A story worth reading was recently in
The Daily News Tribune (Waltham, Mass) and tells the story of
Massachusetts General Hospital employee and, on a whim, stopped in a corridor for a free
ultrasound carotid artery screening, just happened to be offered at the hospital Feb. 13.
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Turns out she had 90 percent blockage in her right carotid artery, putting her in high risk for a stroke. Doctor's at the hospital's vascular center did a procedure and cleared the blockage, drastically reducing the risk.
Now, some experts say you shouldn't just have a screening on a whim. A good article from
About.com makes some good points about false readings. However, the About.com writer does suggest that some people - those with a family history or those with known vascular disease - might be good candidates.
With
Stroke Awareness Month just behind us, a good suggestion: Consider your own history and act accordingly. Keep in mind that this is from a non-doctor. Why not ask your own doctor for advice?