What is Thermography?
Looking for a safe, radiation-free way to gain insight into your health? Thermography — also known as Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI) — is a non-invasive scan that detects subtle heat patterns and temperature changes in the body. At Anchored In Health in Orland Park, IL, we use thermography to help identify early signs of inflammation, changes in blood flow, and other physiological shifts long before symptoms may appear. Whether you’re exploring thermography for breast health or overall wellness, this cutting-edge technology offers a comfortable, proactive approach to understanding your body.
Thermography accurately measures heat from the surfaces of the body tissues. For women, thermography has gained a lot of popularity for breast health. It is a non-invasive and radiation-free scan of our body and physiology without compression that finds subtle temperature differences that may be due to an abnormal process within your body. Thermography screens for changes in blood flow (vasculature), inflammation, and neurological changes in the breasts or other parts of the body.
Your Body’s Thermal Fingerprint: What Changes Can Reveal
We all have our own unique heat patterns in our bodies. We call this a “thermal fingerprint.” These patterns should never change and should remain constant throughout our lives.
If a cell is injured, changes, or grows abnormally small clusters will form. If this small cluster of abnormal cells continues to grow it will create a blood supply of its own to keep it alive and growing. As a tumor or cluster of abnormal cells creates its own blood supply, your unique “thermal fingerprint” changes.
Thermography can screen for these subtle changes within two years of growth. New blood supply patterns are the earliest sign of tumor growth, which can be seen with this amazing infrared technology. Thermography can detect these vascular changes 6-8 years before they can be seen by other methods!
The sooner we discover changes in your body, the faster you can work with a functional medicine doctor to take action in returning these patterns to normal.
Is Thermography Safe?
Thermography is an FDA-approved, safe, non-invasive, and no-touch modality that consists of taking images of the body. Many people prefer thermography over other modalities that are more invasive or use radiation. Our images are sent to board-certified medical doctors who are trained in reading thermology. They provide you with a written report along with your images, to you and your practitioner, if you prefer, so you can review them in order to devise a plan of action.
Breast Thermography or Thermogram
Thermography shows the subtle physiologic changes that occur with breast disease including cancer, lymphatic congestion, fibrocystic disease, inflammation or vascular changes, and more. This gives you the chance to see what’s going on and you become aware of any possible worrisome changes in your body before any formal diagnosis.
Thermography is a test of physiology, while mammograms, ultrasounds, and MRIs are a test of anatomy. This means that we cannot detect masses through thermography, but we can see the early warning signs in specific tissues.
All women can benefit from thermal screenings. It is especially beneficial for younger women in their 30s-50s with dense breast tissue, women with fibrocystic breast conditions, women with breast implants, and those who are overweight
It is also a valuable test to see the chest wall and the lymphatic system in the axilla (or armpit) that mammograms miss.
The National Cancer Institute states that 90-95% of Breast Cancers are “lifestyle”-related
Thermography is NOT a replacement for mammograms but it is a valuable adjunct. Thermography, along with either mammogram/ultrasound/MRI, and self-examination provides a thorough early screening opportunity for women.
What can cause breast cancer?
Did you know that only 5%-10% of breast cancer is related to our genetics? On the other hand, 90-95% of breast cancer is linked to our lifestyle. Along with the choices we make on a daily basis.
What are some contributing causes related to breast cancer?
- Age
- Race
- Smoking
- Being Overweight or Obese
- Estrogen Dominance
- First full-term pregnancy after age 30
- Never having a full-term pregnancy
- Heavy alcohol use
- Early start of menstruation and or late menopause
- Poor Diet (Standard American Diet)
- Too little exercise
- Stress (physical and or emotional stress)
- Toxins in our environment, food, and water
- Family history
Did you know that cancer cells double every 90 DAYS?
To put that in perspective, if a cancer cell was “born” today, in 90 days there would be 2 cancer cells. After 1 year there would be 16 cancer cells. In 2 years, there would be 256 cancer cells. This is also the time when thermography can detect the blood supply or vascular changes that cancer has created for itself.
For breast cancer to be found with mammography it takes 8 years of cancer growing in your body. That is 4,294,967,296 cancer cells ! By this point, cancer would have doubled 32 times.
Breast thermography has over an 83% accuracy in the early screening of breast cancer. If it is combined with a mammogram or ultrasound the accuracy increases to 95%!
Thermography For The Whole Body
Thermography can show early changes anywhere in the body. Early detection allows for early intervention.
At Anchored In Health we can also use thermography to monitor any treatment or therapies you are doing for a variety of conditions or injuries.
Cancer and vascular disease are not the only uses of thermography. It is also helpful with back pain, headaches, thyroid conditions, hormone imbalances, dental and TMJ conditions, nerve damage, referred pain syndrome, digestive disorders, disc disease, inflammation, arterial disease, arthritis, the risk for stroke, and much more.
What else do you need to know?
Upper half body and breast thermography appointments are approximately 30 minutes. Full body thermography appointments are approximately 60 minutes.
*Note: You will be disrobed from the waist up for all breast screenings and your abdomen or lower body your buttocks will be exposed. A female technician will provide the screening.
Are You Ready For A Thermography Scan in Orland Park, IL
At Anchored In Health we are partnering with Cindy Shroba and Illinois Thermography to provide thermograms in the Chicago area. Thermography services are by appointment only. Follow the following steps to set up your appointment with our functional medicine doctor for your scan:
- Call our office at (708) 462-5113
- Schedule your thermography appointment
- Get early detection
Other Holistic Health Services Offered at Anchored in Health in Orland Park, IL
Anchored in Health provides a full spectrum of services to optimize your health. This includes chiropractic care, functional medicine, acupuncture, massage therapy, and the Shape ReClaimed program. We also offer thermography, genetic testing, and Vibrant Wellness testing to uncover what’s really going on beneath the surface.
Live in the greater Chicago area and want to learn more? Contact us to find out how we can help you feel your best.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this blog is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.
Reading this blog does not establish a doctor-patient relationship between you and Anchored in Health or any of its practitioners. Reliance on any information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk.