What Do Other Countries Know That We Don’t? Bethany Narey, Owner/CCT
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he United States has the most expensive health care system in the world. However it does not have the most comprehensive health provision in the world. Thermography is often an oversight within the United States healthcare system, specifically in Pennsylvania. Thermography, state-of-the-art medical imaging technology, allows men, women, and children to detect disease, pain, and bodily dysfunction. Thermography – being a progressive imaging tool – utilizes current infrared technology to detect early signs of abnormalities throughout the body up to 10 years before other diagnostic instruments. Rather than looking for a structure or mass, thermography identifies vascular and cellular changes that are traced by temperate differences and visualized in color. Thermography has hundreds of applications from breast cancer detection, chiropractic applications, sports injuries, and visualizing pain; yet it is non-invasive, has no-radiation, and is completely painless. Why haven’t you heard much, if anything, about thermography? Thermography has been FDA approved since the early 1980s although it is still not widely used throughout the United States. The majority of Pennsylvanians do not even know it is an available option for them in their healthcare program. States such as California, Florida, and Connecticut have a large patient base that utilizes thermography because it is a safe alternative in their personal medical imaging choices. Thermography provides an option when it comes to imaging. Countries such as Japan, Korea, China, Brazil, Germany, and Poland utilize thermography extensively; this is shown by the medical literature being published from these countries. In fact, most of the research utilizing thermography is conducted in the mainstream hospitals and universities. These countries among others are more interested in thermography applications in neurology, rheumatology, and vascular medicine. However, the United States only utilizes thermography primarily in the breast health sector.
Sports Injuries
As the weather gets warmer more adults and children are getting back outdoors for walks, runs, sporting events and more. As with anything, sports can open up a doorway for injuries throughout the season. Digital infrared thermal imaging, also known as thermography, plays a huge role in sports medicine. Because thermography is risk-free, portable and, radiation-free, it is an ideal tool for assessing injury and helping aid clinical decisions. Thermography is able to ‘see things’ outside of other diagnostic tools. Meaning, instead of looking for a break or a structure like other medical imaging tools, thermography looks for cellular and vascular dysfunction through temperature patterns. This is ideal for injuries such as ankle injuries, stress fractures, myofascial pain syndromes, spinal pain syndromes, shoulder injuries, foot pain syndromes, and vascular disorders, just to name a few that are not visible through other standard tools. Thermography offers an invaluable window into the sympathetic response to pain and injury. Often younger children struggle with telling you where their pain is coming from leaving it difficult for parents and medical professionals to know where and how to treat the patient. Because thermography is the only medical imaging tool that can visualize pain through temperature dysfunction, it is ideal for children who have difficulty accurately expressing their pain and discomfort.
Breast Health
Breast thermography, also known as infrared imaging of the breast, is a pictorial representation of the infrared emissions of the breasts. A heatsensing imaging device is used to detect subtle cell changes up to 10 years before other diagnostic tools. Thermography is also non-invasive, painless, and has NO radiation. Today 1 in 8 women are diagnosed with breast disease, however traditional practice is for a woman to have her first mammogram between the ages of 40-50. This leaves a dangerous void for young women. Until now there have been no options available for women too young to receive a mammogram or those who find them uncomfortable or do not care to expose themselves to radiation. Researchers this year concluded that with the utilization of self-breast examination, mammography, and thermography, one has a 98% detection rate. Thermography provides a safe option and earlier detection for ALL women. This Industry Insight was written by Bethany Narey, the owner of Health Enhancing Thermography (HE@T). Bethany studied at Ohio University where she graduated with a degree in International Business and Marketing. Bethany is from the South Hills and decided that there was a need in her community for thermography and alternative medical imaging. After becoming a certified clinical thermographer she decided to open HE@T Thermography clinic. Located 110 Ft. Couch Rd in Bethel Park. For more information, visit www.heat-images.com or call 855.254.4328.
Mt. Lebanon | Summer 2013 | incommunitymagazines.com 87