Preventing Heart Disease and Poor Health Starts With Detection

Understanding heart disease

Life is certainly too precious to gamble away. Consider these odds: one out of every four adults has cardiovascular disease (CVD), the nation’s leading killer of men and women above the age of 35. But cardiovascular disease doesn’t happen overnight. The disease process begins years-even decades-before the first symptoms are discovered. And, frighteningly, all too often the first symptom is death. Now you have a choice. Ignore the statistics and hope for the best, or live life to its fullest armed with the clinical information you need.

Identifying the problem

Fortunately, a number of risks factors have been identified that, if treated or addressed, can significantly reduce your risk of future CVD problems. You can estimate your risk by determining your current cholesterol level, history of blood pressure and smoking history, and then performing a point score calculation. This assessment also takes into account a number of factors, such as heredity, environment and other personal lifestyle choices. But these are only estimates based on broad population studies. While these factors may be useful in determining if a heart scan is appropriate for you, the EBCT heart scan remains the best predictor of a cardiovascular event-more than 10 times more accurate than the use of traditional risk factors.

A way to beat the odds

.Virtual Imaging, using the EBCT C300 scanner, offers the heart scan as its premier method of cardiac risk assessment. EBCT scans at speeds up to 10 times faster than conventional CT scanners, allowing imagining and mapping of a beating heart without blurring and without the need of medication. According to the American Heart Association, the EBCT C300 exclusively available at the Virtual Imaging Inc Imaging Center is the non-invasive “gold standard” for determining the development and extent of plaque in the heart arteries. The scan is easy and painless. In fact, the entire study can be completed in the time it takes you to hold a single breath.

Taking the right steps

The information obtained from your heart scan is then combined with your clinical information. This results in an individualized action plan for you and your doctor. Early detection of developing CVD, coupled with this individualized, proactive approach helps prevent future related cardiac events. Talk to your doctor about Virtual Imaging EBCT imaging technology, or for more detailed information, call Virtual Imaging at (770) 730-0119. You owe it to yourself and your family to make the call today.

Maintaining Healthy Cholesterol Levels

Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels is vital to heart health. If too much cholesterol builds up in the body, plaque will accumulate in the arteries and narrow the space allowed for blood to flow to the heart. This narrowing can lead to heart disease and even a stroke or heart attack. If you want to live a long and healthy life, it is important to keep tabs on your cholesterol levels.

Some people are genetically inclined to have high cholesterol levels. Age, gender, and certain medical conditions can also increase risk. While these factors cannot be changed or prevented, there are still ways you can lower your cholesterol substantially. Consuming a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and adopting a regular exercise routine are great ways to sustain healthy cholesterol levels. Limit foods high in saturated fat and complete at least 30 minutes of moderate or vigorous exercise per day to begin shedding some pounds.

Be Proactive About Your Heart Health.

High cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S. Although keeping an eye on your cholesterol levels is important, that alone will not prevent a heart attack. There are many factors that contribute to heart attacks, including some we cannot control, like our genes. That’s why it’s imperative to know your risk level and detect it early, so you can prevent the onset of a heart attack. The only way to know your heart health for certain is by receiving a comprehensive heart exam.

Virtual Imaging, using the EBT C300 scanner, offers the heart scan as its premier method of cardiac risk assessment. According to the American Heart Association, the EBT technology, which is exclusively available at Virtual Imaging, is the non-invasive gold standard for determining the development and extent of plaque in the arteries. The scan is easy and painless. In fact, the entire study can be completed in the time it takes for you to hold a single breath.

If you follow these guidelines, you can significantly reduce your risk of heart disease. So why wait any longer? Request an appointment at Virtual Imaging by calling (770) 730-0119.

The Best Diet for Your Heart

Packing nutrients into your diet will not only improve your appearance, but can also benefit your heart! Therefore, it’s no surprise when diets proven to aid in weight loss and promote good health become very popular, very quickly.

Let’s take a look at three of the most prominent heart-healthy diets and determine which one is the right fit for you.

