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64 Slice CT Scan – Understanding cardiology and CT Scans

admin — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 06:19:48 +0000

Cardiology is the discipline that researches, diagnoses and treats heart injuries and diseases as well as their causes. A cardiologist will treat a heart problem while staying aware of other conditions, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and other factors that risk damaging the heart. Some of these health factors include a family history of heart disease, obesity, cigarette smoking, poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle. Timely evaluation and early diagnosis of individuals at risk for complex cardiac problems are extremely important in cardiology. In Los Angeles specialized Cardiologist focus on preventing, detecting and treating heart disease. After clarifying a disorders nature, extent and cause, he develops an individualized treatment plan. It’s the focus of Los Angeles Cardiologist to help each patient manage all facets of their condition, with recovery as the ultimate goal.

Proper therapy begins with an accurate diagnosis. In order to accurately diagnose critical acute and chronic cardiac illnesses like adult congenital heart disease, cardiac arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, vascular disease, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy, and others, cardiologists apply various diagnostic test procedures and technology including stress tests, echocardiography, electrocardiography, nuclear cardiology, cardiac catherization and others. One of the techniques that has gained popularity in recent times is the Heart Scan. The heart scan is appropriate for men and women, 35 years or older, with any risk factor like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, history of tobacco use, family history of heart disease, overweight or obese or with significant emotional or job related stress. A heart scan doesn’t determine whether a person is going to have a heart attack. Instead, it detects calcified plaque in the arteries of the heart. Calcified plaque is an indicator of heart disease. The CT Heart Scan is a painless test that takes about 10 minutes. The process is similar to taking an x-ray of the body. An individual lies on the scanner table and multiple images of the heart are taken. Then a computer creates separate images of the body area, called slices. These images can be stored, viewed on a monitor or printed on film. A qualified physician then interprets these images to determine the amount of calcified plaque in the arteries. A CT Heart Scan is called a CT Angiography if it is done to look at the arteries that bring blood to the heart.

The introduction of the 64 Slice CT Scan allows nearly all patients to be scanned with very high resolution. Scan times are now of the order of several seconds (usually 5-13 seconds). This means that even patients with severe pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure can hold their breath for the required length of time. Furthermore, the higher number of slices means higher resolution. Such high resolution allows the visualization of the entire coronary tree with extremely high accuracy and detail. Individual atheromatous plaques can be detected and characterized. Calcification can be visualized and used as an added variable in disease management.

cardiologist – A Look into the Heart with innovative CT Scanning Techniques

admin — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 09:47:56 +0000

Cardiology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the heart. The field includes the diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology. A physician specializing in this field of medicine is called a cardiologist. Cardiologists however should not be confused with cardiac surgeons, who perform cardiac surgery. Cardiologists investigate and treat a host of critical cardiac conditions like High Blood Pressure, Arrhythmia, Congestive Heart Disease, Coronary Artery Disease, Valvular Disease, Heart Attack, Heart Failure, Raised Cholesterol, Breathlessness, Fluid Retentions, Palpitations, Dizzy Spells and Blackouts. Screening plays a major role in identifying high risk individuals and introducing lifestyle modifications and, if appropriate, medication to reduce their risk of heart problems in later life.Modern cardiology uses hi-tech medical equipment for diagnosis of anomalies. For evaluating coronary calcium in coronary heart disease, a CT Scan is often resorted to. A Cardiac CT is a painless test that uses an x-ray machine to take clear and detailed pictures of the heart. During a Cardiac CT Scan, an x-ray machine moves around the patient’s body in a circle. The machine takes pictures of each part of the patient’s heart. Subsequently, a computer puts the pictures together to make 3D pictures of the entire heart. CT Scans performed with a contrast injection are extremely useful for evaluating coronary blockage. Also diagnosable are aortic aneurisms and pulmonary embolisms.

Non-invasive imaging technologies continue to revolutionize every sub-specialty of medicine. Cardiology is no different; new imaging devices have shown enormous promise to diagnose a variety of cardiovascular abnormalities. Recent advances have allowed cardiologists to experience the next generation of extremely fast scanners that enable 64 Slice CT Scans in seconds. Combined with unparalleled resolution, a 64 Slice CT Scan has short scan times that allow the visualization of the heart and entire coronary tree within one breath. Now, a comprehensive evaluation of the health of one’s heart can be done in just a few minutes. One can simply walk in for a Non-invasive Coronary CT Angiography to identify any blockage in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. 64 Slice CT Scan is safe and is not an invasive procedure unlike conventional catheter angiography. Coronary CT Angiography is also extremely useful in evaluating patency of stents and the condition of the bypass graft post-CABG.

