What Is CIMT?

Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (CIMT) is an ultrasound measurement of the inner two layers of the carotid arteries — the vessels that supply blood to your brain. By assessing the thickness of these artery walls, we can identify early changes of atherosclerosis long before symptoms develop.

Benefits of Getting a CIMT (Carotid Intima-Media Thickness) Test:

A CIMT test (Carotid Intima-Media Thickness) is a non-invasive ultrasound that measures the thickness of the inner layers of your carotid arteries — the vessels that supply blood to your brain. This test provides an early, quantitative snapshot of your vascular health long before traditional symptoms or even abnormal lab results appear.

  1. Detects Early Arterial Plaque

CIMT identifies early plaque buildup — the earliest stage of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) — often years before a heart attack or stroke risk becomes apparent.

This means you can act early with lifestyle, diet, or medical changes to reverse or stabilize plaque formation.

  1. Predicts Future Heart Disease and Stroke Risk

Clinical studies show CIMT is one of the strongest non-invasive predictors of future cardiovascular events.

 A small increase in artery wall thickness can indicate increased risk — even when cholesterol, blood pressure, or other routine labs are normal.

  1. Reveals “Silent” Vascular Disease

Up to 50% of heart attacks and strokes occur in people with no prior symptoms. CIMT helps uncover hidden arterial disease early, giving you a chance to make changes before a major event occurs.

  1. Optimizes Training and Recovery for Athletes

For endurance and high-intensity athletes, CIMT helps ensure your arteries are adapting well to your cardiovascular load. It can detect if intense training is promoting healthy vascular elasticity — or if early inflammation or stiffness is occurring.

  1. Monitors the Impact of Lifestyle and Treatment

CIMT can be repeated annually to track how interventions — such as diet, exercise, statins, or supplements — are affecting arterial health. It’s a measurable, trackable scorecard for your cardiovascular progress.

  1. Non-Invasive, Painless, Affordable

The test uses simple ultrasound imaging — no needles, radiation, or contrast dyes — and typically takes about 20–30 minutes. It’s one of the most affordable, high-impact preventive screenings available today.

CIMT testing is endorsed by preventive cardiology experts as one of the most reliable, non-invasive ways to measure vascular health and “arterial age.”