Health Care and Medical Blogs » Los Angeles Cardiologist

CT Scan – Scanning your health, how CT and Heart Scans can help you

admin — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 10:10:16 +0000

A CT Scan (computerized tomography) is a non-invasive medical examination used to diagnose and monitor medical conditions. It is a fast and highly effective tool which provides detailed cross-sectional views of areas of the body that are hard to reach. While a standard x-ray only sends out one beam to capture the image, in a CT scan several beams of x-rays are sent out at different angles. It then uses a computer to create images of the inside of the body. Highly detailed pictures in two and three dimensions are obtained. Bones, internal organs, soft tissue and brain can all be imaged in detail with CT scan. SC scans help to diagnose inflammation, cancer and other diseases and help in monitoring many other health conditions.

Cardiac Computed Tomography or Heart Scan is a painless examination that uses a CT scanner to take clear, detailed pictures of the heart. This common examination is used to look for problems in the heart. During a heart scan, an x-ray machine moves around the body in a circle. The machine takes pictures of each part of the heart. A computer then puts the pictures together to make 3D pictures of the entire heart. Sometimes an iodine based dye (contrast dye) is injected into one of the veins in order to highlight the blood vessels on the x-ray pictures. Heart scans are common for evaluating coronary heart disease, problems with heart function and heart valves, problems with the aorta, aneurysms, pulmonary embolisms and other heart diseases.

Los Angeles Cardiologist is a highly reputed cardiology consultant, known for his excellence and innovation in the diagnosis, investigation and treatment of patients with all forms of heart disease. He has extensive experience in all aspects of adult cardiology; in particular the prevention and treatment of heart attack, angioplasty and stenting. Los Angeles Cardiologist and his team are committed to providing an efficient service in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

Cardiologist Los Angeles is keenly interested in cardiac risk assessment and screening, and offers an extensive range of investigations and treatment for cardiac conditions including high blood pressure, raised cholesterol, breathlessness, palpitations, dizzy spells, chest pain (angina) and all aspects of coronary artery disease.

For more information, please visit:
http://www.apexcardiology.com/
501 East Hardy St. Suite 200
Inglewood, CA 90301

full body scan – Identifying Heart Disease at an Early Stage

admin — Sat, 21 May 2011 04:42:03 +0000

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. However, advances in medical technology have made it increasingly possible for doctors to diagnose patients at an early stage and provide adequate treatment. When used in combination with other heart and lung scans, a full body scan, can help physicians more accurately identify the problem at hand. When caught early, heart disease can be treated. Following guidelines from a physician and making simple lifestyle changes can help lower risk of cardiovascular disease and improve one’s health. Factors that increase risk of heart disease include diet, alcohol, physical, inactivity, obesity and tobacco use.

If you experience chest pain, shortness of breath, discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back, irregular heartbeat, or dizziness it is recommended that you visit a cardiologist. The cardiologist will recommend appropriate testing and give helpful information on how to maintain a healthy cardiovascular system.. Regular checkups are recommended for anyone with a family history of heart disease. Other high risk patients are those with High blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes.

Los Angeles is internationally known for its culture, popular entertainment, media, tourist attractions and successful business. Los Angeles is the biggest city in California and, for years, it has been home to a diverse community of people. Residents of the Los Angeles area have noticed a tremendous growth in their population. Along with this population growth, came an increase in obesity and heart disease. Some unhealthy lifestyle habits have tremendously affected the health of Los Angeles residents. It is important that residents take advantage of advances in Los Angeles cardiology. Non-invasive tests have become more and more available to help cardiologists diagnose heart disease.

Scans are critical for patients who have higher risks of cardiovascular disease and those who have experienced common symptoms. Since many symptoms can be confused with those of other illnesses, most people are not getting tested. It is recommended that adults in their mid-40s consult a Los Angeles Cardiologist to have proper scans for heart disease so that problems can be detected early. Although scans increase the probability of detecting heart disease, it does not prevent nor cure it. Making wise lifestyle choices such as dieting and exercising will help lower risk of cardiovascular disease.

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 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.

Maintaining Americans’ Heart Health

admin — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 11:42:33 +0000

Heart health care is a serious concern for millions of Americans. A CT scan is a very helpful and popular way for cardiologists to diagnose potential or current heart problems. A warm greeting and attention to detail can go a long way towards making the patient feel comfortable in what can be an uncomfortable situation. For this reason, it is very important for doctors and other staff to help a patient to feel more at ease when they visit the cardiologist

CT imaging is one of the best and fastest tools for studying the chest, abdomen and pelvis because it provides detailed, cross-sectional views of all types of tissue. Doctors can confirm the presence of a tumor as long as well as measure its size and precise location. In addition, they can note its proximity to vital organs in the body. Los Angeles cardiologists often perform CT scans, including full body scans because of its quick accurate results. Therefore, southern California residents can return to their day-to-day routine immediately! CT scans are not only beneficial for heart patients, they can diagnose and treat spinal problems and injuries because they can clearly show even very small bones as well as surrounding tissues such as muscle and blood vessels. CT scans have been compared to slicing a loaf of bread into very thin slices. When the image slices are reassembled by the computer software, the result is a very detailed multidimensional view of the body’s interior. The images are real-time so it is also a great tool for guiding minimally invasive procedures of many parts of the body, especially the lungs, abdomen, pelvis and bones.

Cardiologists can now use cardiac CT imaging to perform a non-invasive coronary angiogram. This advanced procedure can create a non-invasive image of the beating heart. It allows you to obtain detailed information about the structure of a patient’s heart and coronary arteries. CT heart scans have been known to save many lives because cardiologists can discover arterial problems to prevent a heart attack or even death! Many hospitals can perform these tests and obtain results within 24 hours.

Maintaining Americans’ Heart Health

admin — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 06:04:39 +0000

Detecting Heart disease

admin — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 08:46:33 +0000

If you’ve never thought you were at risk for heart disease think again. 50 percent of men and 64 percent of women who died suddenly from heart disease had no previous symptoms, and every 60 seconds an American dies from a coronary event. This is why it is important to be aware of the symptoms and procedures that can be done to detect heart disease. If you’ve had previous infections, cancers or other health problems and this has made it difficult for doctors to pinpoint the source of your problem you might want to suggest a full body scan which allows a transparent view of the body and may show many different malignancies inside one’s body. Doctors then have a clear picture in order to run tests on what they have found.

Other times there isn’t a need for a full body scan because doctors can clearly see the symptoms you are dealing with, such as shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing, swollen legs, feet and hands, lack of appetite, confusion and lethargy. These area all signs of heart failure and will prompt your cardiologist to perform a CT heart scan so he can have a closer look at your heart and be able to give you a full diagnosis.

Although this CT heart scan works great, Los Angeles cardiologists have enhanced their technology and are now using a 64 slice CT heart scan which works 4 to 64 times faster than the standard CT heart scan. The 64 slice CT scanner improves the precision of diagnosis and takes images faster and clearer than the standard CT scanner. If you are experience any symptoms of heart disease, have family history of heart disease, or simply want more information on the latest technology in CT heart scans, contact your local Los Angeles cardiologists and schedule an appointment today.

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.

Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease

admin — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:56:11 +0000

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.