Preventive healthcare is a hands-on approach to health where measures are put in place to prevent diseases before they occur and to detect diseases early in order to treat them as soon as possible.
This article will detail why preventive care is becoming more popular in Texas, and how places such as Houston and Austin are leading the way. The benefits of full-body MRI scans as part of preventive healthcare will be explained, as will advice on what an MRI scan will involve, how to choose the right provider, and what will happen with the scan results.
Increased understanding of the importance of early detection and intervention has led to healthcare professionals emphasizing the significance of preventive healthcare in long-term health maintenance and general well-being.
Many people across Texas are taking a more proactive role in their healthcare through the use of preventive healthcare. Based on the clear quality of life and cost-effectiveness benefits of focusing on prevention rather than just treatment, a preventive healthcare program has been set up by Texas using money allocated by the Texas Department of State Health Services. There is rising awareness of how the early detection of health conditions is crucial to preventing them from developing into a serious issue. Catching diseases early, or catching warning signs allowing for the disease to be prevented, results in a less intensive treatment plan, reduced healthcare costs, and therefore an improved quality of life.
Full-body MRI scans, such as those carried out by Ezra, form a key aspect of preventive healthcare through their ability to assess the entire body and detect abnormalities early - potentially even before symptoms have developed. Scans such as these are particularly important in detecting “silent” conditions such as cancer and cardiovascular disease where symptoms may not be apparent until the disease is at an advanced - and therefore more difficult to treat - stage.
Houston and Austin are at the forefront of the preventive healthcare revolution in Texas. These cities both boast a high proportion of the population who are health-conscious - both ranking in the top 16 of the Mindbody Wellness Index looking at the health of the 50 highest-populated US cities. Individuals in these cities are also located near leading medical institutions, including the Houston Methodist Hospital, the Texas Medical Center, and the University of Texas at Austin Medical Center, which provide access to new and advanced medical technologies. High demand for preventive healthcare and the high quality of imaging centers has led to companies, such as Ezra, recognizing Houston and Austin as important places to offer full-body MRI scans.
Full-body MRIs provide healthcare professionals with a detailed image of the body including organs, tissues, and abnormalities which could be an early sign of disease. MRIs can provide a more intricate image than other scanning techniques as it is possible to distinguish between fat, water, muscle, and other soft tissue. These comprehensive images can detect abnormalities that may fail to be picked up by less detailed scans, and so giving more insight into the health of an individual.
MRI scans offer further benefits over other types of scans due to being safer. MRIs are non-invasive and do not use ionizing radiation, meaning that you will not be exposed to potential danger in the same way as with X-rays and CT scans. This makes MRIs more popular with patients than other scans. The safety of scanning techniques is particularly pertinent when undergoing scans for preventive purposes - it is important to minimize risks and not to get unnecessary exposure to potentially harmful radiation. A small proportion (around 10 percent) of people may feel claustrophobic in an MRI scanner, however, strategies are put in place to make people as comfortable as possible.
Full-body MRI scans can be used in personalized preventive care. They can be tailored to specific health concerns that may arise from an increased risk of developing certain diseases. MRIs can determine whether abnormalities in your body confirm that this increased risk is present, and the results can lead to a recommendation of personalized preventive measures and lifestyle adjustments. The detail provided by these scans allows you to build a wealth of data on your health, which allows you and your healthcare provider to carefully evaluate what health and wellness strategies should be put into place.
The quality of MRI scans and the post-scan interpretation and analysis of results are crucial to getting helpful information from an MRI scan. It is important to look for facilities with accreditation from reputable organizations - such as the American College of Radiology. This will ensure that quality and safety standards are being met. Care should also be taken to choose facilities with advanced technology and equipment and with experienced radiologists - to get the best possible scan quality and scan interpretation. Ezra partners with top imaging centers and radiologists to ensure that you have the best experience and has multiple locations across Houston and Austin.
MRIs are non-invasive and painless scans. Before the scan, you will be required to change into a hospital gown and remove any metal objects. A thorough screening will be carried out prior to the scan to ensure that any metal within your body (such as a metal joint replacement) will not cause any damage or interfere with the scan. You will lie inside the scanner for the duration of the scan. Headphones or earplugs will be provided to protect your ears from any sounds within the scanner. Scans will take between 15 and 90 minutes, but the exact length will depend on the size of the area being scanned. Ezra’s full-body scan takes one hour to complete.
After your MRI scan has been completed, an expert radiologist will analyze the images. This may be combined with AI technologies to further improve the accuracy of the analysis - Ezra uses FDA-cleared AI to assist radiologists. The report will be shared with the patient, and a specialist will discuss the next steps to take if an abnormality has been detected - this could include follow-up tests or formulating plans for necessary lifestyle changes.
Health trends across the country, including in Texas, are moving away from a sole focus on treatment and towards focusing on preventing diseases before they occur or catching them before they progress any further. Full-body MRI scans are an important method of identifying abnormalities and diseases before symptoms have occurred - catching early when treatment will be more successful. MRI scans are non-invasive, do not involve harmful ionizing radiation, and will only take up to 90 minutes to complete.
If you want to start preventive healthcare for yourself, why not book an Ezra full-body MRI? Our annual scan catches potential cancer earlier, leveraging AI through the screening process to make it more efficient, affordable, and faster.