  • The South Beach Diet – The South Beach Diet is the product of cardiologist, Arthur Agatston, and aims to improve heart health by maintaining cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels. By restricting carbohydrates and banning unhealthy fats, the diet may boost heart health in the long run. However, rapid water-weight loss in the beginning weeks of the program may offset your body’s electrolyte balance.
  • The Mediterranean Diet – This Greek-inspired plan is great for someone in the healthy weight range wanting to improve heart health. The Mediterranean Diet claims to promote heart and brain health, lower risk of some cancers, and control diabetes. The diet lowers blood pressure and bad cholesterol by emphasizing intake of foods proven to improve health, like fruits, vegetables, and fish high in omega-3 fatty acids.
  • The DASH Diet – Last but not least is DASH Diet, or the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension. The plan was developed in 1998 by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, so it’s no surprise the diet quickly became a hit in the medical community. Both the American Heart Association and The American College of Cardiology recommend its focus on more fiber and less sodium. The diet is proven to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, leading to a lower risk of some cancers, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and diabetes.

Ultimately, incorporating elements of each of these popular diets is ideal for a heart-healthy program. The American Heart Association recommends balancing your calorie intake to the amount of daily exercise and choosing foods high in protein, vitamins, and fiber. Also, maintain appropriate blood pressure and cholesterol levels by limiting your intake of sodium, sugars, and saturated fats.

If you are concerned about your heart health, our EBT HeartScan can provide a thorough analysis of your condition, as well as expert recommendations for improving your health. Visit www.VirtualImagingATL.com to learn more about this non-invasive, advanced technology that could save your life today!

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

Benjamin Franklin is usually credited with the above axiom, but it was in fact Henry de Bracton, a cleric and legal advisor to the monarchy in 13th century England, who coined the phrase.

When it comes to your well-being, it’s something well worth putting into practice on a regular basis. So what does it really mean?

Let’s go over a few basic things you can do now in order to avoid complications later. Some of these ideas may seem rather obvious, which is perhaps why they get ignored so easily!

1) Do you wash your hands regularly throughout the day? Numerous studies have concluded that this simple practice, if repeated sufficiently, drastically reduces the chances of contamination and sickness through germs.

2) What do you feed your kids? The pattern of a child’s eating habits are formed by the time he or she is two-years-old. Providing the right nutrition and encouraging physical activity routinely early in life will prevent many cases of obesity, not only in childhood but into adulthood as well.

3) Are you out in the sun a lot? Even a small amount of exposure to the sun’s rays can burn your skin, and that can lead to painful blisters and later in life, skin cancer. Take the trouble to slather on plenty of sunscreen lotion. It works.

4) Do you have the shots you need? Vaccines are so easy to get now – you don’t even have to go to a doctor’s office for them. Many of the chain pharmacies can set you up with immunizations for numerous conditions. For example, this is what Walgreens offers.

5) Are you getting screened? You should be! Many types of cancer can be prevented by screening tests such as colonoscopies and mammograms. The EBT Scan at Virtual Imaging can detect heart disease as well as colon and lung cancer. The scan is read by a board certified radiologist.

Sugar and Disease

Most people know that eating too much sugar can lead to weight gain, but did you know that consuming too much of the sweet stuff can make you sick?

Consuming sugar, especially in the large quantities common in the American diet, can cause significant health problems, including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Many speculate that consuming too much sugar can even lead to the development of cancer.

Sugar has no nutritional value. There are no vitamins, minerals, essential fats, or proteins in sugar – just empty calories. While sugar itself is not harmful, the additive becomes a problem when it replaces nutritious food in the everyday diet, starving the body of the nutrients it needs to function properly while simultaneously causing weight gain. This one-two punch of too many calories and not enough nutrients leads to illness and disease.

