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Who can benefit from Thermal Imaging?Anyone who is interested in proactively taking charge of their health will benefit from Thermal Imaging. So many people are focused on disease diagnosis. However, the shift to Health Discovery is a progressive approach for people who value the process of monitoring their health and making lifestyle changes with the guidance of their healthcare practitioners to achieve big results for their health and longevity.
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Does Thermography replace mammography?NO. A procedure that looks at the health of the breasts does not replace a procedure that is looking for cancer. Mammography is a cancer-screening procedure that uses radiation. It is strictly looking for signs that cancer may be present. Thermography is not a standalone procedure. It is a thermographic temperature differential study of the breasts and is looking for signs to confirm breast health or that your breasts may be generally unhealthy. Our Interpreting Physicians are not looking for cancer or any other disease. Only a biopsy can diagnose cancer.
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What are your Interpreting Physicians looking for?Because Thermography detects inflammation and blood profusion, our Interpreting Physicians are looking for signs of lymphatic congestion, dilated ducts, injury, generalized inflammation, hormone imbalance as well as specific patterns. When they evaluate these areas, they will assess their significance and comment as to whether they see a low, moderate or high level of significance. They will also recommend a follow-up appointment for further evaluation or to establish a thermal baseline.
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Do I Need a Doctor’s Referral?A Doctor’s referral is recommended. Once your results are in we will recommend that you review them with your qualified medical provider.
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What is a baseline?A stable thermal baseline can be established on the follow-up appointment. Our Interpreting Physicians will compare your images from your first imaging to those of your follow-up imaging. When they do this, they are looking for signs that the breasts are thermographically stable. When they see this stability, they will recommend that you come back for imaging in one year for an annual follow-up. If they do not see stability, they may recommend further clinical correlation and another follow-up in 3-6 months.
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Who Interprets the Images?All images sent via secure intranet to be analyzed by specially trained and certified doctors in the form of a written report with your original images. Once returned we will read the report with you and will recommend that you take it to your qualified primary care provider for any additional recommendations.
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What is the difference between a Mammogram, other tests, and a Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging?"Mammograms measure anatomical changes in the breast tissue- detecting mass or lumps in the breast region. X-Ray, C.T., Ultrasound, M.R.I., etc are also tests of anatomy that would detect any abnormalities after they have developed. Digital Thermography (D.I.T.I.) measures vascular (blood vessel) changes rather than anatomical structures. Thermography's intended use is as an adjunct to other clinical diagnostic procedures for quanifying and screening of temperature differences in the skin.
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How is Digital Thermography Helpful?Digital Thermography provides data that allows Doctors, Clinicians, Trainers, Insurers, Attorneys and others to: Visualize the physiological component of pain, illness, injury, or disease. Provide early warning or detection of disease. Assist in making informed decisions regarding the need for further clinical correlation of a suspect condition. Assist in accurate diagnosis and treatment determination, especially soft-tissue injuries and pain symptoms. Allows for visual correlation and changes of treatment effectiveness by taking images before, during, and after treatment.
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When should I consider having my Digital Infrared Thermal Image Scan?We recommend that women begin having breast thermal imaging at the age of 20-25, to establish a baseline study that can be compared with future studies. Each woman has her own thermal blueprint of her body and breasts that are unique to her. Once a stable baseline is established anything that occurs such as inflammation, infections, hormone imbalances, etc., causes a change in the thermal blueprint. Another reason to start screening earlier is that young women with dense breast tissue are the most difficult to evaluate using breast palpation, mammography, and ultrasounds. The test can provide a clinical marker to other health care practitioners to locate any specific areas that need closer examination.
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How often will I need a Breast Scan?After your initial Breast Scan, your second Thermal Imaging scan will be scheduled 3-6 months later to compare with the results to your initial scan. If there are no physiological changers or concerns, then the scan is to be performed on a yearly basis.
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So pain can now be measured?YES!! Very often when the Thermography is used to detect pain we can see “hot spots” or hyperthermia, and/or hypothermia. The imaging device breaks up the picture into pixels very similar to what we see on TV when we watch the Radar on the Weather Channel. When the storms are powerful the color of the storm is red and orange, much the same as the scan. When there is a great deal of pain we see red, white, or orange. If there is not enough blood flow (causing pain) we can see cold spots – pixels of blue, purple, and black. Thermography is very effective as an adjunct to other diagnostic tools such as x-rays, MRI’s, and ultrasounds.
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Can My Whole Body Be Scanned?Yes, literally thousands of people around the world have used the cutting-edge technology to assist in revealing the root causes of symptoms and then being guided to better health. It's why we call it 'Heatlh Discovery'. Remember the earlier you can intervene, the better the chance of overcoming potential health problems.
