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3 -D ULTRASOUND
Picture-perfectimages
If you’ve ever put on 3-D glasses to watch a movie, you
know the power of seeing images in their three-dimensional
glory—the images pop off the screen. A similar thing
happens when doctors look at images of the body with 3-D
ultrasound rather than conventional 2-D ultrasound.
Ultrasound imaging—also known as ultrasound
scanning or sonography—uses high-frequency sound
waves to produce pictures of the inside of the body. It
is safe and painless, and it poses no risk from radiation.
Doctors use it to diagnose a variety of medical conditions,
including heart disease and cancer, and to determine
damage to organs after an illness.
With 2-D ultrasound, images of the body appear
flat. A 3-D picture can give doctors a better view of
organs—including the gallbladder, heart, liver and
uterus—and glands, such as the thyroid. It can also
provide a clearer picture of tumors in places such as the
breast, brain or prostate. That may make it easier to do
needle biopsies and to determine the size of a tumor.
A special view
Perhaps the most well-known—and
cherished—use of 3-D ultrasound is for viewing babies
in the womb. Parents who opt for a 3-D ultrasound get
to see images of their child that are almost as clear as a
photograph.
While those images are precious, they’re also practical:
They allow doctors to closely monitor a baby’s health and
development and to better spot any birth defects, such
as cleft lip or clubfoot.
To learn more about 3-D ultrasound, visit our website
at
medinahospital.net.
Sources: March of Dimes; National Cancer Institute; Radiological Society of North America
Easy does it
A coronary calcium scan can
reveal a lot about your heart
As medical tests go, a coronary calcium scan is a breeze for
many patients. There’s no special pre-exam preparation,
no injections, no pain and it’s over in about 15 minutes.
Even so, this test provides plenty of hard data for your
doctor. It uses a computed tomography (CT) scanner—a
high-tech, computer-assisted x-ray machine—to make
detailed pictures of blood vessels that feed the heart.
The scan looks for tiny bits of calcium in coronary artery
walls. Calcium can be an early sign of plaque buildup,
which can cause heart disease and lead to heart attack,
heart failure or unhealthy heart rhythms.
Your doctor may suggest a coronary calcium scan if
you’re at moderate risk for heart disease. That may mean
you have risk factors for the disease but no outward signs
of anything wrong. Risk factors may include:
●
Unhealthy
cholesterol levels.
●
High blood pressure.
●
Diabetes.
●
Obesity.
●
A family history of heart attack.
How it’s done
Before the scan, sticky patches are placed
on your chest. The patches are attached to wires that
lead to an electrocardiogram (EKG) machine. The EKG
monitors heart activity and times the scanner to take
images when your heart rests between beats. That’s when
the clearest pictures are possible.
You lie still on a table that glides into the CT scanner.
Whirring and clicking sounds indicate pictures are being
taken. If the scan shows signs of heart disease, your
doctor will discuss strategies to reduce your risk. These
often include a better diet, weight loss and more exercise.
Medications may also be recommended.
Ask your doctor if a coronary calcium scan is necessary.
If you don’t have a family doctor, you can schedule an
appointment with one of our board-certified docs at
830-
426-7444
. For a list of cardiologists, view our provider
directory at
medinahospital.net.
Sources: National Institutes of Health; Radiological Society of North America
Make a
promise
Don’t delay your next mammogram
Here’s a pledge that’s well worth making: “I’ll call for an
appointment to talk with my healthcare provider about
breast cancer screening.”
You might be too busy to get to it today. That’s OK. So
how does tomorrow look?
Why the urgency?
When it comes to breast cancer, early detection offers
women the best chance of surviving the disease, according
to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
There are some things that increase your risk for
breast cancer, such as your age or having close relatives
with the disease.
But at the same time, most women who get breast
cancer don’t have any risk factors, reports the ACS.
That’s why talking with your provider is so important.
You can discuss your personal risk and decide what’s
best for you.
Is your 40th birthday around the corner?
If so, ask your provider about beginning regular
mammograms to screen for breast cancer. If you’re
overdue for one, schedule it as soon as possible.
Advice for younger women
Even if you’re in your 20s
or 30s, you can take steps to help protect yourself.
Become familiar with how your breasts look and feel,
and report any changes to your provider.
And be sure to have regular medical visits that include
breast exams by your provider.
Make an appointment
Screening can bring peace of
mind. To schedule an appointment for a mammogram,
give us a call at
830-426-7722
. Our imaging department
requires a doctor’s order for screening mammograms to
ensure that our patients receive appropriate follow up if
necessary.
5
reasons
to get a
flu shot
Every year there’s a flu season. And every
year people come up with reasons not to
get a flu shot. But here are five reasons
why you should get vaccinated against
the flu this year (and every year):
1
The vaccine offers protection from
the flu viruses deemed most likely to
circulate this year.
2
A flu vaccine is recommended for
everyone age 6 months and older. It’s
almost universal. Talk to your doctor if
you have concerns.
3
The flu can make you very sick.
Symptoms include fever, sore throat,
headache and fatigue. It can also lead
to more serious illnesses, such as
pneumonia.
4
The flu vaccine won’t give you the
flu. Neither the flu shot nor the nasal-
spray vaccine can give you influenza. The
sooner you get vaccinated, the sooner
you’re protected.
5
Getting the flu vaccine helps protect
you and those around you. Do you live
with an infant, grandparent or someone
with a chronic health issue? Skipping the
vaccine puts their health at risk too.
Check in with a doctor about getting
your flu vaccine. For an appointment with
one of our healthcare providers,
call 830-426-7444.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Thanks to a $250,000 grant from the Baptist Health
Foundation of San Antonio and local matching funds
from the Medina Healthcare Fund and the Hospital
Auxiliary, Medina Healthcare System purchased a
64-slice CT scanner in March 2015 for just under half
a million dollars. In addition to improving the quality
and speed of scans performed at Medina Regional
Hospital, the new equipment has the capability to
perform coronary calcium scans.
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