Cardiovascular Testing

Fifty percent of all strokes occur in individuals who show no prior symptoms. Strokes can be caused by several different reasons. They can be caused by blood clots that form in the brain and/or plaque buildup known as atherosclerosis in the arteries that lead from the heart to the brain. They can also be caused by a hemorrhage in the brain. The buildup of plaque can restrict blood flow to the brain or cause a clot to break off and become lodged in a blood vessel causing a stroke.

Through ultrasound technique, one can detect the amount of plaque buildup in the carotid arteries. The carotid arteries lead from the heart to the brain. Early detection can alert your physician to problems and take the correct course of action to prevent a stroke from occurring. The ultrasound test is a quick painless technique to detect such problems.

How Old Are Your Carotid Arteries?

We at Sobel family Medicine have brought in a state of the art test only used at major universities such as Emory, Duke, and Ohio State universities. This test called the “CIMT” detects the age of your arteries. The CIMT (Carotid Intima Media Thickness) test can accurately predict your risk of a major cardiovascular event. It is an FDA cleared ultrasound procedure used to noninvasively measure and monitor atherosclerosis, the underlying cause of heart attacks and strokes.

The CIMT test is a painless technique for measuring the thickness of the first two layers of the carotid artery located in the neck. From this test, we can predict the age of the artery, which will allow us to predict your chances of having a heart attack or stroke. If your arteries are older than your calendar age we can consult with you how to reduce your risk of having a cardiovascular event. To date, Medicare and most private insurance do not pay for CIMT testing because it is so new.

What is an ArterioVision?

ArterioVision™ is a software used with a standard, noninvasive ultrasound of the carotid artery to measures the thickness of the inner two layers of the carotid artery; the intima and media.

A standard carotid artery ultrasound used without the ArterioVision™ software only measures plaque and blood flow.  Doctors use the carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) measurement to determine the age of the arteries, which may not match the patient’s calendar age.

For more information download our PDF brochure “Why You Need An ArterioVision™ CIMT Test“