For many diseases, doctors can't pinpoint an exact cause or tell patients how to prevent it. This isn't the case with cardiovascular disease.

Most heart and vascular disease, also called cardiovascular disease, occurs when atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, causes a buildup of plaque in the blood vessels. Medical research shows that certain risk factors contribute to cardiovascular disease:

• high blood pressure


• high blood cholesterol


• a personal history of smoking


• diabetes


• family history of cardiac or vascular disease


• previous procedures related to cardiac or vascular disease


• history of heart attacks or strokes


• obesity


• inactive lifestyle

Cardiovascular disease is one of the few conditions that can be prevented or delayed by reducing your risk factors.

The Heart and Vascular Wellness Screening at Beaumont Hospitals is specifically designed to identify your risk factors and recommend a course of action to help you improve your heart and vascular health.

Beaumont Hospitals has donated a series of seven non-invasive tests to evaluate your risk for heart disease and stroke, including state-of-the-art ultrasounds of your major arteries - a $70 value. The screening includes:

• Blood pressure: Measures the pressure of the blood against the walls of the arteries. High blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.


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  Body Mass Index: Assesses your body weight relative to height. If your Body Mass Index is too high, you're at higher risk for such health problems as heart disease and stroke.
  
  


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  Blood Cholesterol and Glucose Measurements: A high level of cholesterol in the blood is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease and may lead to a heart attack. A high level of A1c in the blood can indicate you are at increased risk for developing eye, kidney, nerve or cardiovascular disease.
  
  


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  12-lead Electrocardiogram (ECG): A simple and quick procedure that measures the electrical activity of the heart and screens for many types of heart disease.
  
  


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  Stroke Screening/Carotid Artery Ultrasound: Screens for possible narrowing and blockages of the carotid arteries, the main arteries in the neck that supply blood to the brain.
  
  


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  Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Ultrasound: Checks for an aneurysm, a bulge or weakness in the aorta, the major blood vessel in the abdomen.
  
  


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  Peripheral Artery Disease Screening: Screens for blockages and plaque buildup in the legs, which is linked to cardiovascular disease.
  
  

All diagnostic studies performed through the screening program are read by board-certified Beaumont physicians. The results and a follow-up letter will be sent to you to share with your primary care physician.

These screenings are available at all three Beaumont Hospitals (Royal Oak, Troy and Grosse Pointe) and the Beaumont Medical Centers in St. Clair Shores and Macomb Township.