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What happens when you get a Thermal Imaging?Below are the simple steps for a Thermal Imaging Scan: Before arriving for your scan please see the “Imaging Instructions” on our website. Follow instructions as closely as possible for the most accurate scan. Upon arriving to Advanced Thermal Imaging you will be taken back to the Thermal Imaging Room where you will begin to acclimate to the temperature-controlled room and have time to fill out your paperwork. The Clinical Thermographer will provide further direction and position you accordingly in front of the camera. After the scan is complete, the images are sent immediately to a certified physician. The physician will analyze the images and prepare a report. A thermal imaging review will be scheduled 7- 10 days after your scan. The Clinical Thermographer will review your scan with you and from there any recommendations will be made. It is highly recommended that you review the report with your primary care physician or healthcare provider. We will be happy to forward him/her a copy of the report and images. Depending on the results, an annual scan is the norm
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Does Thermography see cancer? If I have something suspicious looking, will the doctors at least say something?Thermography does not see cancer. Imaging of the breast is not intended as a cancer detection test, as it does not suggest, confirm or rule out the possibility that cancer exists in the breast or any other area of the body. If our Interpreting Physicians see something that they would consider “thermographically significant,” they will give you a strong and intentional encouragement to seek further clinical correlation. Remember that “thermographically significant” does not necessarily mean significant for a specific disease.
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Why should I have a Full Body or a Health Study Thermogram?The highest use of thermography is to thermally monitor dynamic changes in general health. We recommend you choose to have a thermal examination to include multiple areas of your body for your first exam, which offers you the greatest benefit of thermography. If you choose only a breast exam for your initial thermal exam, it will provide limited information regarding your general health.
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Can you prevent Breast Cancer with Thermography?No. We do not promote the prevention of any disease. We believe that all women deserve to have the knowledge of how to keep their breasts healthy. We teach that diet, exercise, supplementation, lymphatic dry brushing, hormone balancing as well as lifestyle choices and changes are useful ways to support breast health.
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I am a cancer survivor and don't want any more radiation. Can Thermography help me monitor my breasts?Thermography can help you monitor the health of your breasts. Because we do not see cancer, our interpreting physicians do not monitor it.
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Is Thermography considered “Early Detection?”No. Thermography does not detect cancer so the word “detection” is not a part of a professional Thermographer’s vocabulary. The Thermographer takes the images and the interpreting physician interprets them. Our interpreting physicians will give you a breast HEALTH assessment and make recommendations that you and your doctor can consider in order to promote healthy breasts.
What other conditions can Digital Thermal Imaging detect?
Keep in mind that what we are measuring with Digital Thermography is inflammation. Inflammation is present when there is abnormal blood flow or infections.
Some examples are below:
Headache with an allergy/sinus condition maybe causing vascular dilation tracing the forehead leading to the right eye, with inflammation and drainage, more pronounced on the left side.
Carotid artery inflammation is accepted as the earliest possible indication of artery disease, visible years before clinical occlusion which can lead to stroke and heart disease.
A thermal symmetry in the chest may be the earliest or ongoing indication of reduced function in the heart. Clinical experience has shown that this cold area just below the posterior neck may be an indication of reduced immune function. This pattern is evident in those with challenged immune systems.
The inflammation in the upper right abdomen may be an early indication of stress in the liver rather than liver disease. Diet and lifestyle changes can avoid serious problems later.
Lower back pain is one of the most difficult conditions to diagnose. Digital Thermal Imaging makes it possible to easily identify the problem areas to assist in the most direct, successful and reliable treatment.
Other conditions suitable for Digital Thermography include
Arthritis, Back pain, Breast Disease, Bursitis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Deep Vascular Disease, Dental problems, Digestive Disorders, Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Headache Evaluation, Inflammatory Disease, Infectious Diseases (Shingles), Ligament Tears, Median Nerve Neuropathy, Neck Pain Nerve Entrapment, Neuropathy, Peripheral Nerve Injury, Reynaud’s, Referred Pain Syndrome, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, Sinus issues, Sprain/Strain, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Trigger points, TMJ Dysfunction, Tendonitis, Whiplash
Call our office today to begin your preventative healthcare regime. Don’t wait until there is a problem and you have to react. Digital Thermography is a proactive step in your healthcare involving prevention and early detection.
For more information, workshops are available on Thermal Imaging. Some are prescheduled through our office or you can call us to set up a Thermal Imaging workshop at your home, office, church, or any other organization you feel could benefit from this knowledge.