Health Screening using Ultrasound

[seadogg]

Have received an invitation by a company called Life Line Screening to have screening of the arteries by ultrasound. This is to detect possible problems with the arteries which might lead to strokes.
Being fairly fit, though getting on a bit, I am wondering if it would be worth the cash.
Anyone know whether these screenings are effective and worth having done?

[bednobs]

if it's the screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm, it's available on the NHS

[woofgang]

Rip off dont bother

[rsvp]

my take on this is that it's a rip off - if you have worries, go see your GP - if not don't pay a company plenty money to tell you you are okay.

[Old_Geezer]

Questionable. May seem nice to know where you stand, assuming the diagnosis is reliable, but what are you going to do when they tell you this isn't 100% and that isn't 100% ? Not like you can scrub them clean or get replacement vessels. My gut feeling is get the standard checks (such as BP) done at your GP every now and again and that would probably be a good balance as far as worrying about checks are concerned.

[Sqad]

UK patients are suspicious of anything that one has to pay for in Health Care.

"If it isn't free, it's a con....."..........well it may be but not necessarily.

bednobs

\\if it's the screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm, it's available on the NHS\\\

To my knowledge, there is only one pilot scheme in the UK which offers free abdominal aorta screening........I stand to be corrected.

Many abdominal aortic aneurysms are symptomless until they burst and then the mortality rate, even with bypass or stenting in a good vascular unit is greater than 50% mortality.

Not good odds.

If an abdominal aneurysm is found on screening, then it may well not need any treatment as there are NHS guidelines for further management which may or may not include surgery.

Yes.....Life Line Screening IS a business.....medicine IS expensive.

If you are a smoker, over the age of 55years, have a family history of cardiovascular disease, a high cholesterol or you are fat, then you have an increased likelihood of abdominal aortic aneurysm.

It is is you money.......the choice is yours.

[slaney]

There is a National screening programme in England - started in 2009 and which should cover all of England by 2013, if you are talking about abdominal aneurysm.

http://aaa.screening.nhs.uk/aboutus

It sounds if they are talking about ultrasound of the carotid arteries though.
Generally it is thought that that the pick up rate of abnormalities is fairly small..

http://harvardpartner...NewsLetters/69,L0411e

... I would ask your GP whether in your particular case, given your personal and family history, it is worthwhile.

[Sqad]

bednobs/slaney.....thanks, that has brought me up to date.

[seadogg]

Many thanks for your advice on this. If I went to my GP he would laugh and kick me out of his office I suspect. The only reason it might be worthwhile is that as a carer for my OH it might give her confidence that her man Friday isn't about to pop his clogs. Thanks again, most helpful.