Sugar and Cancer

Added sugars make up about 10 percent of the calories the typical American eats every day, according to Harvard Health Publications. A 15-year study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), shows that people who consumed more than 25 percent of their calories as sugar were more than twice as likely to die from heart disease than were those whose caloric intake included only 10 percent sugar. In general, the odds of dying from heart disease rose at the same rate as the percentage of sugar in one’s diet, regardless of the person’s body mass index (BMI), age, physical activity, or gender.

Excessive sugar intake can lead to obesity, which increases the risk for many types of cancer. Research shows a strong association between a higher BMI and increased risk of colorectal cancer, which is cancer of the colon or rectum, among men. Distribution of the body fat seems to be an important factor, with extra weight around the waist showing the strongest association with colorectal cancer risk. There is association between BMI, waist circumference, and colon cancer risk in women, but the connection is weaker.

Scientists do not yet know the mechanisms behind this association of obesity and increased colon cancer risk. Some think high levels of insulin, which helps the body absorb sugar from the bloodstream, or insulin-related growth factors may promote the development of colon cancer in obese people. High body mass index is also associated with a moderately increased risk of rectal cancer.

Lower Your Sugar Intake

Remove sugar and sugary foods, such as honey and syrup, from view. Out of sight, out of mind!

Cut back on the amount of sugar you add to coffee, tea, cereal, and other foods and beverages. Also, cut back on sugary beverages altogether.

Buy sugar-free or low sugar beverages.

Talk to your doctor or healthcare professional to learn more about the association between sugar intake and illness, and to learn more tips for lowering your sugar intake. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at 770.730.0119 today to make an appointment with Virtual Imaging.

The Dangerous Effects of Energy Drinks

Energy drinks promise to improve physical and mental performance, but they may actually be dangerous – or even deadly.

About 31 percent of adolescents between the ages of 12 to 17 regularly use energy drinks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and about 34 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 24 use these products.
The number of emergency department visits relating to energy drinks doubled from 2007 to 2011, according to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), skyrocketing from 10,068 visits to 20,783 in just five years. According to statistics presented by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), there have been 34 deaths linked to energy drinks since 2004; half of these deaths occurred since 2012.
Exposure to energy drinks is especially dangerous for young children. The American Heart Association says that about 40 percent of all energy drink exposure calls to the National Poison Data System (NPDS) involve children younger than 6 years old. Some of these young patients suffered serious heart and nervous system symptoms. Fifty-seven percent of those kids suffering major problems after consuming energy drinks had cardiovascular symptoms, including heart rhythm disorders and problems with conduction, which is the progression of electrical impulses through the heart that cause it to beat. Just over half of the children experiencing major problems after energy drink exposure suffered seizures or other neurological problems.
What’s inside energy drinks?
 

Caffeine is a natural ingredient in tea, coffee, and more than 60 other plants and plant derivatives, known as botanicals. Guarana, yerba mate, kola nut, and green tea extract are types of botanicals often used in dietary supplements and energy drinks. The product’s label ingredient must disclose the botanicals used.
About 85 percent of people in the United States consume at least one caffeinated beverage per day, with a mean daily intake of about 165 mg of caffeine. Caffeine is the main ingredient in energy drinks, and it the one that causes the most health concerns. A single can of an energy drink may contain as much caffeine as five cups of coffee.
Caffeine can cause a very fast heartbeat and rising blood pressure. High doses of caffeine can cause caffeine poisoning. This serious condition can occur when an adult consumes more than 400 mg of caffeine in one day, when an adolescent drinks more than 100 mg/day, or when children under the age of 12 consume 2.5 mg per kilogram of body weight.
In addition to caffeine, energy drinks typically contain sugar and other ingredients, such as taurine, guarana, and B vitamins that can stimulate the cardiovascular and central nervous systems to cause adverse effects. Adults and children with underlying risk factors for cardiovascular problems, such as a predisposition to high blood pressure, or a heart-rhythm condition, are at special risk for suffering an adverse effect from consuming energy drinks.
Bottom line, be very cautious about your energy drink consumption. If you’re ever unsure about how these drinks could be affecting your health, make an appointment with your primary care physician.

