Ankle Circulation Can Warn Of Strokes

A simple test of blood circulation in the ankle could help physicians identify individuals at higher risk of suffering another stroke according to the American Heart Association.  Strokes are a major critical illness impacting almost 800,000 Americans annually according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance, the national trade organization.

According to researchers, a simple test to compare blood flow in the ankle to that in the arm is all that's needed.  A significant difference between the two readings could suggest that a patient suffers from peripheral artery disease, caused by fatty plaque buildup in the arteries of the extremities.

Stroke survivors and those who have experienced transient ischemic attacks -- also known as TIAs or mini-strokes -- are at high risk of stroke if they have peripheral artery disease according to the scientists.

Researchers screened survivors of strokes and mini-strokes using a device similar to a blood-pressure cuff to check circulation in their ankles. They found that 26 percent of the patients had peripheral artery disease without symptoms. Those patients were three times more likely to suffer from stroke, heart attack or death within the next two years compared to those who didn't have the condition.