Whole Body UltraSound Screening
A 15 Minute Test Could Save Your Life
One of the most important components of preventive medicine is detecting disease before it strikes - while there is time to turn it around. Wouldn’t you like to know your car is about to have a flat tire before it happens? How about detecting diseases such as heart disease, stroke or cancer long before symptoms appear? A simple screening test can give you a huge head-start when it comes to preventive health.
Sonography or ultrasound, which has been used extensively for decades in Europe as a non-intrusive screening tool, has finally come of age in the United States. Sonography uses the reflections of high frequency sound waves to construct an image of a body organ and provides real time images of blood flow in the body.
New breakthroughs in imaging software allow professional sonographers and radiologists to look inside a person’s body and potentially detect the onset of certain types of disease. This early warning system is alerting people to health problems before symptoms occur. And early treatment saves lives.
Here in America ultrasound has been used to help establish what disease may be causing a current symptom. For example, having pain in the upper right side of the abdomen may be related to having stones in the gallbladder or in the kidney, and ultrasound is a simple way to match the symptoms with an image that fairly well establishes the diagnosis. Most women with children have had an ultrasound to monitor their baby’s growth and development. But ultrasound can be used to screen for so much more.
Modern CT scans, xrays, mammograms and bone density scans all use radiation to provide an image of the body. While the risk of radiation induced harm is justifiable in serious conditions that necessitate these studies, it is not reasonable to do routine screenings with radiation, particularly when taking a look at the whole body and when a safer option is available. Ultrasound has the benefit of using harmless sound waves to produce an image.
Cost is another area where ultrasound shines. Instead of thousands of dollars to produce an image with a CT scan or MRI, the usual cost for whole body ultrasound is under $500. Ultrasound can also be done in the comfort of an office setting and requires no preparation, no contrast dyes, no IV and no blood draw.
The Ultrasound Screen
One of the most common areas to screen with ultrasound is the blood vessel system. Heart disease is the number one killer in America and stroke is number three. Both of these diseases progress without obvious symptoms, usually present without warning and both are preventable! Yet we miss the early stages in both diseases if we only use routine risk markers such as family history, high cholesterol, sugar, or blood pressure. The fact is that about half the people dying from heart disease don’t have these risk factors and remain clueless that plaque is slowly accumulating in their arteries. For about 2/3 of men and ½ of women suffering a heart attack, the heart attack itself is the first clue of the underlying disease which has been present and slowly progressing for many years.
Ultrasound can be used to measure plaque accumulation in the major arteries as well as the smaller artery systems. One can look at the carotid arteries in the neck for plaque that may lead to a stroke. Abdominal aorta aneurysms are easily found and monitored. The blood supply through the lower extremity arteries is measured using the ultrasound to measure blood pressure in the ankle and comparing to pressure in the arm, known as the ankle-brachial index or ABI.
Even the heart rhythm and flow as well as the heart valves can be assessed with ultrasound. A thickened or leaky heart valve can be detected before it is too late to manage without surgery and before it begins to cause secondary problems.
Thyroid imaging with ultrasound can pick up thyroid enlargement or nodules that may represent a low thyroid condition, autoimmune thyroid disease, early thyroid dysfunction or cancer.
Liver screening can uncover fatty liver disease, liver congestion or enlargement, benign cysts or cancer. The size of the spleen has implications involving the immune system and possible cancers that originate in the blood. The gallbladder is easily seen and not just gallstones are found, but it can be noted as swollen and thickened or observed emptying after taking a few bites of food. An enlarged pancreas points to diabetes and certainly finding a cancer of the pancreas while it is still localized (stage one) is a life-saver.
Kidney stones are seen in the earliest detectable stages with ultrasound, and can be treated prior to blocking the urine flow and causing a severe pain problem! The thickness of the kidney cortex or outer rim is an indicator of overall kidney health and function. Cysts and cancers of the kidney can be detected.
The uterus and ovaries are also well visualized with ultrasound. Growths in the uterus (fibroids) or abnormal thickening of the uterine lining is picked up with ultrasound. The ovaries may be scanned for cysts or growth that suggests cancer. The bladder is easily seen and before and after urinating images can detect residual urine that uncovers conditions that interfere with normal bladder emptying.
Breast imaging is a great use for ultrasound. Without any radiation exposure the breasts may be analyzed for small anomalies, tiny calcium deposits, microcalcifications and small cancers. Cysts and fibrous tissue are observed. Changes in blood flow that accompany early cancers can be detected.
