Taking care of your health in the summer
Summer is synonymous with travel, sports, heat, and intense outdoor activities. Yet, this seemingly perfect time for well-being exposes the body to numerous, often underestimated, physiological stresses: cardiovascular overload linked to the heat, lower back pain aggravated by long journeys, urinary problems exacerbated by dehydration, migraines triggered by pressure variations, and even phlebitis exacerbated by prolonged immobility. These risks, often silent, can develop without any clear clinical warning before suddenly manifesting as acute events in the middle of summer.
In this context, preventive medical imaging now makes it possible to identify these vulnerabilities before the summer season. Thanks to advances in low-dose technologies, the precision of specialized MRIs, and the increasing assistance of artificial intelligence, imaging assessments are becoming a key tool for proactive prevention.
In Switzerland, this personalized approach is increasingly integrated into preventive medical practices, particularly for patients with identified risk factors: cardiovascular, spinal, gynecological, prostate, or neurological. The Imaging and Diagnostic Center (CID Lausanne) is fully committed to this predictive medicine approach, offering specialized imaging assessments before the summer, thus enabling the anticipation and protection of the health of at-risk patients.
Summer cardiovascular risks
Heat is one of the main environmental factors that can destabilize the cardiovascular system, particularly in patients with pre-existing vulnerabilities. During heat waves, the body uses adaptive mechanisms to regulate its internal temperature: peripheral vasodilation, increased sweating, and increased cardiac output. These adaptations can quickly become insufficient in the elderly, those with heart failure, hypertensive or diabetic patients, or those taking diuretics or beta-blockers.
In Switzerland, data from the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) confirm a significant increase in cardiovascular mortality during periods of intense heat. Myocardial infarctions, arrhythmias, acute heart failure, and strokes increase markedly during heat waves, even in our temperate regions.
Preventive cardiovascular imaging now allows for better risk stratification. The coronary calcium score, obtained by ultra-low-dose cardiac CT scan, provides an objective quantification of coronary atherosclerotic burden even before the onset of any clinical symptoms. Follow-up echocardiography, meanwhile, allows for the assessment of overall cardiac function and the detection of early overload in heart failure patients before the summer months.
At CID Lausanne, these examinations are carried out in a targeted manner before the summer for patients identified as being at risk, allowing for early adaptation of treatments and active safety measures before the first heat waves.
Preventing lower back pain and spinal pain during travel
Long summer journeys by car, plane, or train place significant mechanical stress on the lumbar spine, often underestimated by patients already suffering from chronic back pain or a history of herniated discs. Prolonged immobilization, micro-vibrations, and sitting for several hours can contribute to recurrences of acute lower back pain, sciatica, and sometimes the development of new disc protrusions.
Certain summer activities (prolonged hikes, water sports, intense unprepared exertion) can also reactivate silent spinal instabilities. In the absence of a precise structural diagnosis, this pain is often managed symptomatically, without addressing the true underlying mechanical cause.
Spinal imaging now allows for the objective identification of these structural lesions: herniated discs, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, or degenerative disc disease. Lumbar MRI is the gold standard for assessing disc and nerve integrity before summer in patients with recurrent pain. Dynamic spinal CT scans can, in turn, better highlight certain previously undetected vertebral instabilities.
Preventive checklist to ask yourself before summer:
- Have I ever experienced significant lower back pain during previous trips?
- Do I have a history of herniated discs, whether operated on or not?
- Do long journeys (> 3 hours sitting) systematically trigger lower back pain?
- Do I sometimes experience radiating pain in my legs, numbness, or tingling?
- Does my daily work or leisure activities expose my back to repeated strain?
- Am I going on holiday with unusual physical activities planned (hiking, water sports, prolonged activities)?
A simple preventive spinal imaging assessment often allows postural measures to be adapted, targeted physiotherapy sessions to be planned, or, in some cases, interventional treatment to be scheduled before the pathology worsens in the middle of summer.
Women's pre-summer imaging: breast and pelvic check-up
Summer is often a pivotal time for women's health checkups. Before going on holiday, before returning to school or work, or before periods of heavy family responsibilities, it's often the right time to have the recommended preventive imaging checkups.
Breast cancer screening remains the cornerstone of cancer prevention for women. In Switzerland, organized mammography screening programs are in place from age 50, but imaging sometimes needs to be adapted to individual profiles. In some patients with dense breasts, mammography alone may lack sensitivity. Complementary breast ultrasound, or even targeted breast MRI in cases of high genetic risk (BRCA, early family history), significantly improves the early detection of subclinical lesions.
In addition, certain chronic pelvic pain conditions (endometriosis, ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids) can be exacerbated by summer hormonal fluctuations, increased physical activity, or travel. Pelvic MRI, a non-invasive and radiation-free procedure, is the preferred examination for identifying and mapping these conditions before summer, thus allowing for adjustments to treatments and monitoring during the summer months.
Preventive checklist to ask yourself before summer:
- Am I up to date with my breast cancer screening (mammogram, ultrasound or MRI)?
- Do I have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer before the age of 50?
- Are my breasts classified as "dense" on mammography?
- Do I have recurring cyclical pelvic pain?
- Do I experience heavy periods, intermenstrual bleeding, or pain during intercourse?
- Are episodes of pelvic pain more frequent during prolonged physical activity?
- Am I planning a long trip with variations in climate and pace that could aggravate certain gynecological problems?
Precision imaging now allows for personalized and perfectly tailored preventative care for women, addressing each woman's individual vulnerabilities. Planning a check-up before summer often provides peace of mind for the entire year.
Men's health: preventive prostate screening
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is extremely common after age 50 and can become complicated during the summer months due to dehydration, heat, and changes in lifestyle. Urinary problems (frequent urination, nocturia, dysuria) often worsen during travel or summer activities. Prolonged exposure to heat and changes in hydration can promote acute urinary retention, urinary tract infections, and, in some cases, infectious prostatic complications.
Meanwhile, prostate cancer remains the most common cancer in men in Switzerland. PSA testing is the first level of screening, but its sensitivity and specificity are limited. Today, multiparametric MRI of the prostate has become the gold standard examination whenever there is any doubt: it allows for the localization and characterization of lesions, reduces unnecessary biopsies, and precisely targets the necessary biopsies.
Summer is a particularly relevant time to plan this type of preventive check-up for men at risk, in order to avoid possible urological complications during the holidays and to anticipate the management of detected prostate abnormalities.
Preventive checklist to ask yourself before summer:
- Do I have frequent urinary problems (difficulty urinating, weak stream, frequent urges)?
- Am I woken up at night by the urge to urinate (nocturia)?
- Have I ever experienced an episode of acute urinary retention?
- Has my PSA level ever been measured, and was it abnormal or fluctuating?
- Do I have a family history of prostate cancer?
- Am I planning a long trip (car, plane, cruise) that could worsen these urinary problems?
- Have I ever had recurrent urinary tract infections?
Prostate MRI now makes it possible to avoid unnecessary biopsies, detect aggressive forms early, and reassure patients in cases of benign lesions. An early summer check-up prevents many unforeseen complications while on vacation.
Neurovascular risks during travel
Summer periods, and particularly long journeys, expose certain populations to often overlooked neurological and neurovascular risks. Long-haul flights, cruises, and extended trips promote the development of venous disorders (phlebitis, pulmonary embolisms) but can also trigger transient neurological episodes: migraines, vertigo, visual disturbances, paresthesia.
Migraine sufferers are particularly sensitive to changes in air pressure, hormonal fluctuations (in women), dehydration, and sleep disruptions often associated with vacations. In some cases, recent or altered headaches can mask underlying conditions that warrant further investigation before a long trip.
Modern neurovascular imaging now allows for a comprehensive assessment in prevention:
- Brain MRI makes it possible to rule out structural lesions or micro-infarctions that went unnoticed.
- Angio-MRI or angiography of the supra-aortic trunks detects silent carotid stenoses.
- Venous Doppler ultrasound assessments allow for the objective evaluation of thromboembolic risks.
Preventive checklist to ask yourself before summer:
- Do I suffer from recurring migraines, especially when travelling or flying?
- Have I recently experienced any visual disturbances, paresthesia, dizziness, or transient loss of speech?
- Do I have a personal or family history of stroke or TIA?
- Has my vascular assessment (carotid arteries, deep veins) already been carried out?
- Do I have any thrombotic risk factors (hormonal contraception, smoking, overweight, prolonged sedentary lifestyle)?
- Have I planned a long trip (> 5 hours of travel time spent stationary) this summer?
A simple preventive neurological assessment allows for the evaluation of cerebrovascular risk and the adaptation of preventive recommendations in a personalized manner before any major summer trip.
The benefits of precision imaging at CID Lausanne
The main advantage of the CID lies in:
- Specialized radiological expertise
- State-of-the-art equipment
- A smooth organization before the summer (quick appointments, check-ups, rapid transmission of results to referring physicians)
- Strict control of radiation protection (systematic low dose)
- Compliance with Swiss standards (FOPH, FMH, LaMal)
- Systematic use of optimized low-dose protocols on CT and MRI scans
Preventive imaging is now a true tool for predictive and personalized medicine. The CID Lausanne is committed to offering a seamless, safe, and perfectly tailored care pathway to meet the specific health needs of the summer period.
The contribution of artificial intelligence to preventive analysis at CID Lausanne
What are its concrete contributions?
In low-dose chest CT scans:
- Automated detection of pulmonary micronodules as small as 3-4 mm.
- Objective comparison between successive examinations to monitor the evolution of lesions.
- Reduction of the risk of false negatives on very small nodules.
In cardiac imaging (calcium score):
- Automated and precise quantification of calcium volumes.
- Detailed mapping of the distribution of coronary atherosclerotic plaques.
In multiparametric MRI (prostate and breast):
- Assistance in characterizing suspicious lesions.
- Improvement in the reproducibility of aggression scores (PI-RADS, BI-RADS).
In vascular neuroimaging:
- Detection of subtle or progressive carotid stenoses.
- Quantification of cerebral vascular flow.
AI at the Lausanne CID never replaces human expertise: All results are systematically reviewed, validated, and integrated by specialized FMH radiologists, who retain full medical responsibility for the interpretation. AI thus provides a safety enhancement, particularly relevant in prevention where the detection of very early lesions often determines the prognosis.
At CID Lausanne, this type of integrated pathway makes it possible to identify vulnerabilities before the high-risk summer periods, and to adjust therapeutic or behavioral measures before any prolonged travel.
Future perspectives and innovations in summer preventive imaging
Widespread ultra-low dose imaging protocols
The gradual integration of radiomic biomarkers and advanced AI
Combined and interdisciplinary preventive assessments
Predictive risk models integrated into patient records
Conclusion: Plan ahead to travel and enjoy yourself safely
Summer offers the opportunity to travel, engage in physical activities, and break out of the usual routine. But this period sometimes exposes silent vulnerabilities that only preventive medical imaging can detect in time.
Thanks to technological advances, the integration of artificial intelligence and the multidisciplinary expertise of CID Lausanne, it is now possible to carry out targeted, personalized and secure assessments before the summer, thus avoiding many unforeseen complications during the holidays.
Precision preventive medicine is becoming a true driver of active health. Not waiting for the first symptoms often translates into years of extra quality of life.