Heart Disease is the #1 cause of death and disability in the United States. As such, early detection and prevention of heart disease is extremely important. A CT Heart Scan is a simple non-invasive test used for early detection of heart disease. It is a painless test that takes about 10 minutes. The individual lies on the scanner table and multiple images of the heart are taken. A qualified cardiologist then interprets these images to determine the amount of calcified plaque in the arteries of the heart. Calcified plaque is an indicator of heart disease. The heart scan may be appropriate for men 35 or older and women 40 or older possessing any of the risk factors.

CT Heart Scan – Look Into Your Heart

admin — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 08:05:45 +0000

It’s widely known and understood that heart disease is still the number one cause of death in the United States. Heart disease can take many forms, whether it’s a coronary heart disease, cardiomyopathy, cardiovascular disease, ischaemic heart disease, heart failure, hypertensive heart disease, inflammatory heart disease, or a valve disease. The heart is responsible for pumping blood to the rest of the body, so it’s easy to see that, if there’s something wrong with your heart, it’s bound to affect the rest of your body. If you want to catch heart disease before irreparable damage is done, then you should consider getting a CT heart scan.

X-ray computed tomography (CT) is a method of getting an image of the interior of the heart in a non-invasive way. If you live near the 405 freeway between the 91 and the 10, then you’re probably looking for a Los Angeles cardiologist that can order this scan for you so that he can take a closer look at your heart health. A good, experienced cardiologist will not only order a CT and any other tests or scans that will help to determine the state of your heart health, but will also know what further measures to take to make sure that your heart stays in good health.

There are many doctors that practice Los Angeles cardiology, but your heart is a vital organ, so you want to be sure that you’re in the very best care. You want to be sure to do your research before selecting a cardiologist to take good care of you and your heart. You can try looking online for reviews of different doctors. You can also ask family and friends for recommendations. In any case, you’re going to have to do the research if you want to be sure to get the best care.

And when it comes to your CT, you should know that a 64 slice CT scan should be the bare minimum standard for your CT. They have machines that can take as minute as a 320 slice CT, but a 64 slice should be enough to at least ascertain the basic state of your heart health. Your heart is vital to the proper function of your body. You shouldn’t wait until something goes wrong before having a cardiologist take a look and see what the matter is. Be good to your heart, and it’ll be good to you.

Heart scan – Heart Attack and Heart Disease Prevention

admin — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 04:43:48 +0000

In order to lead a healthy life one must have a healthy heart and overall healthy cardiovascular system which will help one to keep the rest of the body healthy as well. If one has had a heart attack or is at risks of having one improving ones current lifestyle and making healthy choices is critical to prevent the heart attack. If an individuals is experiencing chest pain or other side effects of heart attack such as poor blood circulation, swelling, or fatigue the first step is to see a doctor in order to run test such as CT heart scan. In many cases a Heart scan can save a person’s life. Men and women should have their heart checked at around age 50 this is when one is at risks of having a heart disease. Having a checkup at this time has saved many lives from heart disease tragedy. Although diagnosing technology has advanced and doctors are able to use more sophisticated tools such as 64 slice CT scan to diagnose and treat the problem directly. Treatment for already developed heart disease is not the best medicine, prevention is. Preventing disease by making healthy choices will ensure that one lives a longer, healthier life.

It is often difficult to choose healthy food and always feel as if one was on a diet, but making the right food choices will greatly affect one’s health and over time how youthful one may feel. Eating right throughout the day may even help increase ones energy and attitude. The first to prevention is to eat ones entire serving of fruit and vegetables for the day. This may be hard for most people, but not only is good for the cardiovascular system, but are guaranteed to provide natural energy. The benefits of eating a full serving of fruits and vegetables a day are endless. Other lifestyle changes that one should make are:

Stay away from fried foods, too much grease causes clogs in the arteries.

Keep a diet high in fiber, and low in animal fat.

