New cardiology discoveries rely heavily on medical imaging. Researchers use cardiac imaging techniques to detect signs of artery disease that would not have been visible to doctors otherwise.
The more tools we have to combat heart disease, the better. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), it is still the leading cause of death in the United States. They also claim that heart disease costs the US economy approximately $229 billion in healthcare services, medications, and lost productivity – a figure that pales compared to the human cost.
The international scientific and medical communities are addressing the scourge of heart disease in various ways, from developing new surgical procedures and medical devices to establishing more effective nutritional and medicinal interventions. However, medical imaging is progressing in ways that can assist the medical community in improving its response to the heart health crisis.
Recently, there have been numerous advancements in the field of cardiac imaging, providing radiologists with better image quality to allow for faster and more accurate readings. Today’s medical imaging allows doctors to see in 3D, providing never-before-seen views of the heart and vascular system. These advancements improve doctors’ diagnostic and prognostic abilities, allowing them to help patients who are entering heart failure and identify and assess heart problems much earlier.