 Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women in the U.S. It claims the lives of 500,000 women a year -- nearly one death every minute. Being aware of your risk is the first step to avoid being included in this statistic. The good news is that heart disease is largely a preventable disease. Prevention is accomplished by identifying your risk, making the needed lifestyle changes and following treatment recommendations. Lakeside Women's Hospital and Oklahoma Cardiovascular Associates have developed A Woman's Heart, a simple, inexpensive program to identify your risk of heart disease. This program will help you assess your individual risk for heart disease and stroke by identifying risk factors and the presence of arteriosclerosis (plaque buildup in the blood vessels that leads to heart attack and stroke). By answering questions about your medical and family history and undergoing a series of simple tests, doctors will be able to  give you an assessment of your overall risk for heart disease and stroke. They will then make recommendations regarding further evalua-tion and treatment or more aggressive management for your risk factors. Tests Blood Analysis.
Blood will be drawn to check your levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, lipoproteins, glucose and cardio-c-reactive protein. There are lipid (fat) particles that are used to "fuel" your body for various activities. However, when the levels become abnormal, they can produce plaque (commonly referred to as "hardening of the arteries") that damages the inside of the arteries. This can lead to heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure and poor circulation. The current recommended level of these lipids depends on your overall risk of heart disease. When you receive your final report it will include recommended levels of lipids based on your calculated risk. "Cardio-CRP" is a marker for inflammation in the blood vessel that promotes heart attack and stroke. If the level is elevated, you may be at higher risk for cardiovascular disease. NOTE: Please fast after midnight the night before your test until after your blood is drawn. Ultrasound.
Ultrasound images will be taken of the carotid arteries in your neck and the aorta in your abdomen. The carotid arteries carry blood to the brain, and when they develop plaque buildup, a stroke may occur. These are often the first arteries that begin to show the abnormal process of plaque buildup in the body.  The aorta is the largest artery in the body. It delivers blood to every organ in the body. We will be looking for the plaque buildup process here as well but will also be checking for enlargement of the aorta, which might mean the development of an aneurysm. Aneurysms are due to weakening in the wall of the aorta, and if not detected early, they may lead to rupture of this vessel.
Comparison of Blood Pressure in Arms & Legs.
Blood pressure will be assessed in both arms and both legs to look for the presence of circulation problems. When blood pressure is lower in the legs than in the arms, it may mean the development of plaque is compromising the flow of blood into the legs. How to Schedule an Appointment for Cardiovascular Risk Screening Call: 405-604-4460
Cost: $150
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