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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 – Monitoring Your Health

admin — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 07:27:31 +0000

The efficiency of a hospital is amplified by the addition of medical technology. One of the many machines that make life a little easier in an emergency is the CT scan. This procedure is used to diagnose a myriad of different conditions. The heart especially can easily be viewed by a doctor for heart disease or other health risks. Doctors can visit more patients and get more people home with the fast use of a CT scanner. Many hospitals have them, and you have probably seen them before on a television show or if you have needed a personal scan.

More commonly known as a CAT scan, the CT heart scan will take 64 complete images of the area the doctor is interested in. The machine rotates 360 degrees around the patient. This rotating motion allows the 64 images to be precise and even. Imagine being cut into 64 different slices, similar to a loaf of bread, and you will know what the images the CT scanner is producing look like. Doctors can see all the layers of the organ they are focusing on because each slice penetrates a little deeper into the patient’s body, so finding a trouble area is much easier.

There are several other tests that can be run and performed to determine what is wrong with a patient, but generally the lab is backed up and processing will take time. The patient would need to be admitted to the hospital, and have to wait for the doctor’s diagnosis without the use of this scanner. There is even some danger involved if the patient is high risk for heart attack and they come in complaining of chest pain. With a quick Heart scan both doctor and patient can relax knowing what the diagnosis is, and what can be done to make things better.

Sometimes diagnosis still requires laparoscopy or other invasive procedures that take time and cost both hospital and patient a lot of money. This is only necessary when the CT scan does not yield conclusive results on what the doctor is seeing. The difference between a malignant tumor and a harmless one is virtually indistinguishable with just a picture. Doctors love using CT scan to diagnose their patients because it is faster and more affordable for everyone. Spending less time diagnosing the problem means more time can be spent making the patient feel better and fixing the problem they are having.

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.

CT scan – Detecting a Heart Attack and Heart a Attack Prevention

admin — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 05:09:57 +0000

A failing heart can cause a person to always be tired fatigue and worn down. If one is past the age of 45 and is experiencing these signs then he or she should have their heart checked. More people every year die of sudden heart attacks than our diagnosed with heart disease. In order to keep up good heart health men and women at the age of 45 should visit their local Cardiologist have their heart checked and get information of ways to improve their cardiovascular system.

The first step to detecting heart problems is to known ones symptoms and see a cardiologist. In this visit most cardiologist will conduct a CT heart Scan in order to be sure that nothing is or isn’t wrong. If the hear scan is clear one can be sure that they do not have major heart disease. Although ones scan is clear he or she should still learn the necessary steps to take if a sudden heart attack occurs.

The first hour of the heart attack is the golden hour if one gets help in this first hour then he or she is likely to survive the heart attack with a good recovery. Heart attack symptoms may vary from person to person. In women heart attack symptoms often hide and are more visible in men. A sudden heart attack may feel like digestive disturbances and some individuals are afraid to embarrass to ask for help in this moment. Embarrassment should not stop you, as the worse that can happen is be taken to the ER have a CT scan that may detect something wrong with the heart or something irregular.

The most common sign of a heart attack in the making is chest pain. Chest pain that is generally brought on by physical exertion, stress and may go away with rest. Fatigue is also a common side effect and present while doing any physical activity even ones that one was able to do in the past. Another common reason that heart attack symptoms hide is because most people experience indigestion. However this indigestion may seem different as it often does not respond to antacids.

All of these things may help to diagnose symptoms of a heart attack and urge many individuals to have a heart scan but the only way to avoid heart attack is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. A healthy life style includes daily exercise, eating healthy and staying at a good weight for ones stature.

admin

full body scan – See a Cardiologist and Protect Your Heart

admin — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 11:52:17 +0000

It is easier than ever to diagnose heart disease using non-invasive methods such as a computed tomography (CT) heart scan or a CT full body scan. Before this technology was available a patient would have to undergo an invasive coronary angiogram, which required injecting a dye through a catheter into one of the patients large blood vessels so that the doctor can see the size and location of any damaged areas in the heart or arteries. Some risks of invasive coronary angiograms are: blood clots, infection where the catheter is inserted, air entering the arteries, or an allergic reaction to the dye.

By contrast to an invasive coronary angiogram, a CT heart scan creates high resolution 3D images of the heart and blood vessels without the use of a catheter. Instead, an iodine dye is injected through an IV, along with a medication to slow the patients heart rate, allowing for better image results. Xrays are picked up by the scanner and made into 3D images that show if fatty or calcium deposits have built up in the arteries. A CT full body scan is more extensive and examines the lungs, the heart, and the abdomen. For high risk patients, this may be the best option since early detection is key to treating and preventing heart disease. However, full body scans are administered as a last resort because they expose the patient to radiation.

