2009/06/03

The Heart of Cardiac MRI

What provides an unparalleled view of the heart, exposes you to no radiation, and allows physicians to diagnose your heart's condition swiftly and accurately? Cardiac MRI and it may be just what the cardiologist ordered.

Short for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, MRI has been a staple of imaging for many years. MRI uses the power of great, powerful magnets and radio waves rather than radiation to create clear images of your insides. With these images, physicians can diagnose and evaluate conditions affecting many internal organs and tissues, including your most important organ-your heart. For many, cardiac MRI is a lifesaver.

Hearty Images

During a cardiac MRI examination, the patient lays on a flat table that slides into a tunnel-like machine. A loud knocking sound can be heard while the MRI machine is on and the person may be asked to hold his or her breath for a few seconds. These pauses in breathing decrease patient movement and result in clearer images. For some exams, a contrast dye may be injected into the patient for a more precise view of the heart or arteries.

Once the exam is complete, physicians have picture-perfect images of the heart and its adjoining blood vessels. From the amount of fat and cholesterol (plaque) impeding the body's arteries to the amount of injury caused by a heart attack, cardiac MRI provides physicians the information necessary for diagnosis and to begin treatment as soon as possible.

The Digital Difference

Thanks to digital advances, cardiac MRI is becoming even more useful in heart health. A cardiac MRI can now take as little as fifteen minutes, and diagnoses can be made in a fraction of the time used in older MRI technology. Some imaging facilities even house advances that permit cardiac MRI examinations to be seen online, via a secure server. This allows physicians to look at cardiac MRI images at the office or even at home, resulting in immediate second or third opinions and faster, more precise diagnoses.

As cardiac MRI continues to progress, physicians are more able to get to the heart of a patient's problem. With this and other innovations in cardiac care, more of your family, friends, and neighbors can receive timely and appropriate medical care that may improve or even save their lives.

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