Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, killing one American every 33 seconds. In order to stem this tide of unnecessary and often premature deaths, RHE offers the Rippe Preventive CT Heart Scan. The high-speed helical computerized tomography (CT) scanning technology detects calcium deposits found in atherosclerotic plaque in the coronary arteries. The greater the extent of this calcification, the greater the level of coronary artery disease. Combined with other sophisticated tests and preventative strategies, the Rippe Preventive Heart Scan can contribute significantly to preventing or reversing CAD.

Cardiac CT, or coronary calcium scoring, is a fast, painless, and non-invasive cad coronary calcium scoring ct heart scanway of obtaining information about the location and extent of calcified plaque in the coronary arteries—the vessels that supply oxygen-containing blood to the heart wall. Plaque is a build-up of fat and other substances, including calcium, which can, over time, narrow the arteries or even close off blood flow to the heart. The result may be painful angina in the chest or a heart attack.

Because calcium is a marker of coronary artery disease, the amount of calcium detected on a cardiac CT scan is a helpful diagnostic tool. The findings on cardiac CT are expressed as a calcium score and can help present an overall picture of your heart health.

Computed Tomography, widely known as a CAT scan, is medically referred to as simply CT. In its early days of development and use, it was called Computerized Axial Tomography, hence the term CAT.

CT is generally a relatively quick procedure that uses x-ray beams to create computer-generated image of soft tissue structures, such as tumors and internal organs, and air cavities (sinuses, lungs). It also has advantages in skeletal and neurological imaging. Its radiation doses to the human body are considered minimal due to the speed in which the X-Ray is delivered.

The procedure requires you to lie in a horizontal position, either on your back or stomach, and remain comfortably still. A flat, moving table goes through the center of a donut-shaped x-ray machine. X-ray beams from a number of positions are aimed at the area being studied. A special detector measures the amount of absorbed radiation. This data is transformed by a computer into a digital image.

For decades, little progress had been made with X-ray systems in the early detection of lung cancer. In 1999, it was discovered that high-speed helical CT scanning was capable of detecting lung cancers far earlier and at a smaller size than was ever possible with X-ray technology. In addition, it was found that the dose of radiation in the helical CT scan is no more than that of a conventional chest X-ray.

The Rippe Health Evaluation offers the Rippe Preventive CT Lung Scan, with a cure rate predicted at 70% when cancers are picked up at their earliest stages using this technology, versus no more than 15% with conventional X-ray. Anyone who smokes, has smoked or been exposed to tobacco smoke is encouraged to get the Rippe Preventive Lung Scan on an annual basis.

The Preventive CT Full Body Scan is another result of that recent medical breakthrough. Each year more than one million Americans are diagnosed with various forms of cancer; and half a million will die of cancer this year, making it the second leading cause of death in the United States after heart disease.

The Preventive Full Body CT Scan searches for potential malignancies in the chest, abdomen and pelvis. This innovative means of early cancer detection is likely to save lives well into this century.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer with more than 97,000 people in the United States being diagnosed with this disease each year. Colorectal cancer can occur regardless of age, but it is most common in those over the age of 50. When found early, the disease is highly treatable. A colonoscopy, considered the test of choice, is an examination of the entire colon and Dr. Rippe recommends a baseline test after the age of 45.

The Colonoscopy procedure usually requires special preparation and usually includes intravenous sedation. Your colonoscopy will be performed on the day prior or after your Rippe Health Evaluation (cannot be performed on the same day).

The 64-slice Scanner is an advanced imaging system that produces highly detailed images of internal body parts that are used to create 3-D images that will greatly assist in diagnosing possible life-threatening conditions. The 64-slice can scan the heart in 5 seconds. Because it is much faster than other CT exams, the test is less stressful and the pictures are clearer. We are so encouraged by this piece of technology because it is another tool in early detection and preventative medicine that we promise to deliver at Rippe Health Evaluation.

Coronary artery CT Angiography (CTA) is a special type of x-ray examination used to visualize blood flow in the vessels of the heart. Patients who have this test will have a small intravenous (I.V.) catheter placed in their arm and will receive an iodine-containing contrast dye to help ensure the best images possible of the coronary arteries. The same I.V. may be used to give a safe medication (commonly used by patients with high blood pressure and heart disease) to slow or stabilize the heart rate for better imaging results. During the examination, which takes about 10 minutes, X-rays pass through the body and are picked up by special detectors which give the final images. Typically, the higher the number of detectors, the better the image. For this reason, this technique is often called "multi-detector" or multi-slice" CT scanning. Rippe Health Evaluation uses a 64-slice multidetector CT, the highest number of detectors available for clinical imaging.

In collaboration with the Rippe Health Medical Weight Management and Metabolism Clinic and through our research partnership with GE Healthcare, Rippe Health Evaluation offers state of the art technology for assessing regional body fat and determining your body's ability to handle sugar. In the United States 8% of the population has diabetes. It is important to understand that five times as many people (40%) have the pre-diabetes condition of "glucose intolerance." Left untreated glucose intolerance is highly likely to turn into diabetes with all of its attendant complications. Rippe Health Evaluation is the only executive health evaluation in the world capable of accurately diagnosing and initiating treatment for glucose intolerance and other metabolic abnormalities before they turn into life threatening conditions.