LeConte Medical Center and Covenant Health are teaming up to strike out stroke by offering a comprehensive screening package to identify a person’s risk for having a stroke so that steps can be taken to prevent it from occurring. The campaign is designed to save lives and increase public awareness of stroke.
“Tennessee is in the nation’s ‘stroke belt,’ a 12-state area in which stroke deaths are higher than in the other parts of the country,” said Ellen Wilhoit, president and CAO of LeConte Medical Center. “Tennessee has a growing population of individuals in the age group most at risk for stroke. It's important to our community to implement an aggressive early detection campaign.”
LeConte Medical Center offers the StrokeScore & More screening at various times throughout the year. The sessions will last approximately one hour and an appointment is required. The complete package is $100 and will include the following screenings:
• Stroke Self-Assessment
• Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) to screen for peripheral vascular disease
• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Ultrasound to screen for weaknesses in the wall of the aorta• Carotid Artery Screening to detect plaque build-up in the carotid arteries of the neck
• Lipid Profile to measure total cholesterol, the good (HDL) and bad cholesterol (LDL), triglycerides and glucose. A 12-hour fast is required. (Medications can be taken with water. If you have diabetes, check with your physician before fasting.)
• EKG to analyze heart rhythm and measure electrical activity
• Blood Pressure to detect high blood pressure
Wilhoit stressed the point that, “it’s critical for a person to call 911 immediately if they experience signs or symptoms of a stroke. These can include sudden weakness or numbness, especially in one side of your body, blurred or decreased vision, difficulty speaking or understanding, dizziness and loss of balance.”
LeConte Medical Center offers StrokeScore & More screenings throughout the year. For further information or to find out when the next screening will be held, please call 865.453.WELL.