Testing, testing

I had a battery of five medical tests this morning that will screen for stroke and carotid artery disease, peripheral arterial disease, osteoporosis, abdominal aortic aneurysm and atrial fibrillation. Those are all fancy medical terms, some of which have to do with blood flow to the brain and the stomach, the rhythm of the heart and the density of the bones. The screenings are aimed at early identification of some pretty serious problems.

The whole bunch of tests takes less than an hour and costs $145. A company called Lifeline Screening administers them throughout the US. The apparatus is set up in a big room–usually in a church–and scores of people move from test to test in an assembly-like manner. It’s very efficient and the technicians are always pleasant.

I’ll get the results in about three weeks, although I would have been notified right away if they saw anything that needed immediate attention. I also had a blood test to determine my cholesterol and glucose readings.  They were all normal. My mom had diabetes, so I’m extra cautious about that.

I’m a big believer in Ben Franklin’s adage: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”