As we begin another year we look forward to seeing our returning annual clients as well as grow our business with new referrals.
Here are two interesting case studies that we want to share with you:
What can be said about the images above?
- Nothing seems significant or abnormal in these images
- The hands are very cool and this is a unique finding
- The images can possibly indicate autonomic dysfunction
In arms and legs there should be a temperature gradient from proximal to distal of 4˚C. That means that the upper part of the arm or leg should be warmer (by 4˚C) than the hands and feet. When there is a loss of this temperature gradient, this is an indication of autonomic dysfunction.
Autonomic dysfunction is an umbrella term for various conditions in which the autonomic nervous system (ANS) does not work correctly.
The images above show an obvious reversal of the expected proximal to distal change in temperature of warmer to cooler.
Sometimes, this could indicate auto-immune dysfunction and a diagnosis of an autoimmune-issue. Understand that this is not a diagnostic test but rather gives us an indication of possible future problem that needs to be addressed.
Which image below is an indication of fibrocystic breasts? Why?
Image B is a typical example of fibrocystic breasts. Fibrocystic breasts are, in general, an inflammatory state of chaos. Both breast images above show evidence of inflammation so why is image B the correct answer?
Under healthy, ideal situations, thermal patterns are symmetrical in appearance. Our brain and spinal cord push heat to the surface in an equal distribution under an optimal state-of-health. Notice the unequal patterns of heat in the left breast compared to the right in image B as opposed to the more equal distribution of heat in both breasts in image A. Thermal asymmetry is an indication for concern and reversing unhealthy thermal patterns is definitely the desirable goal. We encourage you to work with your practitioner in achieving optimal health.
So why is there heat in both breasts in image A? Can you figure this out?
Hint: In what time of a woman’s life might there be increased blood flow to both breasts?
Pregnancy! This woman was pregnant at the time of her thermogram. Although we can image breasts during pregnancy without concern for harm to mother or developing baby, it would be impossible to determine if there were any changes in her previously established thermal patterns during this phase of her life.
DITI is not a cancer screening tool, either, as some would believe. Thermography is used in the following four basic areas:
- Risk Assessment
- Detection (but not as a stand – alone technology)
- Prevention / Early Intervention
- Monitoring Effects of Treatment
The best possible use of thermal imaging is first to determine stable physiology and then watch for changes over time that could alert us to early formation of disease or to let us know of high levels of inflammation, hormonal imbalances, dental pathologies, etc.
Therefore, annual screening is the optimal time frame in ascertaining personal variants and reducing the chance of false-negative thermal findings. False-negative thermal findings may occur when the study interval is more than one year as the human body may have accommodated or encapsulated cancer cells and in that case, the developed cancer has become thermographically ‘silent.”
