Cardiac Calcium Scoring
Heart Month Special
Merit Health Central provides cardiac calcium scoring, which is also known as a heart scan or calcium score. It’s a non-invasive CT scan of the heart used to calculate your risk of developing coronary artery disease (CAD) by measuring the amount of calcified plaque in the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries are the vessels that supply oxygen containing blood to the heart. The plaque that may be found in these arteries is a buildup of fat, calcium and other substances that can either narrow or close the arteries. Some symptoms of plaque build-up in these arteries may be chest pain, arm tingle or back pain.
We provide patients with education on lifestyle changes to help manage stress, recognize warning signs of a cardiac event, reduce hypertension, maintain heart healthy nutrition and more.
A cardiac scoring procedure:
- Detects the build-up of plaque earlier than other technology (such as stress testing)
- May reduce the need for other, more expensive and invasive tests
- Is a convenient and non-invasive way of evaluating the coronary arteries
- Does not require injection of contrast material
- Can suggest the presence of CAD even when the coronary arteries are less than 50% narrowed
- Takes little time and causes no pain
- Helps your physician develop the appropriate prevention strategy for you
- Gives you peace of mind
Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. When detected early, however, persons affected by coronary artery disease often have better prognoses and outcomes. Merit Health Central utilizes a technology that can provide early, life-saving detection.
Cardiac scoring is a noninvasive, painless scanning technology that measures the extent of coronary calcium atherosclerosis (plaque buildup) in the coronary arteries. The procedure, which usually takes about 30 minutes to complete, can help predict coronary events, such as heart attacks. Cardiac scoring:
- Helps determine the overall extent of coronary atherosclerosis at very early stages, often years before symptoms develop
- Helps physicians develop appropriate coronary event prevention strategies for patients.
- Reduces the need for additional expensive and invasive tests.
- Is available without a physician referral.
Who Should Consider a Cardiac Scoring Procedure?
A heart attack can strike anyone, regardless of age or fitness level. There are risk factors, however, that may indicate a predisposition to heart disease. If you are age 40 or older and have one or more of the following risk factors, cardiac scoring might be beneficial to you.
- Family history of early heart disease, heart attack or stroke
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- History of smoking
- Obesity and/or prolonged inactivity
- Stress
Persons with documented coronary artery disease, however, should not utilize cardiac scoring for scanning purposes, although it may be useful in some circumstances under the guidance of a physician.
What to Expect During the Exam
Patients pass fully clothed through an ultrafast CT scanner that produces images of the coronary arteries and/or lungs. Patients are asked to lie very still while the scan is being performed and are instructed to hold their breath. Cardiac scoring is completely noninvasive and painless and does not require injection of contrast material, although very low amounts of radiation are used to produce the images. Fasting before the test is not necessary, but patients should not consume caffeine for up to four hours prior to the scan. Patients are encouraged to discuss the benefits of this procedure with their physician prior to a scan as well as discuss their results afterwards.
Requires a physician's order. To schedule a cardiac calcium scoring exam at Merit Health Central, call (601) 376-2079.
Heart Month Special
Cardiac scoring is not covered by insurance. You can purchase a certificate for a discounted bundled pricing (which includes the physician fee) from MDsave at this link: Cardiac CT Calcium Screening