Carotid Intima-Media Thickness or CIMT, for short, is a new noninvasive ultrasound test recommended by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology to screen for early signs of heart disease..
How is the test performed?This is a noninvasive, safe, and painless test performed with the use of a high resolution ultrasound transducer. A conducting jelly is first applied to the skin over the neck and the transducer is applied to image the right and left carotid arteries..
How are results analyzed?CIMT measures the combined thicknesses of the intimal and medial layers of the carotid artery walls, which tend to get thicker with an increase in age. Published studies of CIMT measurements in nearly 15000 patients ages 45-65 have made it possible to develop a reference range of what is “normal” at various ages. Your measurements will be compared to this range and a report is generated which tells your vascular age. If your
vascular age is equal to your chronological age, than you have a lower risk for heart
disease.
The test takes approximately 15-20 minutes
Demonstration Videos:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vk-i_HrWFlE&feature=c4-overview&list=UULc8ITU4HIR4-5bk3XeyzQQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6Q3RhRDxWg