Over time, poor posture can literally alter the shape of a person’s spine. When this happens, the spine, which is built to naturally absorb shock and maintain proper balance, is completely compromised and will not function as it should. If you find that you’re slouching often, here are 5 negative effects of bad posture that will make you sit up straight!
Selecting An Imaging Center: Why Quality Matters
Choosing an imaging facility is an important decision and important decisions take time, effort, and care. Not all imaging facilities are created equal, and no two patients are the same. Deciding on an imaging facility ensures that you are placing trust in a place and people you trust. And nothing is more important than your health. Here are some things to keep in mind when selecting your imaging facility.
Interventional Radiology: What It Is & Why It's Important
Chances are you haven’t heard of interventional radiology unless you’ve needed it, but this specialization allows radiologist to diagnose and treat a wide range of ailments using a myriad of different procedures aided by imaging procedures. Below, we’ll talk about what interventional radiology is, the most common procedures, and its benefits to the patient.
Getting To Know BICRAD Radiologist: Dr. Christopher Lee
Today we’re sharing a little bit more about Dr. Christopher Lee, an incredibly talented jack-of-all-trades who holds Board Certifications in not one, but three categories: Diagnostic Imaging, CAQ Vascular, and Interventional Radiology. We sat down and asked him a couple of questions about life as a radiologist, his professional accomplishments, and what he loves doing when he’s not in the office. Here are his responses!
How Breast Density Determines The Best Breast Screening Test
At Bay Imaging Consultants, we stress the importance of regular mammograms and breast screenings. While mammograms are the standard for breast imaging, factors may play a role into whether or not additional imaging tests are needed. Breast MRI and ultrasound are often suggested for women at risk of breast cancer, which includes women with high breast density. Here’s a closer look at how breast density affects which screening test is best for you.
Happy Cardiovascular Professionals Week From BICRAD
You might not know this, but February 10-16th is Cardiovascular Professionals Week! CVP week aims to bring awareness to heart conditions, different cardiovascular imaging procedures used to diagnose heart conditions, the innovative treatments for heart diseases and, of course, to thank the many people who make it all happen—the cardiovascular professionals. We’re here to celebrate and pay tribute to those who make our hearts go pitter patter, especially the cardiovascular radiologists here at Bay Imaging Consultants!
BICRAD Offers MRI's That Are Safe For Patients With Pacemakers
Formerly MRIs were not supposed to be performed on patients with cardiac pacemakers, but after extensive research, radiology professionals at the American College of Radiology recently concluded that patients with pacemakers CAN safely undergo MRI procedures with the proper machines. Learn more about the specifications for these machines, which are offered at local San Francisco imaging centers by BICRAD.
Getting To Know BICRAD Radiologist: Dr. Linda Gordon
Every single one of our radiologists brings something unique to the team, and we love when we get a chance to highlight them so that patients get a chance to learn more about them not just professionally, but also on a personal level. Today we’re sharing a little bit more about Dr. Linda Gordon. We sat down and asked her a couple of questions about life as a radiologist, her professional accomplishments, and what she loves doing when she’s not in the office. Here are her responses!
Coping With Scanxiety: How To Prevent Claustrophobia
“Claustrophobia is an anxiety disorder in which the sufferer has an irrational feat of having no escape or being closed in.“ When a person experiences this they may also suffer a panic attack which results in accelerated heart rate, sweating, and nausea. Because so many patients suffer with intense scanxiety, we wanted to compile a list of helpful advice that has soothed our patients in the past. So, here are the top 9 tips our team suggests to calm your fears:
Does My Radiologist Need To Be Board Certified?
The term “board certified” gets thrown around a good amount in the medical world, but how does it apply to you, the patient? Well, for starters, board certification serves as a notable indicator for the highest standard of care available. When searching for a radiologist in your area, we strongly urge you to consider choosing a board-certified radiologist—and here’s why!
Exercises to Alleviate Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Surgical treatments for carpal tunnel is common in severe cases. For symptoms that are still manageable there are some hand exercises for carpal tunnel syndrome that you can practice regularly to relieve your mild to moderate symptoms. Exercises for carpal tunnel are not intended to eliminate symptoms but they are helpful in providing temporary relief and should be practiced in accompaniment with other medically prescribed treatments.
Radiation 101: Just How Much Does Each Imaging Scan Expose You To?
It’s likely you already know that large doses of radiation can wreak havoc on your internal systems and even cause cancer long term. But how much radiation are you exposed to during common imaging tests and is it something you should be concerned about? With the prevalence of cancers in America, it’s only natural to be concerned about your exposure to radiation. Below we’ll take a look at different imaging procedures and radiation associated with each.