Even the prostate is easily seen with ultrasound by scanning through the abdomen and bladder. Early prostate enlargement or benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH) is easily detected. Prostate cancer can also be seen with ultrasound imaging. The size of the prostate can be accurately measured to help determine if an elevation of the blood marker called PSA is concerning or just normal for the size of the prostate (PSA density).
In general, cancers need a ready blood supply to grow, and ultrasound is an excellent way to determine if a nodule or mass found in the body has an abnormal increased blood supply. Cancer tends to have a “ring” of new blood vessels surrounding it and ultrasound, particularly the real-time Doppler imaging, is fabulous for showing this worrisome finding.
Action follows knowledge and finding certain diseases in the early stages can mean the difference in life or death. Knowing you are at risk for heart disease or stroke, finding an enlarged liver, small kidney stones, thyroid nodules, or a slightly enlarged prostate for example. All these conditions are reversible and the earlier they are detected the easier it is to take action!
We offer whole body ultrasound screening at the IMC for $400. It takes about 15 minutes and your results are provided immediately. Our ultrasonographer, Mary Blakley, has extensive training with multiple university degrees and certifications. With over 40 years experience in ultrasound imaging she sets the standard. For more information about Mary visit www.ucarehealthscreenings.com.
An “ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. This simple 15 minute test could save your life. Call 245-6911 to schedule your screening ultrasound.
INSET
The next free seminar is “Low Thyroid: Misunderstood, Misdiagnosed, Missed!” Monday, February 27th, 6pm, at the IMC. Seating is limited so RSVP at 245-6911 or online at rsvp@imcwc.com.
Bio
Scott Rollins, MD, is Board Certified with the American Board of Family Practice and the American Board of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine. He specializes in Bioidentical Hormone Replacement for men and women, thyroid and adrenal disorders, fibromyalgia, weight loss and other complex medical conditions. He is founder and medical director of the Integrative Medicine Center of Western Colorado (www.imcwc.com). Call (970) 245-6911 for an appointment or more information.
He is also medical director of Integrative Weight Solutions, a holistic, physician supervised HCG weight loss program that incorporates expert evaluation for hormone and digestive health imbalances, exercise physiology, and behavioral support for a powerful and balanced journey to weight loss. For more information see www.integrativeweightsolutions.com or call 245-0373 to arrange a free consultation.
A 15 Minute Test Could Save Your Life
One of the most important components of preventive medicine is detecting disease before it strikes - while there is time to turn it around. Wouldn’t you like to know your car is about to have a flat tire before it happens? How about detecting diseases such as heart disease, stroke or cancer long before symptoms appear? A simple screening test can give you a huge head-start when it comes to preventive health.
Sonography or ultrasound, which has been used extensively for decades in Europe as a non-intrusive screening tool, has finally come of age in the United States. Sonography uses the reflections of high frequency sound waves to construct an image of a body organ and provides real time images of blood flow in the body.
New breakthroughs in imaging software allow professional sonographers and radiologists to look inside a person’s body and potentially detect the onset of certain types of disease. This early warning system is alerting people to health problems before symptoms occur. And early treatment saves lives.
Here in America ultrasound has been used to help establish what disease may be causing a current symptom. For example, having pain in the upper right side of the abdomen may be related to having stones in the gallbladder or in the kidney, and ultrasound is a simple way to match the symptoms with an image that fairly well establishes the diagnosis. Most women with children have had an ultrasound to monitor their baby’s growth and development. But ultrasound can be used to screen for so much more.
Modern CT scans, xrays, mammograms and bone density scans all use radiation to provide an image of the body. While the risk of radiation induced harm is justifiable in serious conditions that necessitate these studies, it is not reasonable to do routine screenings with radiation, particularly when taking a look at the whole body and when a safer option is available. Ultrasound has the benefit of using harmless sound waves to produce an image.
Cost is another area where ultrasound shines. Instead of thousands of dollars to produce an image with a CT scan or MRI, the usual cost for whole body ultrasound is under $500. Ultrasound can also be done in the comfort of an office setting and requires no preparation, no contrast dyes, no IV and no blood draw.
The Ultrasound Screen
One of the most common areas to screen with ultrasound is the blood vessel system. Heart disease is the number one killer in America and stroke is number three. Both of these diseases progress without obvious symptoms, usually present without warning and both are preventable! Yet we miss the early stages in both diseases if we only use routine risk markers such as family history, high cholesterol, sugar, or blood pressure. The fact is that about half the people dying from heart disease don’t have these risk factors and remain clueless that plaque is slowly accumulating in their arteries. For about 2/3 of men and ½ of women suffering a heart attack, the heart attack itself is the first clue of the underlying disease which has been present and slowly progressing for many years.
