February is American Heart Month and a Northwest Arkansas hospital is hoping to screen as many people as possible for the deadliest disease in America.
Throughout the month, Mercy Heart and Vascular Center is offering important heart tests at a reduced rate. According to officials at Mercy, 350 people have signed for the screenings in February, which is about one-third of what it did in 2011.
For $100, patients can get an EKG, cholesterol and blood sugar screenings, a vascular screening and a CT scan to check for calcium build-up. Vascular Lab Director Grant Jones suggests men start getting screened at age 45 and women at 55.
“This opportunity is available throughout the year but for heart month we put together that package to get people to become aware of it and to also get the screening done. Without screening we`re not educating them and without education prevention is a waste,” explained Grant Jones, Vascular Lab Director.
If problems are found, Mercy then sends the report to a patients primary care doctor.
The screenings will be offered at Mercy Heart and Vascular Center in Bella Vista February 14th and 21st. To sign up call 479-855-4545. Mercy Wellness Center in Rogers will also host the reduced cost screenings February 16th and 23rd. To sign up call 479-338-4400.