LDCT 101: How Low-Dose CT Scans For Lung Cancer Screenings Work
In order to better detect the early development of lung cancer, many radiology centers offer traditional CT scan screenings of the chest. Low-dose CT scans for lung cancer screening are a technique specifically recommended for detecting lung cancer in certain types of patients - traditionally those that are high-risk. A high-risk smoker is classified as people age 55 to 80 who have a 30 “pack year” smoking history.
Happy Holidays From The Team At BICRAD
What's The Difference Between An MRI & A CT Scan?
Both MRI and CT Scans are diagnostic tools used to help medical professionals get a glimpse inside before they make their diagnosis. Though the end goal is the same, each imaging method goes about achieving it in different ways. Let’s take a look at MRIs and CT Scans and how they are fundamentally different in the world of diagnostic imaging.
What To Expect From A Closed-Bore MRI
Most people have some idea what an MRI is, but not everyone has undergone an MRI exam before. If you have an MRI scheduled in the future for the first time, or if you’re just curious, then you will mostly likely want to know what you should expect to happen. So, for those of you undergoing a closed-bore MRI, here is some information that will help you understand what is going to happen.
5 Tips For Identifying Osteoporosis
Around the world, around one in three women and one in five men will experience a fracture caused by weak bones. The root of these dangerous fractures is osteoporosis—a disease that affects over 10 million Americans. Oftentimes, osteoporosis is not diagnosed until a person sustains an injury like a fracture. Because of that, we’re helping you identify early signs of osteoporosis so you don’t have to wait until the worst happens to begin treating it.
Reasons Why We're Thankful At Bay Imaging Consultants
The holiday season is a time for celebrating, a time to enjoy time with loved ones, and a time to reflect on all of our blessings. At Bay Imaging Consultants, we have so much to be grateful for. From an amazing staff to the inspiring patients we’re lucky enough to work with, we’ve taken a moment to reflect on all the things we have to be thankful for.
No-Shave November: So Much More than a Grooming Statement
No-shave November may seem like an excuse to grow a Grizzly Adams beard before winter, but we’re here to let you know this sweeping national movement is so much more than that. The month-long journey of hair-raising proportions is meant to promote awareness and spark conversation around cancer of all kinds.
The rules are simple: hide your razor for the month of November and, in turn, donate your monthly grooming expenses to the cause. “Movember” encourages participation of all kinds; so don’t fret if beard growing isn’t your thing. No-Shave November urges men, women, and people of all ages to join in the fight to find a cure for cancer.
But…why the hair?
The origin of No-Shave November came from the idea that by growing out your hair and embracing that simple opportunity, you can call awareness and attention to those who lose their hair during their brave fight against cancer. By donating what you’d typically spend grooming, you can contribute to education and early detection of different the many different cancers that claim too many lives each year.
Which organizations benefit?
While you can create your own personal or office-wide No-Shave November programs and donate the proceeds to the cancer organization of your choosing, the official No-Shave November program benefits the Prevent Cancer Foundation, the Fight Colorectal Cancer organization, and the St. Jude’s Research Hospital. But again, your donation could go to anything from breast cancer awareness and providing screening mammograms to programs that help cancer patients and their families financially.
How can I get involved?
Beyond donating your own grooming funds to a charitable organization fighting cancer, you could coordinate a Movember event that fosters participation in your office, church, school, etc. It’s easy for the real meaning of No-Shave November to get lost among the jokes and memes, so you can work to be the driving force that helps remind participants of true meaning behind this live-saving mission. Encourage folks to not just grow their hair and beards out, but also donate a portion of money that would equate to their usual cost of grooming to an organization.
What if my office says “no” to beards?
Let’s face it, not everyone can grow a beard and many corporate offices have rules against radical facial hair. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be an advocate for cancer awareness! Put together an event to raise money for an organization of your choosing, and just leave the hair out of it!
How does BICRAD participate?
BICRAD is not only dedicated to spreading the word about early detection to fight cancer, we are also involved in a number of community events to raise both money and awareness on the journey to curing cancer.
Make sure your Movember is not just a fun reason to grow a beard or stop shaving your legs. Take the month to educate yourself on cancer, any family history of the disease, and your opportunities for routine screening. No-Shave November is a great way to start open conversations with your friends and loved ones about the importance of early detection, healthy habits, and education. And lastly, take the month as an opportunity to be grateful for your own good health.
What is an IVP: Preparation, Procedure, & Results
An IVP, or intravenous pyelogram, is an x-ray test that provides pictures of the kidneys, urethra, bladder, and ureters. An IVP can measure the size, shape, and position of the urinary tract and evaluate what is collected inside the kidneys. During this test, a dye called contrast material is injected into the arm and then multiple x-rays are taken at different intervals.