RENO — The Renown Health Institute for Heart and Vascular Health has announced the services of Life Line Screening, the nation’s largest provider of preventive screenings, to help local residents identify their risk of stroke, vascular disease and osteoporosis before the catastrophic effects of these conditions can occur.

The event is open to local residents and will be held Sept. 9 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Renown Regional Medical Center, 1155 Mill St., in the Mack Auditorium. To pre-register for a screening contact Life Line Screening at www.lifelinescreening.com or call (800) 690-0295 to make an appointment. For directions, dial 982-4100. Cost for the screenings is $129.

Offering these preventive services can help save lives. Symptoms are rarely present and, if they are, they are generally subtle or almost unnoticeable. In fact, half of all stroke victims are asymptomatic prior to their attacks. A simple screening may be life saving.

Screenings provided will include:

• Carotid Artery Screening: A painless, non-invasive Doppler ultrasound is used to visualize the carotid arteries, the arteries that bring blood to the brain. The majority of strokes are caused by plaque buildup in these arteries.

• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening: An ultrasound is used to visualize the abdominal aorta, the largest artery in the body, to measure the diameter of the aorta. This measurement can indicate if there is a weakening in the aortic wall which can cause a ballooning effect known as an aneurysm. Abdominal aortic aneurysms can burst. When they do, it is usually fatal.

• Peripheral Arterial Disease Screening: PAD is also known as “hardening of the arteries.” Individuals with PAD have a four to six fold increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Risk is evaluated through a measurement called the “Ankle-Brachial Index,” which is obtained by reading the systolic pressure in the ankle and arm. 

• Osteoporosis Screening: An ultrasound is used to estimate the bone density of the heel. This can indicate if there is a reduction in bone density, which may indicate the presence of osteoporosis. The heel is used because it is similar in composition to the hip, where disabling fractures often occur.

• Atrial Fibrillation is an abnormal heart beat (arrhythmia) that affects the atria - the upper chambers of the heart - and is the most common form of sustained arrhythmia. About 2.5 million Americans have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and for those over age 40, there is a one in four chance of developing the condition.