Life Line Screening Takes You Beyond Your Annual Check-Up!

My husband, “Big Rich”, and I are both aged 61. A few months ago, Rich lost his older brother suddenly to a heart attack. Rich’s blood pressure tends to run high and there is a family history of heart and stroke risk so knowing the health of his arteries was of concern. We had several conversations about how scans could help put his mind to rest. Plus, it only made sense for me to get checked, too. Since menopause, my cholesterol levels have been creeping up. Life Line Screening must have overheard our conversations because they reached out to me with a timely offer for both of us to experience their screening procedures. Life Line Screening is a non-invasive, affordable procedure.  Although the screenings do not investigate the intricate functioning of heart arteries, it helps detect the underlying issues we were concerned about, especially insidious arterial buildup of plaque. 

This is a sponsored post with Life Line Screening. All opinions are 100% my own.

Why Life Line Screening?

Life Line Screening offers an early detection system with accurate results and recommendations regarding stroke, cardiovascular disease and other health matters. Early intervention is beneficial in avoiding surgery or a life-threatening event. Life Line Screening has been in business since 1993, scanning over 10 million people, filling the gap for low-cost, community-based screening. They offer extensive quality control procedures with side-by-side comparisons to hospital vascular labs. Testing is done in churches, at community centers, fraternal organizations and occasionally in hotel ballrooms. 

View this informative video to learn more about Life Line Scan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_6vrzjDIic

Benefits of Life Line Screening 

• Early detection of serious cardiovascular and other health conditions that may otherwise be unnoticed.
• Prevention of disease progression.
• Peace of mind. Knowing your cardiovascular health status allows you to make important health-related decisions.
• Affordability. Screenings may cost less than going to your doctor or the hospital.
• Choose the screenings that you feel are most important to your health. No insurance restrictions.

Life Line Screening’s package includes five core screenings:

1. Ultrasound of the carotid arteries identifying fatty plaque blockages that can build up and block blood flow to the brain.
2. Ultrasound of the abdominal aorta in search of an aneurysm, a ballooning or stretching of the aorta, the largest artery in the body.
3.  EKG to check for Atrial Fibrillation (Afib), the most common type of heart rhythm problem which is also a stroke risk. If the heart doesn’t beat properly, blood can pool in the chambers and cause clots. Eventually, these clots are pumped out, where they can travel to the brain and cause a stroke.
4. Peripheral Arterial Disease Screening, which is a check for blockages in the small arteries of the ankles and feet. Blockages here are a warning sign for blockages in other arteries, including the arteries of the heart.
5. Osteoporosis Risk. This involves an ultrasound of the shinbone (tibia).

Rich and I also received finger-stick blood tests for cholesterol and glucose. For a nominal cost, we added on a test of c-Reactive Protein to test for inflammation in the body.

There are other finger-stick blood tests available such as A1C, Thyroid Function, Vitamin D and more.

This informative video walks you through all the steps of the screening procedures: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1l2Q6v9RQng

Life Line Screening Experience

There are screening sites in every major city in the United States representing around 14,000 locations throughout the year. Teams at the screening sites include at least two ultrasound stenographers who hold certificates in ultrasound technology and two medical assistants who are cross-trained to perform tests, including electrocardiograms for heart rhythm, finger stick blood tests, and peripheral pulses.

As we entered the building of a community banquet hall, a friendly tech came to let us know that we would be called shortly for intake. All Covid19 safety protocols were in place and practiced. Everyone working was wearing masks. The chairs in the waiting and exam areas were appropriately spaced. Once we were called for our intake our temperatures were taken. We felt very comfortable and safe with the setup and the staff.

We entered each station and had our tests performed. The techs were polite and efficient and answered any questions or concerns. We received our finger-stick results in a matter of minutes. The full results from the other procedures were mailed to us within three weeks. 

We were in and out in less than an hour! We completed our intake survey online prior to our appointment which saved us time. It is recommended to dress comfortably and make plans to be there for around 90 minutes in case things take a bit longer than expected. Our results package arrived a few weeks later in the mail, as promised.  This document reports on every test and places your results on a risk continuum from mild to high risk. The results take into consideration the answers on a lifestyle and family history survey which is completed prior to testing. We were happy with our results. No surprises- our healthy lifestyle is paying off! We have the peace of mind knowing we are not on the brink of anything serious. Even though there were no surprises, we plan share our results with our doctor.

The screenings are not diagnostic tests. A section of the results provides a summary of information to share with your doctor, and patients are encouraged to do so. If necessary, your doctor can set out a treatment plan. 

It is recommended people get their first scan around age 50. I find it curious that most doctors do not recommend screenings for carotid artery or peripheral arterial disease for persons who are asymptomatic without a family history of stroke or heart attack. Knowing what is going on inside our bodies is of great importance to our peace of mind and an essential tool in maintaining optimal cardiovascular health as we age. We plan to make screening a part of our regular health regimen as our risk increases as each year goes by. 

Go beyond your annual check-up. Don’t let cardiovascular disease and stroke get in the way of living the life you love! Schedule an affordable, accurate Life Line health screening or health scan today.