If you’re a current or former smoker, chest screenings can help you stay on top of your lung health.
Many people hear about chest screenings and think of lung cancer. And it’s true that these screenings can detect signs of lung cancer in its early stages, before symptoms start — and while more treatment options may be available.
But that’s not all these screenings can do. Temple’s Healthy Chest Initiative offers screenings that are able to detect airflow problems like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Other conditions in your chest may also be revealed — including heart disease, signs of sleep apnea, or osteoporosis.
Screenings can catch these problems sooner, when they may be easier to treat. They can also give you peace of mind. As a Temple nurse navigator, I’ve seen firsthand how valuable both of those things can be.
If you think chest screenings might be the right decision for you or a loved one, read on. Here’s what you should know about these important tests and how they work.
How chest screenings work
Here at Temple, we do chest screenings a little differently. Our screenings involve two important tests:
- Low-dose CT (LDCT) scan: This scan takes detailed x-ray images of your entire chest while you lie flat on a table. It’s called ‘low-dose’ because it uses a low amount of radiation to take the images. LDCT scans check for unusual changes or growths in your lungs. They can also detect changes in your pancreas or kidneys.
- Spirometry: Spirometry is a test that checks your lung function. It measures how much air you can exhale and how fast you can blow air out. During the test, you’ll inhale deeply, then blow as hard as you can into a tube connected to a small machine called a spirometer. Spirometry can detect breathing conditions, like COPD, often before a person even notices symptoms.
Most other hospitals don’t offer spirometry as part of their chest screenings. But it’s important, since it’s a simple and effective way to detect COPD and other airflow disorders that often go undiagnosed in their early stages. At Temple, you’ll get the benefits of both screenings in a single visit.
The two tests are quick and painless, often taking just a few minutes to complete. You don’t have to do anything to prepare ahead of time. And you can wear your normal clothes for both parts of the screening.
Who should be screened?
Yearly chest screenings are for people who have a higher-than-average risk for conditions like lung cancer and COPD. They’re recommended for people who meet all of these criteria:
- Have a 20-pack year or more smoking history (a pack year is smoking an average of one pack of cigarettes per day for one year — calculate yours using this calculator)
- Are current smokers or have quit smoking within the past 15 years
- Are between 50 and 80 years old
If you’re thinking about getting screened, talk with your doctor or call 800-TEMPLE-MED (800-836-7536) to find out if you’re eligible.
Chest screening at Temple
Here at Temple, our goal is to make chest screenings simple and convenient. When you call to book an appointment, we’ll be able to review your eligibility and can schedule your screening right away at one of our convenient locations.
After your screening, you won’t have to wait long to get answers. Most patients get their results within a few days.
You’ll get a call from your nurse navigator, who will go over the findings with you and answer your questions. If your screening reveals any possible concerns, they’ll help you plan your next steps. That might mean coming back for further tests or making an appointment with a specialist.
Your nurse navigator can also help connect you to smoking cessation resources, if you’re looking for them.
Schedule your screening
To learn more or schedule your chest screening, give us a call at 800-TEMPLE-MED (800-836-7536) or request an appointment online.
Helpful Resources
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