Vascular screening is beneficial only for those at increased risk for a given vascular disease.

There is some disagreement as to what constitutes significant risk for vascular disease, but most authorities do not recommend screening everyone.

If you answer “yes” to any of the statements below, you may be at increased risk for a particular type of vascular disease, and screening may be appropriate:

At Increased Risk for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm:

• I am a man over 60 years of age.
• I am a woman over 60 years of age who also has at least one of the following: high blood pressure, high-cholesterol, high triglycerides, diabetes, heart disease, or am being treated with medication for high blood pressure or high-cholesterol.
• I am a man or a woman over age 50 who has a family history of at least one close relative with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.
• I am a man or a woman over age 50 and I smoke currently or have smoked substantially in the past.
• My doctor has requested that I get screened.

At Increased Risk for Stroke & Carotid Artery Disease:

• There is a history of stroke in my immediate family: parents, grandparents, brothers or sisters.
• I have diabetes.
• I smoke currently or have regularly smoked in the past.
• I am over age 40 and I either have high cholesterol and/or high blood pressure or I take medicine for high cholesterol or high blood pressure.
• I have coronary artery disease or have had a heart attack, stent, angioplasty, or by-pass surgery.
• I have lower extremity arterial blockages in my legs.
• My doctor has requested that I get screened.

At Increased Risk for Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD):

• I am over 35 years of age and I smoke.
• I am over 40 years of age and I have high cholesterol, high tri-glycerides or high blood pressure or I am being treated for one or more of these conditions.
• I have diabetes.
• I am over 40 years of age and there is a history of PAD in my family.
• I have had a heart attack, stent or angioplasty, or bypass surgery.
• My doctor has requested that I get screened

If you have not answered yes to at least one of these statements you are not likely to be at significant risk for vascular disease, and screening is not likely to be beneficial. However, if you prefer you may proceed with screening anyway. 

If you already know you have a specific vascular disease, you should not have a screening. Instead please contact your doctor to arrange for appropriate full diagnostic testing.

Still not sure if you need screening? Take our quiz to find out!