Thermography comes to Creston

A new medical examination service will help provide information on people’s health through thermal scans.

Discover Medical Thermography held a ribbon cutting Thursday to celebrate their introduction to Creston’s range of businesses. The company is led by two certified clinical thermographers, Angie Utterback and Alesha Hadley.

The business houses itself in the Carroll Family Chiropractic office on 203 W. Adams St. Discover also has a second location in Ames at Ames Spine & Sport.

Thermography measures the temperature of the body in search of abnormalities, which can often be an early sign for developing issues in the body. Discover uses the FLIR A700 infrared camera to capture a thermal image of the body.

A quote on Discover’s website attributed to both Utterback and Hadley states, “The body often shows thermal signs before a health challenge develops. Our interpreting physicians evaluate thermal imbalances that may indicate future health issues. Factors such as thyroid dysfunction, hormone imbalances, lymphatic congestion, toxicity, and calcification can influence health. Thermography helps identify these concerns, enabling proactive planning.”

Utterback and Hadley are sisters and members of the International Association of Medical Thermographers. Both had received thermograms throughout their lives in an effort to be proactive about their health. Hadley described the process as “noninvasive and nonharmful.”

Hadley gave an example of how thermogram studies can show patterns in the body. One of her patients had increased inflammation from her shoulder down to her foot, with thermogram scans showing asymmetrical temperature readings which showed the body was adjusting to a problem with her hip.

October is Breast Health Awareness Month, and the two thermographers are happy to promote their services to encourage proactivity around breast health. The information gained from their scans help guide people to practitioners who can give further treatment.

Both of the thermographers can’t officially diagnose issues with the body, including cancer or other information normally gained through mammography, but the information can help their clients make decisions around their health. Hadley described their services as “another piece of the puzzle, another spoke on the wheel” in their client’s “health journeys.”

More information can be found at the business’ website, www.discovermedtherm.com, or by calling (515) 207-9616 to reach the office. Discover Medical Thermography is also on Facebook and Instagram, which Hadley says is an effort to help educate others on a new imaging technique.

Discover recommends a few things to monitor before a study. Any activity that raises or lowers body temperature before the scan, like exercise, hot showers, drinking hot or cold beverages or wearing oil based products and heavy makeup, is discouraged. A fever or sunburn can be enough to force rescheduling. Those who have undergone breast surgery, chemotherapy or radiation treatments within three months of the imaging will have to reschedule.