How to Determine the Onset of a Heart Attack

Every 34 seconds, a heart attack strikes. Surprisingly, cardiac arrest can sometimes go unnoticed, even by the victim. Understanding the signs and symptoms of an attack could save the life of yourself or another.

According to a survey by the Centers for Disease Control, only 27 percent of respondents were aware of the major symptoms of a heart attack and knew to call 9-1-1 right away. Because nearly half of all sudden cardiac deaths occur outside the hospital, every person should be educated on what to do when faced with a heart attack.

Americans most at risk for heart attack are those with high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and those who smoke. While an outside observer may be able to recognize a smoker, the other two factors are internal. Other risk factors include diabetes, obesity, poor diet, lack of physical activity, and excessive alcohol use.

Most people are aware that chest pain or discomfort is a key indicator of a cardiac problem. Other symptoms include:

  • Upper body pain, or discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw, or upper stomach.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Nausea, lightheadedness, or cold sweats.
  • Insomnia, mostly in women.
  • Flu-like symptoms.

Once the warning signs are recognized, it’s time to take action, and fast! First and foremost, call 9-1-1 immediately. While you wait on medical assistance, have the victim chew, but not swallow, one adult aspirin. Aspirin will slow down the body’s ability to form blood clots. If possible, ask the patient their age, name, and other vital information to have ready when the ambulance arrives.

A doctor will be able to diagnose heart attack based on several assessments, including:

  • Patient’s complete medical history.
  • Physical examination.
  • An ECG or EKG scan to detect abnormalities in the heart.
  • Blood tests to detect abnormal levels of certain enzymes in the bloodstream.

A patient’s chances of surviving a heart attack greatly improve when they receive immediate medical attention. Also, taking a proactive approach in your heart health will greatly reduce your heart attack, heart disease, and stroke.

Visit Virtual Imaging to receive a complete diagnosis of your heart’s condition. We are the gold standard in identifying arterial breakdowns and offer state-of-the-art heart scans to determine your heart’s health. The non-invasive, technologically advanced equipment used in the scan examines the heart at speeds 10 times faster than conventional scanners. These scans will help you determine if it is time to seek treatment for your heart, before it’s too late.

The information obtained through our heart scans is combined with clinical information to create an individualized action plan for you and your doctor. To learn more about the Virtual Imaging EBT HeartScan call us at 770.730.0119 or visit at VirtualImagingATL.com. Taking a proactive approach to your heart health is the number one way to prevent cardiovascular disease, so don’t wait one more day.

Cardiovascular Disease

Understanding Heart Disease

Life is certainly too precious to gamble away. Consider these odds: One out of every four adults has cardiovascular disease (CVD), the nation’s leading killer of men and women above the age of 35. But cardiovascular disease doesn’t happen overnight. The disease process begins years even decades before the first symptoms are discovered. And, frighteningly, all too often the first symptom is death. Now you have a choice. Ignore the statistics and hope for the best, or live life to its fullest armed with the clinical information you need…

Identifying the Problem

Fortunately, a number of risk factors have been identified that, if treated or addressed, can significantly reduce your risk of future CVD problems. You can estimate your risk by determining your current cholesterol level, history of blood pressure and smoking history, and then performing a point score calculation. This assessment also takes into account a number of factors, such as heredity, environment and other personal lifestyle choices. But these are only estimates based on broad population studies. While these scores may be useful in determining if a heart scan is appropriate for you, the heart scan remains the best predictor of a cardiovascular event more than 10 times more accurate than the use of traditional risk factors.

A Way to Beat the Odds

Virtual Imaging, using the EBT C300 scanner, offers the heart scan as its premier method of cardiac risk assessment. EBT scans at speeds up to 10 times faster than conventional CT scanners, allowing precise imaging and mapping of a beating heart without blurring and without the need for medication.
According to the American Heart Association, the EBT technology which is exclusively available at the Virtual Imaging Inc Imaging Center, is the non-invasive “gold standard” for determining the development and extent of plaque in the arteries. The scan is easy and painless. In fact, the entire study can be completed in the time it takes you to hold a single breath.

