4D ultrasounds can help track your baby's development in the womb and spot signs of preterm labor risk.

November is Prematurity Awareness Month. If you or someone you love is pregnant, be sure you know all the symptoms and risk factors of premature birth and be proactive about protecting your baby by getting a 4D ultrasound. Jacksonville’s Precision Imaging Centers offers 4D ultrasounds and other diagnostic screenings.

According to statistics from the March of Dimes, a nonprofit organization working to help mothers deliver full-term pregnancies and conduct research on health threats to babies:

• More than half a million babies are born too soon in the U.S. each year;
• Worldwide, 13 million babies are born premature each year;
• Premature birth rates have risen nationwide by 36 percent over the past 25 years;
• Babies born just a few weeks early are at greater risk for severe health problems and lifelong disabilities;
• Premature birth costs American society more than $26 million each year;
• More importantly, premature birth is the nation’s No. 1 killer of newborns.

The healthiest babies are carried in their mother’s wombs for at least 39 weeks. Expectant moms can help cut their risk of delivering prematurely by avoiding cigarette smoking, alcoholic drinks and illicit drugs; watching for and quickly treating any vaginal infections; staying well hydrated; keeping all prenatal appointments; and watching for signs of preterm labor.

The signs of preterm labor can include:

• Having more than five contractions or cramps in one hour;
• Bright red vaginal bleeding;
• Swelling in the face or hands;
• Painful urination;
• Continuous vomiting;
• A sudden gush of clear, watery fluid from your vagina;
• Sharp or prolonged pain in your stomach, intense pelvic pressure or low, dull back pain.

If you suspect that you’re at risk for delivering your baby prematurely, ask your obstetrician about a digital 4D ultrasound. Jacksonville ultrasound professionals at Precision Imaging Centers can predict preterm labor risks based upon images showing the length of and shape of the cervix. Plus, ultrasounds performed at key points throughout your pregnancy can help assure that your baby is growing and developing correctly, and support early detection of potential health risks or problems. Contact Precision Imaging Centers at 904-996-8100 or via our online appointment request feature.

New research shows that ultrasound can help predict a patient's risk for Parkinson's disease.

A new study shows that a patient’s risk for developing Parkinson’s disease may be predicted using ultrasound. Jacksonville’s Precision Imaging Centers spotted the study in the July 2011 issue of Archives of Neurology. The study showed that the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease was 17 times higher among people with a detectable pattern in the brain area called the substantia nigra.

In earlier runs of the ultrasound test known as transcranial sonography, images of the substantia nigra of a patient with Parkinson’s lit up more so than images of the same brain area in healthy individuals. Authors of the recent study aimed to determine whether the test might detect changes in the brain before motor symptoms of Parkinson’s develop. Researchers from Germany and Austria screened more than 1,800 healthy volunteers over the age of 50 using transcranial sonography. About three years later, 1535 of the volunteers returned for a follow-up test.

According to the study’s results:

At the time of their follow-up tests, 11 of the 1,535 returning study participants had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
262 study participants, nearly 19 percent, had substantia nigra light up on their first scan, showing (in medical terms) increased substantia nigra hyperechogenicity.
Eight of the 262 participants with abnormal scans later developed Parkinson’s.
Two participants with normal scans did develop Parkinson’s.
Individuals with abnormal transcranial sonography scans were nearly 17 times more likely to have developed Parkinson’s three years later than people with an initially normal scan.

The study is significant because it’s the first to show a highly increased risk of Parkinson’s among older patients with specific ultrasound findings from transcranial sonography, which happens to be a non-invasive, inexpensive and easy to perform test. Findings may help Parkinson’s disease researchers to further develop neuroprotective drugs that can delay or prevent the onset of the disease in patients believed to be at a higher risk.

If you’re considering an ultrasound, Jacksonville’s Precision Imaging Centers offers state-of-art service by onsite physicians and board-certified radiologists and at prices far below typical hospital charges. Call 904-996-8100 or complete our convenient online appointment request form.

What's the best time for an ultrasound? Jacksonville's Precision Imaging Centers offers tips on getting the best ultrasound images of your baby.

Every expectant mother looks forward to clear, beautiful images of her little one still nested in the womb. But there are multiple factors that can affect the images from your ultrasound, Jacksonville’s Precision Imaging Centers says.

• Timing: Before the 24 week period, your baby hasn’t developed enough for ultrasound images to show images that clearly look like a baby. These images, usually taken with 2D and 3D imaging equipment, primarily are beneficial for diagnostic purposes. After 37 weeks, your baby likely is moving into the birth canal and there is little movement of arms and legs.  The ultrasound images that will prove most impressive are produced between 24 and 34 weeks, when your baby has developed some fat and has room to move around. 4D images produced during this time will clearly show little fingers, toes, lips and nose.
• Amniotic fluid: Sound waves from the ultrasound equipment must travel through the amniotic fluid. So, the more amniotic fluid surrounding your baby, the clear the ultrasound images you can expect.
• Placement of the placenta: Because sound waves can’t penetrate the placenta, let’s hope it’s not positioned in front of your baby’s face when you in for your ultrasound, Jacksonville.
• Your body size: If you are small-framed, your baby’s ultrasound images likely will come out clearer than those of a full-figured woman.
• Your baby’s position: If your baby is facing your spine, ultrasound images will show the back of his or her head. However, if there is enough amniotic fluid an experienced technician may be able to coax your little one to turn a bit for a better facial image.
• Your ultrasound provider: The quality of the imaging equipment used and your technician’s level of experience and expertise also can affect our ultrasound images – for better or worse.

Precision Imaging Centers knows that ultrasound images of developing babies have both diagnostic value and emotional value. We use state-of-the-art equipment that allows for the highest quality diagnostic imaging available nationwide and employ highly trained and experienced technicians. If you are expecting a child and want the best possible images from your ultrasound, Jacksonville’s top imaging provider can be reached at 904-996-8100 or use our convenient online appointment scheduling feature.

For harried, pressure-driven executives, health is more than a good idea – it’s an imperative for a competitive edge. That’s why Precision Imaging Centers offers comprehensive executive screening including MRI, Cat scans, PET/CT scans and Digital Ultrasound imaging to check for health issues common among management professionals.

Keep your company's competitive edge sharp by keeping your employees healthy with comprehensive executive screening services by Precision Imaging Centers.

Gone undiagnosed and untreated, health problems that are typical among those living in the C-suite can end up costing a company thousands in lost productivity when a manager or high-producing executive falls ill. Regular diagnostic screenings tailored specifically for executives and managers can detect existing and potential heart, respiratory and neurological problems caused or exacerbated by high-stress lifestyles. Working in tandem with a patient’s physician, Precision Imaging Centers offers customized comprehensive screening examinations based upon the patient’s medical and family history, lifestyle diet and career demands. Our cutting-edge technologies and highly experienced radiologists mean more definitive results, allowing for more effective health management.

In most cases, Precision Imaging Centers can save corporate clients up to 50% compared to average hospital charges for imaging services. Plus, mindful of the busy executive’s tight schedule, we offer early morning and late evening hours (7 a.m.-11 p.m. weekdays) and weekend appointments (Saturdays 8 a.m.-5 p.m.).  And physicians have access to secure, 24/7 online results and medical records.

Keep your company’s competitive edge sharp by keeping your executives healthy. Make an appointment at Precision Imaging Centers in Jacksonville’s Southside today.