CIMT Test: A Simple Look Inside Your Arteries

Why we recommend a CIMT

Many people who have a heart attack or stroke were told their risk was low. Often there were no warning signs. Cholesterol tests and risk scores only guess at your risk. A CIMT looks for the disease itself.

A CIMT can:

  • Find artery disease early. It can show plaque years before you have symptoms. That is when changes in diet, lifestyle and medicine can help the most.
  • Show us your real starting point. Two people with the same cholesterol can have very different arteries.
  • Help us build your plan. Your results tell us how strong your plan needs to be.
  • Track your progress. A later scan shows if your plan is working.
  • Do all this safely. There is no radiation, so it is safe to repeat.

What is a CIMT test?

CIMT stands for carotid intima-media thickness. It is an ultrasound of the two large arteries in your neck, called the carotid arteries. They carry blood to your brain.

Drawing of a person with the carotid arteries in the neck and an ultrasound probe resting on the outside of the neck

The test measures how thick the two inner layers of the artery wall are. It also looks for plaque. Plaque is a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other material in the artery wall.

Close-up drawing of the carotid artery wall under the probe, showing the outer, middle and inner layers that CIMT measures

What to expect

  • You do not need to prepare. Wear a shirt with a loose or open collar. Skip lotion on your neck that day.
  • You lie on your back. A technician puts warm gel on your neck and moves a small probe along it.
  • You may feel light pressure. It does not hurt.
  • There is no radiation and there are no needles.
  • It takes about 15 minutes. You can go back to your day right after.

What your results can show

Plaque in the neck often means there is plaque in other arteries too, including the heart. A thicker wall or plaque means a higher risk of heart attack and stroke.

Three drawings of an artery: a healthy wall, a thicker wall, and a wall with plaque

How often we repeat it

Your results decide. We follow the BaleDoneen Method, where your clinician sets your schedule based on your risk and your first scan. This is often every one to a few years.3

  • If we find plaque or a thicker wall, we usually check again in about a year. This shows us if your plan is working.
  • If your arteries look healthy, we may wait longer before the next scan.
Drawings comparing a first scan and a next scan: plaque growing, staying the same, or getting smaller

Each new scan is compared to your last one. If plaque is growing, we find out why and change your plan. If it stays the same or gets smaller, we know your plan is working.

In a study from Drs. Bale and Doneen's Spokane clinic, patients had repeat CIMT scans to track their progress. With treatment, soft, fatty plaque went down and artery walls got thinner. Most of the change happened in the first 2 years.1 An 8-year BaleDoneen study also found that artery walls got thinner over time.2

Schedule your CIMT

CardioRisk holds CIMT screening days in Washington and Idaho. You can book a scan directly. No referral needed.

  • The scan takes about 15 minutes. No fasting, no prep. Wear a shirt with an open neckline.
  • The cost is $249, paid directly to CardioRisk when you book. HSA and FSA may apply.
  • You get a written report with images and measurements. Share it with us and we use it to build your plan.

Important: when you book, fill in the bottom of the form this way.

  • Do you have an ordering provider? Choose Yes.
  • Name of the ordering provider: type Paul Milani.
  • Release of results: choose Yes, I authorize CardioRisk Laboratories to release my results.

This sends your scan results to Evergreen so we can review them with you and use them in your plan.

Example of the CardioRisk booking form with ordering provider set to Yes, Paul Milani entered as the provider, and release of results set to Yes

Schedule a CIMT in Spokane Valley

Regus, 12709 E Mirabeau Pkwy, Suite 300, 1st Floor, Spokane Valley, WA 99216. Next dates: October 30 and December 18, 2026.

Other locations in Washington and Idaho

Pick your city to schedule a CIMT.

Schedule a CIMT in Coeur d'Alene
Kroc Center, 1765 W Golf Course Rd. Next dates: Oct 17, Nov 14, Dec 12, 2026; Jan 16, 2027.

Schedule a CIMT in Bellevue
Regus Cedar Building, 1400 112th Ave SE, Suite 100. Next dates: Oct 13, Oct 27, Nov 3, Nov 17, Dec 1, Dec 8, 2026.

Schedule a CIMT in Kirkland
Regus, 11335 NE 122nd Way, Ste 105. Next dates: Nov 10, 2026; Jan 14, 2027.

Schedule a CIMT in Bothell
Regus, 22722 29th Dr SE West, Suite 100. Next dates: Dec 15, 2026.

Schedule a CIMT in Tukwila
Regus, 555 Andover Park W, Suite 200. Next dates: Jan 8, 2027.

Schedule a CIMT in Vancouver
Regus, 701 NE 136th Ave, Suite 200. Next dates: Oct 23 and Dec 11, 2026.

Dates listed as of October 2026. The booking page shows current openings.

Part of Our Heart Attack and Stroke Prevention

CIMT is one part of our heart attack and stroke prevention, along with advanced blood tests and a search for root causes.

Schedule a free 15-minute call with a clinician. We serve adults in Washington and Idaho by telehealth.

Request a Free Discovery Call

Sources

  1. Cheng HG, Patel BS, Martin SS, Blaha M, Doneen A, Bale B, Jones SR. Effect of comprehensive cardiovascular disease risk management on longitudinal changes in carotid artery intima-media thickness in a community-based prevention clinic. Arch Med Sci. 2016;12(4):728-735. doi:10.5114/aoms.2016.60955
  2. Feng D, Esperat MC, Doneen AL, Bale B, Song H, Green AE. Eight-year outcomes of a program for early prevention of cardiovascular events: a growth-curve analysis. J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2015;30(4):281-291. doi:10.1097/JCN.0000000000000141
  3. BaleDoneen Method. What Is CIMT Testing and Why Does It Matter for Heart Health?
  4. Cleveland Clinic. Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (CIMT) Test. 2023.