King’s Daughters Medical Center will give area residents better picture of their health, for free, during two health screenings in the Big Sandy Valley next week.

On Tuesday, the KDMC Mobile Health Unit will be at Tractor Supply, in Paintsville, to provide a free screening for carpal tunnel syndrome. The screening begins at 2 p.m.

The following day, Wednesday, KDMC will offer a free screening for aortic valve disease. The screening is painless, using only an ultrasound exam of the heart. Results will be reviewed by a cardiologist.

The valve screening begins at 12:30 p.m. in the Kentucky Heart Institute office, located at 1709 Route 321, Suite 2, in Prestonsburg.

Appointments are required for both screens and may be made by calling 1-888-377-5362.

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Up to 6 percent of adults in the U.S. may suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to weakness in the hands and fingers. Untreated, CTS can cause irreversible muscle and nerve damage.

The screening consists of a brief review of symptoms and a limited nerve conduction study, in which a mild electrical impulse is applied to the nerve and its speed measured as it travels along the median nerve through the wrist.

Physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist Scott Akers, M.D., will review results and recommendations with participants immediatelyfollowing the screening. CTS treatment is based upon the severity of the condition and can range from over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications to lifestyle modifications, special braces or surgery.

Risk factors for CTS include:

• Prior wrist fracture or dislocation

• Chronic disease, such as diabetes

• Inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis

• Pregnancy or menopause

• Overweight

• Thyroid disorders

• Kidney failure

• Work with vibrating tools or jobs that require prolonged or repetitive flexing of the wrist.

Valvular heart disease

The American Heart Association estimates about 13 percent of the population over the age of 75 have valve disease.

While it isn’t as well known as coronary artery disease, valve disease can be just as serious for those who have it, causing breathlessness, dizziness, weakness or fainting,chest pain, fatigue, and heart palpitations. Untreated, VHD can lead to heart failure or death.

A Kentucky Heart Institute cardiologist will review screening results.

The aortic valve screening will benefit people who:

• Have had rheumatic or scarlet fever or may have been diagnosed with valve damage as a result of taking some medications;

• Have been told they have a heart murmur or a congenital heart defect;

• Have been treated for an infection of the heart (endocarditis); or

• Have a first-degree relative (mother, father, sibling) who has been diagnosed with VHD