You should see a cardiologist if you ever experience pain or discomfort in any areas of the upper body, including stomach, jaws, arms, or chest, shortness of breath, rapid or irregular heart beat, dizziness, or nausea. These are just a few of the signs that can signal heart disease, so it is best to see your doctor for regular check ups, especially if you are a high risk patient. High risk patients include anyone with a family history of heart disease, patients who have diabetes, smoke, or drink excessive amounts of alcohol. Also, people who are overweight, over the age of forty, and males are at higher risk than the rest of the population. After a women becomes menopausal, her risk of heart disease increases as well. When caught early, most heart disease can be treated with lifestyle changes, including: eating more fiber and potassium, taking asprin and natural blood thinners, and working out moderately most days per week.

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.

Coronary heart disease

admin — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 04:56:09 +0000

Coronary heart disease also referred to as coronary artery disease is a thinning of the small blood vessels which supply blood and oxygen to the heart. Symptoms of coronary heart disease can often be very blunt, but other times can go unnoticed. These symptoms usually include:

Chest pain or discomfort- This pain normally occurs when the heart is not being supplied with enough oxygen or blood. Ones chest may feel heavy or like it is being pressed. The pain is generally felt beneath the breast bone but can be felt in the neck, arms, stomach, or upper back. The pain persists with activity or emotion but goes away with rest and some medications. Common symptoms are shortness of breath and fatigue with physical activity. If any of these symptoms arise be sure to see a cardiologist to better identify the problem.

Leading Los Angeles cardiologist may suggest that their patient take one or more medicines to treat blood pressure, diabetes and high or low cholesterol levels. These medication and instructions provided by the cardiologist should be followed closely in order to prevent the disease from worsening.

The most common cause of coronary heart disease is called atherosclerosis, which occurs when fatty material and plaque build up on the walls of ones arteries. This causes the thinning of the small blood vessels. Coronary hear disease is the leading cause of death of death in all United States for both men and women.

Increasing risk of heart disease

Men in their forties have an increased risk of having coronary heart disease but as many women hit menopause their chances almost equal that of men in their forties. Coronary heart disease is hereditary. If someone in ones family has or had coronary heart disease before the age of fifty then ones chances of having the disease increase with age. Other common causes include Diabetes, high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, smoking, chronic kidney disease, alcohol abuse, lack of exercise and excessive stressing.

Coronary heart disease is often diagnosed with CT heart scans however some cardiologist suggest that their patients have a full body scan in order to identify any problems in the body and be able to target them all with medications and treatments. The proper treatment for coronary heart disease can stop death in its tracks by preventing the disease from going any further; however the best medicine is always prevention, so be aware of symptoms and behavior that can lead to coronary heart disease.

Los Angeles cardiology :Cardiology an overview

admin — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 09:04:50 +0000

Cardiology is the field of medicine that studies the heart and vascular system. The study of cardiology goes as far back as the ancient Egyptians and since then a great deal of advances have been made. Not only has technology improved greatly but there have been many discoveries that save lives everyday. New technology allows cardiologist to perform bypass, hear transplants and even use artificial hearts. Cardiology is a growing field in which requires the need for specialist more everyday. As a specialty cardiology has been around for a little more than fifty years. Cardiology itself does not date back to ancient times but studies of the heart did begin in ancient Egyptian times. The Egyptians made many discoveries about the heart through the process of mummification; however, the first successful heart surgery was made in 1896, the creation of the first artificial heart valve in 1950, and the first human heart transplant in 1967.

Cardiology alone is the specialty area of medicine that handles disorders of the heart and blood vessels. There is such a wide variety of disease and conditions that affect the cardiovascular system that it is critical to be checked by a certified Cardiologist when experiencing any changes or problems in this area. Most people fear going to visit cardiologist for pain and other changes but only if there is a problem can the situation be scary. Testing is usually simple for adults a CT heart scan and for children also a Heart scan with this most cardiologist speedily determine the problem. There are three specialist involved in this field of cardiology according to the patients need and type of situation. Cardiologist work with adults to identify, prevent and treat conditions of the heart and vascular system pediatric cardiologist do the same but for children as young as fetuses and as old as age thirteen. Cardiac surgeons are those trained in the specialty of surgeries on the heart, lungs and blood vessels.

Cardiology is a growing field because our population suffers from obesity, which triggers heart disease and diabetes. Recent studies have shown that almost forty percent of deaths are by cardiovascular disease. A large portion of that death number is from sudden heart attack. Heart attacks can be silent killers and most female patients have no prior signs symptoms of heart attack. While the demand for cardiologist and cardiac surgeons is rapidly increasing the amount of students who are studying in this field is just as rapidly decreasing. Physicians and researches and working together to increase the knowledge of the heart and vascular system to make more great discoveries everyday, but more physicians are required. Cardiology has come a long way and for the moment grave studies are being done to better identify methods to prevent and treat heart conditions many researchers are studying the affects of different diets and exercise on the cardiovascular system. In many places around the world and in Los Angeles cardiology studies have great potential and can unleash many secrets to living a longer and healthier life.

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.