QuestionA company called Life Line Screening, is coming to our town. They offer 3 screening (Stroke/carotid artery; Abdominal Aortic aneurysm; peripheral artery diease) for $129, which is considerably less than the co-pay (around $750) if I have it done through my doctor's office. Of course, if the results are postive, I will have to go to my doctor and pay the co-pay anyway.
I am a healthy but over weight 58-year old woman and my overall health is excellent. Do you think this screening is worthwhile?
My doctor is out of town until mid january, so I won't have chance to talk to him about it.
Thanks,
Jo
AnswerHi Jo,
There is a divided opinion in the medical community about these sorts of things. The plus side is that something may be found that is currently not causing symptoms. The down side is that there is a possibility that a false positive result will incur more expensive and invasive testing. My feeling is that if you are healthy and do not take any medicines for any medical conditions, it is probably not a good idea to "open a Pandora's Box".
