3 Ultrasound Screenings You Should Get and Why

ultrasound techSummer is quickly approaching and many people are worried about getting that perfect beach body, but what about your internal health? By keeping up with these three, simple ultrasound screenings, you can prevent stroke, heart disease, and thyroid disease, which is prevalent amongst women.

1. Carotid Duplex

The carotid arteries are the main arteries in your neck that feed blood to your brain, face, neck and scalp. By having a screening of your carotids you can prevent Stroke and TIA’s. Risk factors of Carotid Artery Disease that may apply to you are:

  • Smoking
  • Hypertension
  • Diabetes
  • Poor Diet
  • Family history of atherosclerosis

Statistics show that men under the age of 75 have a greater risk of Carotid Artery Disease then women.

2. Echocardiogram

Heart disease is the leading number one cause of death in the United States. The National Stroke Association states that your risk of stroke doubles every decade after age 55. Echocardiograms evaluate the heart muscle and heart valves therefore it is able to detect any heart malfunction making it easier to prevent further heart disease. Risk factors of heart disease are:

  • Age
  • Smoking
  • High cholesterol
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Stress
  • Alcohol
  • Poor Diet​

3. Thyroid Screening

One in eight women suffers from thyroid disease. By having this screening, it can be prevented! This screening looks for any suspicious nodules or masses that could be malignant or benign therefore aids in the early detection of Thyroid Cancer. Some risk factors of Thyroid Disease are:

  • Being Female
  • Age (50 and above)
  • Family history of thyroid disease
  • Stress
  • Radiation exposure
  • Neck trauma

Ultrasound screenings are a low-cost, safe way to lower the incidence of disease in patients. Void of any exposure to radiation, ultrasound is the benchmark for safes, hassle-free diagnostic imaging. The Salerno Center for Complementary Medicine, which offers all three screenings, is setting the standard for preventative, whole-body care. ​