Do you Know the Health of your Heart?

Cardiovascular disease is the number 1 killer of American men and women and is the cause of 1 out of every 3 deaths. Maintaining good heart health is key to avoiding serious illness and disability.  At AAR, we can help you know the health of your heart with the following screenings:  Peripheral Arterial Disease and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.

Peripheral Arterial Disease

Peripheral arterial disease is most commonly caused by atherosclerosis, a slow process in which cholesterol and scar tissue build up and clog blood vessels. Because PAD tends to develop slowly, symptoms may not be obvious. However, PAD is a serious condition that requires treatment. In fact, women with PAD have 4 times the risk of heart attack and stroke. A PAD screening is a simple, painless exam performed with ultrasound.

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Screening

A PAD screening uses ultrasound and blood pressure measurements to check for peripheral arterial disease, or plaque buildup, in the lower extremities.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a common circulation problem in which the arteries that carry blood to the legs or arms become narrowed or clogged. The disease may cause pain however, some people experience no symptoms at all. If you are age 65 or older, ask your doctor about whether a screening exam for PAD is right for you.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)

In the last 30 years, the occurrence of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) has increased threefold. This potentially deadly condition occurs when the walls of the main blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart become weakened and bulge or dilate. However, when diagnosed early, AAA can be managed and treated. A screening exam could save a life!

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Exam

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) screening uses an ultrasound to screen for the existence of an aneurysm or enlargement in the abdominal aorta that could lead to a ruptured aortic artery.

It is a safe and painless exam that uses high frequency sound waves to create images of the inside of the body. The ultrasound will show the abdominal aorta, aneurysms and other abnormalities. If you’ve had your Medicare Initial Preventative Physical Exam and your physician feels the screening exam would be beneficial to you, it is covered by Medicare.

Treatment for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
The board-certified interventional radiology experts at AAR can provide non-emergency repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm with an aortic stent-graft. During the procedure, which is done under x-ray guidance, an interventional radiologist uses small tools and advanced techniques that leave behind only two small nicks in the skin. Compared to traditional surgery, patients who elect this minimally invasive method experience significantly less post-operative pain and less risk for complications.

Risk Factors for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

If you have one or more risk factors, talk to your doctor about getting screened.

  • Smoking
  • Being male
  • Caucasian
  • Having coronary artery disease or peripheral vascular disease
  • Family history of AAA

Schedule Your Screening Today

If you’re at risk for AAA or PAD, talk to your doctor about a screening exam. With early diagnosis and treatment, you’ll decrease your risk for serious complications or death. Screenings for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm and Peripheral Arterial Disease are available at Inova Alexandria Hospital, Inova Mount Vernon Hospital and Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center.

AAR’s interventional radiologists are board-certified physicians who specialize in image guided, minimally invasive targeted treatments for vascular disease, cancer, aneurisms, uterine fibroids, infertility, pain management and many other complex medical conditions that once could only be treated with conventional surgery.

Treatments with interventional radiology involve the use of imaging technology to guide small devices, such as micro catheters, through arteries, blood vessels or other pathways inside the body to deliver targeted treatment or therapy at the source of the disease.

Our Interventional radiologists perform thousands of procedures annually at our partner hospitals, and many have consistently been voted by their peers to be ‘Top Doctors’ in Northern Virginia and Washingtonian Magazines.

For more information on heart and vascular screening please call one of our partner hospitals listed below or request an appointment online.

Inova Alexandria Hospital – 703-504-7950

Inova Mount Vernon Hospital – 703-664-7462