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ScreeningsCalcium Scoring
For too many Americans, the first and only sign of heart disease is a fatal heart attack. These same individuals had no warning signs, no symptoms, normal cholesterol levels, and were non smokers. In other words, they had little reason to think there was anything to be concerned about. Today, new technology allows doctors to determine a person’s risk of heart disease. This means that coronary artery disease can be detected in an early stage when there are no symptoms. A cardiac calcium scoring exam determines the amount of calcium build-up in the coronary arteries of your heart. The amount of calcium present is related to your risk for a heart attack. What are Your Personal Risk Factors?Cardiac Calcium Scoring is recommended for males over 40 years of age and females over 55 years of age with one or more of the following risk factors:
Why Should I Have this Test?
Benefits of the TestThe calcium scoring exam is a simple, painless, non-invasive study that requires little or no preparation and usually takes less than 5 minutes to complete. Unlike other studies, there are no injections and there is no need to drink any special fluids. Unlike standard cardiac tests, this examination can suggest the presence of coronary artery disease even when the arteries are less than 50% blocked. Remember, more than half of all heart attacks occur with less than a 50% narrowing. Your calcium score can help you make lifestyle changes that may be needed depending on the severity of disease, thus decreasing your chances of future heart attack. With this non invasive diagnostic test, utilizing a CT scanner, calcium can be detected in the coronary arteries making this study effective in early diagnosis of heart disease Calcium Scoring, with a 99% sensitivity rate, has become beneficial to patients who have not exhibited symptoms but may be at risk for heart disease. How the Procedure WorksThe CT scanner works very much like other x-ray examinations. But, with CT scanning, numerous x-ray beams and a set of electronic x-ray detectors rotate around you while the examination table moves through the scanner. A special computer processes these pictures or slices of your body, to create two-dimensional cross-sectional images which redisplayed on a monitor. The image slices are then reassembled by computer software resulting in very detailed multidimensional views of the body’s interior. Facts about Calcium, Cholesterol and PlaqueCholesterol is a substance made naturally by the liver. It can also be found in various foods we eat. Our bodies need cholesterol for many different functions but, when there is too much in your blood, cholesterol and other substances like calcium can build up in the body. This can include the walls of your arteries. Calcium is also very important for our body. It is needed for strong bones and teeth, it is needed for our heart, muscles and nerve function and, it is needed for blood to clot. In other words, calcium is a vital substance that should be taken daily. But, calcium can go in places where it is not suppose to be. The buildup of these substances, cholesterol and calcium, is called plaque. Over time, this plaque can cause hardening of the arteries, narrowing the arteries and causing a decrease in blood flow. This decrease in blood and oxygen can cause chest pain. When blood supply is cut off completely by the plaque, a heart attack can occur. How to Prepare for the Procedure
Women are advised to inform their physician or technologist performing the procedure of any possibility of pregnancy. How the Procedure is PerformedA technologist will position you on the CT examination table, usually lying flat on your back. In some instances, it may be possible to lie on your side. Pillows and straps may be used to help you maintain the correct position and to hold still during the exam. Small EKG electrodes will be attached to your chest and to an EKG machine that records the electrical activity of the heart. This makes it possible to record CT scans when the heart is not actively contracting. Next, the examination table will move slowly through the scanner as the actual CT scanning is performed. You will be asked to hold your breath periodically throughout the scanning for 5-10 seconds durations while images are recorded. The actual CT scanning is usually completed within minutes. How the Test is InterpretedA radiologist will analyze the images and send a signed report to your primary care or referring physician. Your physician will then share the results with you and interpret the findings. A negative calcium scoring test that shows no calcification within the coronary arteries suggests that plaque is minimal and that the chance of coronary artery disease developing over the next two to five years is very low. A positive calcium scoring test means that coronary artery disease is present, regardless of whether or not the patient is experiencing symptoms. The amount of calcification, known as the score, may help predict the likelihood of a heart attack in the coming years. At this stage, you and your doctor can discuss treatment and preventative measures.
Risks and Limitations of Calcium Scoring Tests
To schedule an appointment today call 715.732.8282. |
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Calcium Scoring is a simple, painless way to measure your risk of sudden death from heart attack.