What is a CIMT? How does it show your “Arterial Age?”
Carotid Intima Media Thickness (CIMT) measures the thickness of the artery wall and characteristics of plaque using ultrasound. A thicker wall is a sicker wall with a higher risk of developing new unstable plaque, setting the stage for a stroke, heart attack, dementia, erectile dysfunction, kidney failure and other serious complications.
Having a little bit of atherosclerotic arterial disease is like having a “little bit of cancer.”
Like early cancer, our goal should be to reverse and cure the disease. CIMT offers the most cost effective painless way to monitor progress toward cure for arterial disease.
In contrast to your basic Duplex Carotid Ultrasound (which measures obstruction or “blockage” of the lumen to justify a surgical procedure), the CIMT images the wall and characterizes plaque and its stability. Measuring the disease motivates the ongoing effort to reverse and cure disease.
Coronary Artery Calcium Score (CACS) is useful for the detection of calcified atherosclerotic plaque in arteries supplying the heart, but it is not a good way to follow disease regression, which is actually healing. Calcium scores go UP as arteries heal, but scores also go up when new plaque is forming. Non calcified plaque is more dangerous than calcified plaque.
Use CACS to detect coronary artery disease. Use CIMT to detect carotid artery disease and monitor improvement in response to CurePlan execution.
The health of your carotid arteries reflects the health in arteries throughout your body – including the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart.
Your carotid arteries are an accessible sample of a massive supply system. The thickness is compared to other people your age and gender as a population percentile. it is reported as an “arterial” age”, the age for which your thickness would be average or 50th percentile. We monitor arterial age every 6-12 months to be sure our plan is working to improve arterial age or update the plan if it isn’t working.
Think of your arterial age as a scientific Lifetime Line, more reliable than the efforts of a psychic palm reader telling your fortune by reading your lifeline. The younger your arteries, the more quality time you likely have left.
We can make your arteries younger and healthier again! You can get More of the Life you Want!
Artery Disease is Reversible!
Heart attack or stroke are not inevitable because of genetics and family history. Even worse is the assumption that absence of usual risk factors is absence of disease. More than half of those suffering a heart attack are considered low risk. Many steps can be taken to prevent you from ever developing dementia, having a stroke or heart attack, or needing a stent or bypass procedure. If you have already had this unfortunate experience, you should be especially motivated to know how to make that event your last.
Stents and bypass operations are avoidable! While this may not excite those who are paid to perform these procedures, it should be motivating good news to you!
The progression of Atherosclerosis
CIMT detects and measures disease earlier than stress tests or even angiograms. Ultrasound of your carotid arteries is easy, painless, quick and affordable. Insurance covers this and other testing if atherosclerotic disease (plaque) is detected. Typically we use point of care ultrasound to screen for disease because of its lower out of pocket cost.
Once we have your baseline arterial age and the type and amount of plaque that is present, we monitor the results of your personalized reversal to cure strategy . We can accurately measure change in artery thickness. We develop, support and monitor the results of your Personalized CurePlan.