Screening service to roll through Amboy

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AMBOY - Stroke Detection Plus will be conducting stroke and vascular screenings in Amboy on Sept. 3, at the Lee County Farm Bureau. Stroke Detection Plus' is a mobile ultrasound service that does preventative health screenings in the Midwest. Their goal is to prevent disease before it disables. Of the 750,000 strokes that occurred last year, 2/3 of those people showed no signs or symptoms beforehand, and about 97 percent of people would not recognize a symptom if they were having one. "... I had 90 percent blockage in one Carotid Artery and 65 percent in the other. ..." said Dixon resident Gay Janssen. "I had no symptoms and at 47-years-old, I did not fit the high risk profile. The doctor said it could have completely closed within 2-3 weeks." The signs of a stroke are: n Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arms, or legs, especially on one side of the body. n Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding. n Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes. n Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination. n Sudden severe headache with no known cause. If someone has one or any combination of these warning signs it is critical to dial 911. Also, important to know, are the risk factors for stroke: n Over the age of 40 n More than 20 pounds overweight n Family history of stroke or heart disease n Diabetes n Smoking n High cholesterol n High blood pressure n Not exercising at least three times a week for 20 minutes n Hypertension n Irregular heartbeat Stroke Detection Plus screens the carotid arteries looking for plaque buildup or blockage. The vast majority of strokes occur because of a lack of blood flow to the brain. This test can determine the percentage of blockage restricting that flow. The second test looks for aortic aneurysm, which is an enlargement of the vessel that feeds the lower extremities with blood. The third test is for peripheral vascular disease, which is blockage in the arms and legs. An abnormal result here puts people at a 4-6 times greater risk of coronary artery disease. The final screening is for Osteoporosis, which looks for low or abnormal bone mass. All for tests are normally $120, but members of Farm Bureau can receive all four screenings for $80. The screening will be held at the Lee County Farm Bureau, 37 SE Ave. on Wednesday Sept. 3, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Appointments are necessary and can be made by calling toll free 1-877-732-8258.