Discover And Reverse Your Artery Disease Before You Have A Heart Attack Or Stroke With The IMT Test

What is IMT?

Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) testing determines if and how much plaque has built up in the walls of your arteries. IMT testing is beneficial for identifying the earliest signs of artery disease, which can eventually lead to a heart attack or stroke.

IMT testing gives your Cogent Family Healthcare provider the opportunity to evaluate how much the artery walls are thickening because of plaque buildup. This diagnostic resource also provides them with valuable information needed to treat your condition and reverse artery disease before damage is done.

Additionally, IMT testing is also useful for monitoring the success of your treatment and ensures that medications and lifestyle changes are working effectively.

What’s involved in IMT testing?

IMT testing uses ultrasound technology to view your carotid artery. This technology uses sound waves that bounce off the inner structures of your body to create real-time images of your artery.

Ultrasound testing is noninvasive, and the Cogent Family Healthcare team performs it conveniently in-office. You lie on an exam table, and your provider applies a gel on the treatment area. The gel helps the handheld ultrasound transducer glide smoothly and capture clearer images of your artery.

Your provider watches an external monitor, evaluating the images of your artery throughout testing. While you may feel some pressure as the transducer presses down on your skin, there is no pain with the test and you won’t need anesthesia.

What happens after IMT testing?

Immediately after your testing, you can expect to go back to your usual activities without any limitations. The Cogent Family Healthcare team carefully reviews the results of your IMT test to determine your risk factors for a heart attack or stroke.

Based on the information gained from the test, your provider can customize a treatment plan if plaque buildup is clear on the ultrasound. The goal of treatment is to reduce this buildup through dietary and lifestyle changes. Your treatment plan may also involve medications to lower your cholesterol levels if exercise and a healthy diet aren’t enough.

The Cogent Family Healthcare team is specially trained in heart attack prevention services and continues to work with you to reduce the severity of existing artery disease and lower your overall risk factors for heart attacks, stroke, and other heart-related conditions.

To learn more about the diagnostic benefits of IMT testing, schedule a consultation online or by calling Cogent Family Healthcare.