Ultrasound can be used to measure plaque accumulation in the major arteries as well as the smaller artery systems. One can look at the carotid arteries in the neck for plaque that may lead to a stroke. Abdominal aorta aneurysms are easily found and monitored. The blood supply through the lower extremity arteries is measured using the ultrasound to measure blood pressure in the ankle and comparing to pressure in the arm, known as the ankle-brachial index or ABI.
Even the heart rhythm and flow as well as the heart valves can be assessed with ultrasound. A thickened or leaky heart valve can be detected before it is too late to manage without surgery and before it begins to cause secondary problems.
Thyroid imaging with ultrasound can pick up thyroid enlargement or nodules that may represent a low thyroid condition, autoimmune thyroid disease, early thyroid dysfunction or cancer.
Liver screening can uncover fatty liver disease, liver congestion or enlargement, benign cysts or cancer. The size of the spleen has implications involving the immune system and possible cancers that originate in the blood. The gallbladder is easily seen and not just gallstones are found, but it can be noted as swollen and thickened or observed emptying after taking a few bites of food. An enlarged pancreas points to diabetes and certainly finding a cancer of the pancreas while it is still localized (stage one) is a life-saver.
Kidney stones are seen in the earliest detectable stages with ultrasound, and can be treated prior to blocking the urine flow and causing a severe pain problem! The thickness of the kidney cortex or outer rim is an indicator of overall kidney health and function. Cysts and cancers of the kidney can be detected.
The uterus and ovaries are also well visualized with ultrasound. Growths in the uterus (fibroids) or abnormal thickening of the uterine lining is picked up with ultrasound. The ovaries may be scanned for cysts or growth that suggests cancer. The bladder is easily seen and before and after urinating images can detect residual urine that uncovers conditions that interfere with normal bladder emptying.
Breast imaging is a great use for ultrasound. Without any radiation exposure the breasts may be analyzed for small anomalies, tiny calcium deposits, microcalcifications and small cancers. Cysts and fibrous tissue are observed. Changes in blood flow that accompany early cancers can be detected.
Even the prostate is easily seen with ultrasound by scanning through the abdomen and bladder. Early prostate enlargement or benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH) is easily detected. Prostate cancer can also be seen with ultrasound imaging. The size of the prostate can be accurately measured to help determine if an elevation of the blood marker called PSA is concerning or just normal for the size of the prostate (PSA density).
In general, cancers need a ready blood supply to grow, and ultrasound is an excellent way to determine if a nodule or mass found in the body has an abnormal increased blood supply. Cancer tends to have a “ring” of new blood vessels surrounding it and ultrasound, particularly the real-time Doppler imaging, is fabulous for showing this worrisome finding.
Action follows knowledge and finding certain diseases in the early stages can mean the difference in life or death. Knowing you are at risk for heart disease or stroke, finding an enlarged liver, small kidney stones, thyroid nodules, or a slightly enlarged prostate for example. All these conditions are reversible and the earlier they are detected the easier it is to take action!
We offer whole body ultrasound screening at the IMC for $400. It takes about 15 minutes and your results are provided immediately. Our ultrasonographer, Mary Blakley, has extensive training with multiple university degrees and certifications. With over 40 years experience in ultrasound imaging she sets the standard. For more information about Mary visit www.ucarehealthscreenings.com.
An “ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. This simple 15 minute test could save your life. Call 245-6911 to schedule your screening ultrasound.
INSET
The next free seminar is “Low Thyroid: Misunderstood, Misdiagnosed, Missed!” Monday, February 27th, 6pm, at the IMC. Seating is limited so RSVP at 245-6911 or online at rsvp@imcwc.com.
Bio
Scott Rollins, MD, is Board Certified with the American Board of Family Practice and the American Board of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine. He specializes in Bioidentical Hormone Replacement for men and women, thyroid and adrenal disorders, fibromyalgia, weight loss and other complex medical conditions. He is founder and medical director of the Integrative Medicine Center of Western Colorado (www.imcwc.com). Call (970) 245-6911 for an appointment or more information.
He is also medical director of Integrative Weight Solutions, a holistic, physician supervised HCG weight loss program that incorporates expert evaluation for hormone and digestive health imbalances, exercise physiology, and behavioral support for a powerful and balanced journey to weight loss. For more information see www.integrativeweightsolutions.com or call 245-0373 to arrange a free consultation.
Hi! From Portugal! Thanks for this info, which has convinced me to undergo this procedure here. Seems totally logical. If most allopathic doctors truly were dedicated, this would be the cheap panacea diagnostic tool to find and prevent disease. Money makes the world go round!!!
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