Exercise regularly, 30- 45 minutes of walking or swimming is proven to improve the cardiovascular by improving the muscle tone of the arteries.

When it comes to being in good health the great equalizer is stress levels. Individuals with high stress tend to get sick and become sicker, especially true in health of the head and heart. Hormones associated with stress cause an increase in heart rate, and increase blood pressure. Stress is not good for anyone as it can put a person at risks of heart attack; it is also much worse for those who are already at risks, or have already had a heart attack.

There are also many heart supplements and vitamins leading Los Angeles Cardiologist may ask you to take or prescribe to you, in order to keep ones heart in tip top shape. Individuals have nothing to fear except improving their health when seeing a cardiologist.

Lasik – Providing More Than Vision Correction

admin — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 11:05:27 +0000

With the economy in its current state, it’s made me become more conscious and aware of how I spend money. Quality and value are equally as important as price, so I started thinking of ways I could implement this into my health. I’ve calculated that on average, I have spent well over $3,000 purchasing new lenses and frames for eyeglasses and purchasing contact lenses and solutions. I had heard about permanent vision correction with a Los Angeles Lasik procedure advertised on the radio, and decided to look into the pricing, how the procedure worked, and what type of long-term benefits it provided its patients.

My research began by visiting a very sought after and respectable Los Angeles Lasik Eye Surgeon. I began to ask about pricing, and his response left me shocked. He told me that on average, a Lasik procedure costs about $2,000, depending on which technique or how the procedure is performed. He also explained that most patients also received financing for their procedure, making it more affordable and convenient than ever. I asked about how the procedure was performed. The Lasik surgeon explained that with Lasik Eye Surgery Beverly Hills and Los Angeles patients received 20/20 vision by creating a corneal flap, and reshaping the cornea with a laser. This provided permanent vision correction with results being immediate, however, full results after the healing process is completed, which can take up to 3 months.

I decided to get a second opinion from a recommended Beverly Hills Lasik Surgeon on the same information, it just sounded too good to be true! He let me know the same thing, the average pricing, benefits, and the results of a lasik procedure. It turns out, a Lasik procedure can cost about the same as about 7 years-worth of vision correction options like eye glasses and contact lenses. It also turns out that Lasik provides permanent results, while vision may still get worse even though eye glasses and contact lenses are used. Receiving a laser vision correction procedure has long-term benefits unlike those of any other vision correction method available. Over time, patients end up saving time and thousands of dollars.

CT Heart Scan Early Detection of Heart Disease

admin — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 11:46:08 +0000

The key to treating most life threatening illnesses is early detection. Men who reach the age of 35 and women who reach age 40 should speak to their primary physician about the early detection tests that they should take. Reaching these ages puts men and women at higher risks for heart disease and different cancers. There are several other factors that may put individuals at higher risks, these factors include:

High cholesterol

Diabetes

High blood pressure

History of tobacco use

Family history of heart disease

Overweight

Stress

The CT heart Scan procedure is simple and noninvasive used for early detection of heart disease. In most cases of early detection of heart disease the damage can be cured, minimized and even reversed. The scanning procedure takes about 10 minutes, one will lie on the scanner and multiple pictures of the heart are taken. A physician or cardiologist will then interpret the scans to determine the amount of calcified plaque in the arteries. The scan itself does not determine whether or not the individual is going to have a heart attack but instead makes visible the amount of calcified plaque in the heart which is an indicator of heart disease.

If the CT heart scan was not thorough enough or the physician detects further disease or a different illness then he or she may ask one to have a 64 Slice CT scan. The 64 slice CT scanner can gather high resolution images of a heart, brain or pair of lungs in about 5 seconds. This scan is specifically exciting for studying the beating heart providing the first clear noninvasive images of the heart and its major vessels.

These scans are critical for patients who have higher risks of heart disease and those who have already experienced some common symptoms, as these scans can essentially save a life. Heart disease is the number 1 cause of death and disability in the United States. Unfortunately for most people the first sign of heart disease is a heart attack. This is due to the fact that heart disease symptoms are often confused with other illnesses and most people are not getting tested for this when they should. Los Angeles cardiologist say all patients who have hit the age requirement should have a CT scan for heart disease and cancer because of the early detection benefits.

full Body scan – Heart disease symptoms

admin — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 09:28:55 +0000

All heart disease symptoms vary depending on what kind of heart disease an individual may have, in this article I will cover most of all the symptoms for every different heart disease. One should always remember that self-diagnoses is not the best diagnoses and one should always speak to a cardiologist for further results and testing via heart Scans and in other cases where the problem is harder to identify a full Body scan may be needed.

