Lifeline Screening is a company that has been in business since 1993. While they are increasingly popular, and forever adding new services, many don’t know the necessity or reasoning behind getting the tests that they offer. I did some research for a family member and thought I would share it.
Lifeline Screening offers so many different packages and individual tests, it is almost hard to name them all! Their complete Upgraded package includes the following tests:
- Carotid Artery- ultrasound screening checking for plaque buildup, which is a cause of stroke. Plaque buildup can either buildup and cut off all blood flow to the brain, or can break off and travel to the brain, also causing a stroke. They check both sides of the neck. The type of stroke this is preventing is both types of ischemic (embolic or thrombotic) stroke. **It does not check for hemorrhagic stroke, which is a ruptured blood vessel in the brain. At this time, there isn’t a way to do preventative screenings for that type of stroke.**
- Atrial Fibrillation- This is the most common type of sustained heart arrhythmia, which affects the upper chambers of the heart (atria.) Some risk factors for A-FIB include high blood pressure, heart disease, and chronic lung disease, but in 10% of cases no underlying heart disease is found. This is checked by Lifeline Screening with a 4 lead EKG. But be aware that as like any other EKG, they will ONLY catch this problem if your heart is in a pattern of Atrial Fibrillation at the time they do the test.
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm- An aortic aneurysm is an abnormal bulge in the wall of the aorta, which is the body’s largest artery. A normal Aorta is about 2 centimeters in diameter. Lifeline Screening uses an ultrasound test to look past your stomach to find out if you have an aneurysm. They consider 3 centimeters an aneurysm, which must then be monitored (you would need to speak with your physician about the results to find out how often,) and 5 centimeters is critical. There is a 4 hour fast required, so that the technicians are able to see through your stomach to find the aorta.
- Peripheral Artery Disease- This occurs when the arteries in the extremities (feet, legs, arms, and hands) become clogged with plaque buildup. It causes atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. To do this test, the technician will use blood pressure cuffs, containing ultrasound probes that allow them to hear how the blood is flowing through the veins. Diabetics and smokers are most at risk for this, men even more so. The most common symptom of P.A.D. is claudication, or pain in the legs while walking or exercising that goes away with rest.
- Osteoporosis- If you have already been diagnosed with or tested for osteoporosis in the past 2 years, you do not need this screening with Lifeline. They DO NOT perform a full body scan, they use a Sahara Hologic Bone Densitometer, which checks the heel of your foot for deterioration and tells if you are at risk for or do have a decrease in bone density. It provides a T-Score, but should not be used to determine if your Osteoporosis is getting any worse or any better.
- Lipid Panel- This is of course a fasting Cholesterol test. For those who do not like needles, you will be glad to know they use just a simple finger stick. The Lipid Panel is complete, covering your HDL, LDL, Total Cholesterol, and Triglycerides. You get the results the same day you are tested.
- Glucose Check- This is a fasting blood test, in which you must fast for 8 hours. It is to check your glucose levels, for risk of diabetes.
- C-Reactive Protein Check- This is one blood test, that although it is recommended by many physicians, is not included in most standard blood tests. It is recommended to know your C-Reactive Protein in addition to Cholesterol, as it is an independent risk factor of stroke, cardiovascular disease, heart disease, heart attack, and diabetes.
You can always visit www.lifelinescreening.com for more information, to check your own risk factors, find screenings in your area, and much more. Also, speak with your doctor to find out for sure if these screenings are appropriate for you.
