We just received this announcement from Futura Health Screening (WSB Sponsor). They are offering free vascular health screenings at the West Seattle Health Fair on March 29.

If you are over 50, have high blood pressure, are a past or current smoker, or have high cholesterol, then you are at risk for vascular disease, such as stroke, aneurysms and peripheral arterial disease (leg artery blockage).

From 10 am to 1 pm on March 29, Futura Health Screening [WSB Sponsor] will be offering free peripheral arterial disease (PAD) screening at the West Seattle Senior Center Health Fair, located at 4217 SW Oregon St. in West Seattle.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is one of the most common yet least diagnosed forms of vascular disease. If left untreated, PAD can lead to surgery and in severe cases, can lead to amputation. It can also be an indication of serious disease elsewhere in the body. According to the American Heart Association, about eight million people have PAD and these individuals are four to five times more likely to die of heart attacks and strokes as those without the disease.

If you cannot attend the free PAD screening event, screenings are available every Wednesday morning in West Seattle and every Tuesday morning in Kirkland. Futura Health Screening offers low-cost, painless, and accurate ultrasound screenings to check for blockages in the arteries and aortic aneurysms.

Screening exams include carotid artery ultrasound to detect stroke-causing plaque, abdominal aortic ultrasound to detect an aneurysm, and ankle brachial index (ABI) to detect peripheral arterial disease in the legs. Screenings are $45 each or $125 for all three.

Carotid artery disease occurs when fatty deposits, or plaque , build up along the walls of the carotid arteries. The carotid arteries run along either side of the neck and deliver blood from the heart to the brain and head. The buildup of plaque in these arteries blocks the blood supply to the brain and increases risk of stroke.

An abdominal aortic aneurysm, also known as AAA (pronounced “triple A”), is a swelling or bulge that weakens the walls of the aorta. A rupture to the aorta has an 80 percent fatality rate and the vast majority of people with aneurysms are never diagnosed until they experience a fatal rupture. If an aneurysm is detected and treated electively the risk of its fatality is much lower.

Futura Health Screening is the first and only ICAVL accredited non-invasive vascular screening program in Washington State. Futura Health Screening is a division of Pacific Vascular, Inc., the largest provider of vascular ultrasound testing in the Northwest.

To schedule your screening, call (425) 398-7797 or (866) 486-4882. You can also take a personal risk assessment at futurahealthscreening.com.