Symptoms of heart disease in your blood vessels (cardiovascular disease) is caused by narrowed, blocked or stiffened blood vessels that make it so the heart, brain or other parts of the body don’t receive enough blood. Symptoms of cardiovascular disease can include:

Chest pain

Shortness of breath

Pain, numbness, weakness or coldness in your legs or arms

In some cases patients are diagnosed with cardiovascular disease and there symptoms worsen, when this happens one should be very careful because they are at high risk of having a heart attack, stroke, hearth failure or sudden cardiac death.

Abnormal heartbeats, The heart may beat too fast too slowly or irregularly if you have an arrhythmia the symptoms can include:

Fluttering in the chest

Racing heart beat

Slow heart beat

Chest pain

Shortness of breath

Lightheadedness

Dizziness

Fainting or near fainting

Heart defects, a defect one is born with usually becomes more evident during the first few hours or days in one’s life, the symptoms can include:

Pale gray or blue skin

Swelling in the legs, abdomen, even the eyes

Shortness of breath during feeding

In less serious cases hear defects may not be noticed until childhood years, these are less threatening but the symptoms can include:

Shortness of breath very easily

Easily tiring

Build up fluid in the heart or lungs

Swelling in the hands, ankles and feet

One should remember that children do not usually notice these things or do but are not highly concerned. One should always take notice and watch their children as they play and interact, and if one notices their child get tired easy or has shortness of breath or fatigue visit Los Angeles Cardiology to run some test before symptoms go any further.

Heart diease symptoms cause by thick heart muscle, in the earlier stages one may not have any symptoms at all, but as the disease progresses one may experience:
Breathless at any time, during exercise or rest

Swelling of the legs, ankle, and feet

Bloating

Fatigue

Irregular heartbeats that feel rapid, pounding or fluttering

Dizziness, lightheadedness and fainting

Heart disease caused by heart infection: there are three types of heart infections pericarditis, affects the tissue around the heart. Myocarditis, affects the muscular muddle layer of the walls of the heart. Endocarditis, affects the inner membrane that separates the chambers and valves of the heart. Symptoms for every infection vary slightly but include:

Fever

Weakness or fatigue

Swelling in your legs of abdomen

Changes in the heart rhythm

Dry or persistent cough

Skin rashes or unusual spots

One should take notice that most heart disease symptoms include: swelling of hands, legs, ankle and feet, shortness of breath and easily tiring. If one has already been diagnosed with heart disease and would like further scans to better identify the problem one should ask their doctor about the 64 slice CT scan.

64 Slice CT scan-Heart attack and heart scans

admin — Fri, 21 May 2010 08:35:29 +0000

Most people have no idea they can drop dead any second of a sudden heart attack and they depend on having a heart scan as they become of age for certain things. Truth is we should not wait till we hit a certain age or see symptoms to then have scans. Anyone can have a heart attack at any given moment and have demonstrated completely different symptoms. Women and men generally display completely different symptoms of heart attack, so women are most likely to have a heart condition which goes unnoticed. In some cases a woman can be having a heat attack and have no idea what is wrong until a doctor informs them. We should all be concerned with checking our hearts regularly especially if someone does not live a healthy life style.

A CT heart scan uncovers the exterior of the heart, position, shape and the coronary arteries on the surface of the heart. This image is a picture of the whole heart put together. Cardiologist say heart scans are essential for early heart disease detection. According to heart scan experts with a simple heart scan early detection the possibly of modifying the risk factors the potential for advanced heart disease can be significantly reduced and even reversed. A hear scan takes less pictures than a 64 Slice CT scan but they both have incredible findings. A heart scan is a painless scan which takes about ten minutes. The process is almost the same as taking an x ray of the body. The patient lies on the scanner table multiple images of the heart are taken. The physician then interprets the images of the heart and determines the amount of calcified plaque in the arteries.

