You could be hanging out with a silent killer and not even know it, said St. Luke’s vascular surgeon Sharvil Sheth, MD.

“Many people are unaware that they have vascular disease, which can cause adverse health events such as stroke and life-threatening bleeding,” said Dr. Sheth, St. Luke’s chief of vascular surgery. “Fortunately, however, St. Luke’s University Network offers a three-part vascular screening test that can determine your risk.”

As a vascular surgeon, Dr. Sheth specializes in diagnosing and treating patients who have problems with the blood vessels, including arteries, veins and lymphatic vessels. He provides various medical treatments and surgical interventions, from minimally invasive catheter-based percutaneous procedures to complex open surgeries.

Vascular surgeons develop complete patient treatment plans, incorporating lifestyle modifications, such as diet and exercise programs. Vascular surgeons are often called “the surgeon’s surgeon” because they’re often involved in complex cases and often assist when complications occur in other areas of surgical specialties.

Dr. Sheth said early detection through screening can help prevent life-threatening conditions or long-term disabilities. St. Luke’s offers a $49 three-part vascular screening test that looks for signs of aortic aneurysms, stroke and peripheral artery disease — the three most serious, non-cardiac-related vascular disorders.

“These tests are noninvasive. They don’t even involve any needles and you don’t need a prescription from your doctor,” he said. “The main goal is to prevent stroke and aneurysms from bursting. These are the silent killers, so often by the time you get symptoms, it’s too late. By identifying potential problems, we can take steps to reduce your risk from ever having a stroke or an enlarged aneurysm. It’s an important part of your cardiovascular care.”

The screening consists of three scans:

• Carotid Ultrasound scans check for the buildup of fatty blockages, or plaque, in the carotid arteries in the neck that may lead to a stroke.

• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm scans look for ballooning of the wall of the abdominal aorta, which can cause an aneurysm to rupture and cause life-threatening bleeding.

• Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) uses the ankle-brachial index (ABI) to check for blockages, narrowing, and plaque buildup in the leg arteries.

Dr. Sheth said serious health conditions were found in people who were recently screened. The carotid ultrasound scan found blocked arteries in a Lehigh Valley and Pennsylvania woman. The man’s condition was so significant that he will likely need surgery to remove the blockage.

“The woman had been diagnosed with high cholesterol previously, but rather than taking a pill to manage her condition, she chose to manage it with a healthy lifestyle and thought it would be fine,” he said. “Then, she had screening. Now, she’s knows she has to take the pill to manage her cholesterol or she could have a stroke. We were able to give her an effective treatment – it didn’t have to be surgery. Most patients who have positive findings will be treated with changes in their lifestyles and might need new medicine to lower their cholesterol.”

Vascular screening is appropriate for individuals 65 or older or anyone over 40 with multiple risk factors, such as:

• Family history of heart disease or stroke

• History of smoking

• High blood pressure

• Overweight or obesity

• High-stress levels

• Inactive lifestyle

• High cholesterol

• Diabetes

Dr. Sheth said he encouraged his own father to get screened and recommends anyone with risk factors to do the same.

Vascular screening is available at all St. Luke’s Campuses. To schedule a vascular screening, call St. Luke’s Central Scheduling at 484-526-1000 or visit https://www.slhn.org/heart-vascular/contact-us.