One of the most effective considerations of preventative care in both men and women is in diagnostic imaging—that is, nuclear, x-ray, ultrasound, or magnetic imaging scans, to screen for possible malign growths or other serious conditions that, if caught early, can be stopped or greatly reduced in severity. Heart disease, the #1 killer of Americans, can be diagnosed early with a “nuclear stress test,” using a small amount of a radioactive substance called thallium.
CDI Miami, an MRA/MRI provider in Miami, announces that they now provide this incredible diagnostic tool to determine patients’ risk of heart disease. A thallium test is performed by having a patient exercise or take a supplement for increasing heart rate, and then inject a small amount of the harmless radioactive chemical thallium. A radiation-sensitive scanner will then be used to determine the quality of blood flow to the heart.
X-ray computed tomography, or CT scanning, uses computer-processed X-rays to produce images of body tissues without having to cut them open. The technology has progressed to the level where 3D models of human structures, including the heart, can be generated from the data and studied for abnormalities or damage. According to a medical journal published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, CT scans are used in up to 15% of injury-related hospital visits for accurate diagnostic purposes. This technology has enabled thallium stress tests, and other types of CT scans.
A nuclear stress test can help determine how well is the heart pumping, diagnose coronary heart disease, the proper treatment for said heart disease, and whether a heart is too large or small.
It is a very low-risk procedure, but possible complications include an allergic reaction to the radioactive dye, or, if a patient is not used to exercise, low blood pressure or abnormal heart rhythms can occur. Patients having a scan or test may also experience a flushing sensation or chest pain, but these are usually brief and benign.
For more information and to book a consultation, call toll free on 800-371-0002 or visit cdimiami.com.
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