Free Screening to Identify Stroke, Aneurism Risks Offered by Southampton Hospital, Stony Brook Medicine

SOUTHAMPTON, NY-Aneurysm and stroke can be sudden and silent killers without warning.

To that end, Southampton Hospital and Stony Brook Medicine will co-sponsor a free vascular screening event with appointments available from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 5 at the Meeting House Lane Medical Practice Surgical Specialties office, located at 240 Meeting House Lane in Southampton, adjacent to the main entrance of Southampton Hospital.

Pre-registration is required. Interested participants should call (631) 444-2683 to complete a brief pre-screening interview.

Screening candidates should be 60 years or older with at least one of the following risk factors: Current or past smoker, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, or family history of aortic aneurysm.

Aneurysm and stroke — common conditions caused by vascular disease — can strike suddenly and without warning. Vascular screenings identify underlying conditions before symptoms appear so issues can be treated in advance. Three tests, about 10 minutes each, are performed by a vascular technologist during a single visit, including:

• Carotid ultrasound, to check for clogged carotid arteries in the neck, that can lead to stroke
• Abdominal aortic ultrasound, to test for an aortic aneurysm, that can burst if reaching a large size
• Ankle-brachial index, to check for PAD or peripheral arterial disease, which may pose a threat to the health of the legs and is often a sign of heart disease

The patient’s primary care physician will receive a copy of the vascular screening report. Those with abnormal test results will be able to discuss the results immediately with a vascular specialist.