Cardiologist say a heart scan is appropriate for men thirty five or older and women forty or older with anyone of the risk factors. Anyone younger than the given ages should also consider having a heart scan. The Risk factors are as follows:

High blood pressure

High Cholesterol

Diabetes

History of tobacco use

Family history of heart disease

Obesity

High stress levels

More than half of patients who have sudden heart attacks never notice symptoms of heart attack because some are very mild. Heart scans make it possible to early detect and prevent heart attack. Because having a heart attack can completely change their quality of life eating healthy, exercising daily, monitoring sodium consumption, quitting bad habits such as smoking, and watching that one is at a healthy weight will all prevent and even reverse set damages to the heart so that one can continue living healthy.

Heart attack symptoms in women

admin — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 11:49:35 +0000

For most women symptoms of a heart attack are commonly diagnosed, because they disguise as many other common illnesses in which most people usually get over on their own. Studies show that heart attack symptoms in men and women differ, therefore making slightly easier for symptoms to go unnoticed in most women. For most women heart attack symptoms are generally overlooked even in the emergency room. Most women ignore heart attack symptoms themselves because they identify the symptoms as menopause or other signs of aging. Cardiologist say men and women should not take bodily change lightly. There is a reason for everything that occurs in the body and doctors should be asked questions about any sudden change.

If heart attack is in the family history that individual should have annual heart scans and take other prevention precautions. A CT heart scan can help identify early heart disease and ultimately save a life. If early heart disease is detected then a cardiologist will help to identify the foods one should eat and the kind of activity that one can do. Although it is essential to have these test such as heart scans and is some cases even a 64 slice ct scan test done if doctors cannot identify the problem with other ways if one is aware of the symptoms further damage and test can be prevented.

Women survivors of heart attacks share that they experienced a change in their life for up to a month before the heart attack occurred. More than 70% of women experienced sever fatigue. Sever fatigue entails shortness of breath and wheezing after activities that wouldn’t usually tire that person so easy. Over 50% of women noticed a significant change in sleeping pattern. The same positions were no longer comfortable, restlessness throughout the night and short intervals of sleep. Men and women heart attack survivors both report chest pain or pressure. Men reported the chest pain as being intense while women report it as uncomfortable and possibly feeling like a muscle strain because the pain travels to underneath the jaw line at times. 40% of women reported some type of change in skin tone and temperature. Most women say their skin was clammy and occasionally experienced cold sweats.

Most of the women in this heart attack study experienced flu like symptoms. Nausea, vomiting, chills, coughing, aching and sneezing. For a large amount of these symptoms most people don’t think to visit a doctor. Most of these symptoms will persist and that is when an appointment with a doctor or cardiologist should be scheduled if you experience a sudden onset of these please visit a local emergency room. Most of the time the symptoms will be over looked, so cardiologist suggest you ask the doctor attending if it is possible that you’ve had a heart attack?

Heart attack symptoms in women

Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease

admin — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 06:48:35 +0000

Coronary heart disease is the single leading cause of death among American men and women. The risk factors for cardiovascular disease in women are well documented and compelling, from medical studies and clinical trials done by cardiologist to largely preventable treatments. One of the more obtainable ways of preventing cardiovascular disease for both men and women is by exercise and to quit smoking.

Another way to treat and detect cardiovascular disease is with the use of full body scan machines. These machines have been further enhanced as technology all around us enhances as well.

One of the more notable modern full body scan machines is the Phillips 64 slice CT scan. This medical machine is not just a newer version in medical technology, but a machine that turns the inside of the body nearly into art. The technology of the 64 slice CT scanner is particularly suited for studying the functions of the beating heart. The new CT scan medical machine can provide high resolution images without the need of surgery.

For experienced Los Angeles cardiologist the use of the advanced 64 slice CT scanner has further propelled their practice in order to better diagnose and for better treatment of cardiovascular disease in both women and men. The scanner features four times more detectors then a typical CT scanner and can deliver high quality 3-D images of any organ in the body, including the heart and blood vessels.

If you no longer have the option of preventing cardiovascular disease and need treatment from a specialist, modern technology in the hands of an experienced cardiologist will do all in their power to provide the best possible medical care. Talk to your doctor about the options you have to treat your cardiovascular disease or talk to a specialist if you need a second opinion.