Taking the Right Steps

The information obtained from your heart scan is then combined with your clinical information. This results in an individualized action plan for you and your doctor. Early detection of developing CVD, coupled with this individualized, proactive approach helps prevent future related cardiac events.
Talk to your doctor about the Virtual Imaging Inc EBT HeartScan. Or for more detailed information, call Virtual Imaging Inc at 770 730 0119. You owe it to yourself and your family to make the call today.

What is an EBT Scan

The EBCT C300 scanner, developed by Imatron technologies, is the latest generation of diagnostic CT technology. The C300 uses patented technology called Electron Beam Computed Tomography (EBCT), a highly advance CT technology that has no moving parts. Using an electron beam rather than the standard CT x-ray tube, imaging is done at speeds up to 10 times faster and with 1/10 the radiation of other CT scanners.

Advances in imaging make the C300 the ‘gold standard’ in heart and vascular imaging, and also allows high resolution spine, and abdominal imaging.

*The C300 is non-invasive, open, and safe, and emits the lowest radiation in the CT industry and it is the only imaging technology to offer 33, 50, or 100 millisecond (ms) True Temporal Resolution, images at up to 30 frames per second. This type of capability is important because the fastest possible scan modes are required to image high and/or irregular heartbeats often associated with patients with developing or advanced heart disease.

The C300 unique capabilities enable the scanner to perform high-speed, high-volume (using very low radiation) imaging to create virtually motion-free visualization of the heart, vessels and all organs in the torso, allowing  our specialist to see premature, pre-symptomatic heart and vascular disease, lung cancer, colon cancers,  other cancers, and abnormalities. These ‘diseases’, which are preventable/curable when detected early, account for 90% of the causes of death, disability, or loss of productivity in adult men and women over the age of 40. These diseases share common origins or ‘risk factors’ and common prevention/wellness strategies.

Who will interpret my scan?

A board certified trained radiologist reads your scan and offers a report to you and your physician upon your request.

5 Tips on Keeping Your Colon Clean

Your colon is an essential part of your digestive tract. The colon is part of the large intestine, and its job is to absorb fluids and process waste products for elimination from your body.

A healthy colon is free from disease and does a good job of eliminating waste; an unhealthy colon allows waste to linger in the digestive tract, where it can cause disease. Keeping your colon clean can reduce your risk of certain diseases, such as colorectal cancer that affects the colon or rectum. Here are five tips for keeping your colon clean.

How to Keep Your Colon Clean

  1. Limit your intake of red meat and stay away from processed meats.

    The American Cancer Society says that eating 50 grams of processed meat, which is the equivalent of one hot dog or four strips of bacon, can increase the risk of colorectal cancer. Eating red meat, such as includes beef, pork, lamb, and goat, also increases this risk. While researchers are still working to establish how eating these foods can increase the risk for cancer and other health problems, scientists think it has to do with the chemical haem, found in high levels in red meat.

  2. Choose fish, poultry, or beans instead.

    Fish, poultry, and beans are high in protein but low in haem, so they are as satisfying as red meat but may provide a lower risk of cancer.

  3. Eat a diet high in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.

    Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains contain vitamins and minerals to keep your colon and the rest of your body healthy. These foods also contain dietary fiber, which works somewhat like a brush to scrub toxins from the inside of your colon. Opt for broccoli, dark leafy greens, raspberries, and oatmeal.

  4. Drink your milk.

    The American Cancer Society says that consuming calcium and vitamin D, found in milk and other foods, can decrease your risk of colorectal cancer.

  5. Make screening a priority.

    While eating right can keep your colon functioning well, the best way to make sure your colon is clean and healthy is to undergo regular screening for colorectal cancer and other digestive disorders. Screening can detect cancer and other serious diseases early, while treatment works best.

For more information on keeping your colon clean, consult with your doctor. Contact Virtual Imaging today to learn more about colon screening by calling 770-730-0119.