Non Invasive Stroke Risk Test

Dr. Magliato and Sue, a Doppler technician from West Coast Ultrasound, perform a non-invasive ankle brachial index test on Jessica to determine her risk for peripheral vascular disease.

Non Invasive Stroke Risk Test Dr. Travis Stork: Now here’s a woman who contacted the Show about another silent health threat. Jessica: Hi Doctors, my name is Jessica I have a family history of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, migraines and strokes. Both my Mom and my Grandma passed away from a brain aneurism. I’m wondering if there’s a simple test to see if I’m at risk for Heart Attack or Stroke. Dr. Travis Stork: Jessica is with us today and here to help us answer question is Dr. Kathy Magliato, she’s Cardiothoracic Surgeon and Author of Healing Hearts, we also have Doppler Technicians, Sue she’s be with West Coast Ultrasound Institute, thank you all for being here. Dr. Kathy Magliato: Thanks Travis. Dr. Travis Stork: And this is really important Jessica has a great pleasure to ask if there are things that we could do for risk for stroke to help prevent it so first of all, who’s at risk for stroke? Dr. Kathy Magliato: Well you know it’s funny Travis I mean looking at Jessica, gorgeous, 24 you wouldn’t think that she’s at risk for stroke but listen to her Family History the fact that she already has high blood pressure you certainly have risk factors so it’s interesting because the people who are at risk for stroke, are the same group of people at risk for Heart Disease and the same group of people at risk for Peripheral Vascular Disease which is what’s Sue is going to today, she’s going to measure you for Peripheral Vascular Disease because the three are all inter-related. Dr. Travis Stork: Because they all deal with basically plaques in our arteries, when do they go to our brain, our heart or our legs so we’ve got a blood pressure calves hooked up to your ankle and your arm so tell us about the ankle, brachial index because while Sue’s doing this, we’re getting a reading and in a moment, we’re going to tell you if you’re good to go or if you need to worry. Dr. Kathy Magliato: Or if you need to see me, he never wants to come see me, trust me. Anyway, the ankle brachial index or ABI is a very simple test. We simply measure the blood pressure in the arm which Sue is doing and we are going to measure the blood pressure in the ankle and then we’re just going to take the ratio, those two numbers and normally the ratio should be about the same so in other words, the number in the arm should be the same as the number in the leg. If there’s a big difference there, that’s indicative of Potential Peripheral Vascular Disease which could set her at risk for stroke like her family. Dr. Travis Stork: We’ve already did her leg and we’re having Sue finish here so Jessica I know you’re anxious, what are her readings? Sue: Her brachial pressure was 115 and her ankle pressure was 140. Dr. Travis Stork: Which is what you want that’s greater than 1 that’s around 1.2. And we have a graphic because obviously people do need to know if they get this test done when they need to worry and you really were anyone less than .8 is when you start to worry, right? The great thing about this is its cheap, it’s inexpensive. Dr. Kathy Magliato: It’s cheap, it’s inexpensive, non invasive it can be done at Doctor’s office or a vascular lab. Dr. Travis Stork: Thank you Jessica, thank you so much.