal carotid artery
30-second electrocardiogram (EKG) with a finger pad to detect AFib
How to prepare for your heart and vascular screenings
Getting ready for your heart and vascular screenings is simple, Dr. Paprzycki says. There are four important things to remember:
Be ready to discuss any lifestyle behaviors that could impact your heart, like exercise, nutrition and smoking.
Before you arrive, make a list of important details about your personal and family medical history.
Eat a light meal the night before your screening and don’t eat until after your tests on the day of your appointment. Waiting to eat reduces the amount of gas in your intestines. This is important because ultrasound waves can’t penetrate air.
Wear loose-fitting clothing that makes it easier to capture ultrasound images of your neck and abdomen.
What are the next steps after you receive your results?
Our cardiologists (electrophysiologists) will read your EKG. And one of our vascular surgeons will review your ultrasound images and blood pressure measurements. You can typically find your results in your MyChart within a week or two. If you don't have MyChart, we will mail you a copy.
Once your tests are complete, the next steps will depend on your results, Dr. Paprzycki says.
“If we do find something in your tests, we can help you coordinate care. With early concerns like mild plaque buildup in your carotid artery, we encourage you to discuss those findings with your doctor,” he says. “For more urgent findings, we will contact your doctor directly so they can refer you to a specialist, if needed.”
Ultimately, Dr. Paprzycki says, by increasing access to these screening services, The Christ Hospital Health Network is improving heart and vascular health throughout Greater Cincinnati, and he urges even non-Christ Hospital patients to consider a screening, especially if they fall into any of the high-risk categories.
“We’re trying to reach as many patients as possible so we can get ahead of their heart and vascular health needs. If we can get them the right care, we can slow down any disease processes,” he says. “This way, we’re able to follow them so their heart and vascular conditions never become something life-threatening or disabling. Ideally, the earlier we reach patients in our area, the healthier we can keep the community.”
Schedule your screening
If you have a family history of heart or vascular disease or want to be proactive about your heart and vascular health, schedule your screening appointment online today. Choose the time and location that’s most convenient for you.