Church hosts health screening

Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1837 Mountain St., will host a health screening from Life Line, the nation's largest provider of community-based preventive screenings, in order to help local residents identify their risk of stroke, vascular disease and osteoporosis.

Provided screenings will include:

• Carotid artery: Painless, non-invasive Doppler ultrasound is used to visualize the carotid arteries, the arteries that bring blood to the brain. The majority of strokes are caused by plaque build up in these arteries.

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm: Ultrasound is used to visualize the abdominal aorta, the largest artery in the body, to measure the diameter of the aorta. This measurement can indicate if there is a weakening in the aortic wall, which can cause a ballooning effect known as an aneurysm. Aneurysms can burst, which generally is fatal.

• Peripheral arterial disease: PAD is also known as hardening of the arteries. Sufferers have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Risk is evaluated through a measurement called the "Ankle-Brachial Index," which is obtained by reading the systolic pressure in the ankle and arm.

• Osteoporosis: Ultrasound is used to estimate the bone density of the heel. This can indicate if there is a reduction in bone density, which may indicate the presence of osteoporosis. The heel is used because it is similar in composition to the hip, where disabling fractures often occur.

• Atrial fibrillation: An irregular heart beat (arrhythmia) that affects the upper chambers of the heart and is the most common form of sustained arrhythmia.