The leading cause of death in the United States is heart disease, claiming over 702,000 lives annually. With early detection, it may be possible to manage heart disease with lifestyle changes and medication.
You may have many questions about heart disease and heart scans. Are you at risk of heart disease? Do you need a heart scan? What could a heart scan reveal? Understanding the benefits of heart scans can help you determine if you need a CT scan, and what you can expect to learn about your heart health.
Schedule your CT scan.
What Is a CT Scan of the Heart?
A CT heart scan is a non-invasive medical scan that provides images of the heart and arteries leading to the heart. The scans use a small amount of radiation to generate images.
What Does a Heart Scan Detect?
A coronary calcium scan clearly shows how much calcium buildup is lining the arteries leading to your heart. When calcium builds up in your arteries, the arteries stiffen. It’s harder for blood and oxygen to flow to the heart when the arteries are blocked. You have a greater risk of developing coronary artery disease and suffering a heart attack if you have calcium buildup in your arteries.
Getting a coronary calcium scan ensures you know if you have issues with your aorta, valves, and arteries. It can identify issues affecting your heart’s ability to function. The information provided by a heart CT scan can also determine if you have heart disease, or are at risk of developing heart disease. Determining if you have heart disease in its early stages, or an elevated risk of heart disease, enables you to receive effective treatment to manage your condition.
Who Should Consider a Coronary Calcium Scan?
You or your doctor may determine you need a coronary calcium scan if you are at risk of developing heart disease. The following are the primary risk factors justifying a coronary calcium scan:
- You’re between 40 and 74: Men may need a coronary calcium scan in their forties if they have a family history of heart disease or symptoms of heart disease. Otherwise, doctors recommend men get a coronary calcium score test between 50 and 60. These scans are suitable for women without a family history or symptoms of heart disease when they’re between the ages of 60 and 70.
- You are at risk of developing heart disease: Your risk of developing heart disease is greater if you have a family history of heart disease. Other risk factors include the following:
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Obesity
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Smoking
Coronary calcium scans are also suitable for those who are concerned about their heart health, and their risk of heart disease. Perhaps you used to smoke, had a sedentary lifestyle, and were obese. You’ve taken steps to improve your health, such as exercising regularly and quitting smoking, but you’re concerned about potential damage to your heart and arteries. A coronary calcium scan can give you peace of mind by confirming your heart health or identifying issues, so you can receive effective treatment.
What Does a Heart Scan Tell You?
With a heart CT scan, we will be able to evaluate your:
- Coronary arteries that supply your heart
- Heart chambers, muscle and valves
- Pulmonary veins
- Thoracic aorta, and sometimes abdominal aorta
- Sac around your heart (pericardium)
Your doctor can then use the information provided by the scan to assess your heart health.
What Should You Expect During a Coronary Calcium Scan of Your Heart?
You will receive instructions when you book your coronary calcium scan. You should avoid caffeine and nicotine for a few hours prior to your scan, but you do not need to consume contrast dye or fast. You must wear loose clothing; women should also avoid wearing bras with underwire. You will need to remove your belt and loose items in your pockets.
A CT technician will guide you through the process and explain each step when you arrive for your scan. The CT technician will attach electrodes placed to your chest prior to the scan. You’ll need to lie on a metal table that slides into the scanner, which is shaped like a life preserver. The table stops when your chest is inside the tube, leaving your head and legs outside the tube, so you don’t need to worry about feeling claustrophobic during the scan.
The CT technician will instruct you to hold still and hold your breath at some points during the scan.
Book Your Coronary Calcium Heart Scan Today
A heart CT scan can reassure you about your heart health. Whether you live in Las Vegas or you’re visiting the city, you can schedule a heart CT scan at Preventative Diagnostic Center without a prescription or referral. Our medical team will perform a scan and provide detailed information about your heart health, enabling you to receive treatment if necessary, so you can manage your heart health.
Book your CT scan.
FAQs
How Long Does a Heart Scan Take?
Getting a CT heart scan, which can provide crucial information about your heart health, doesn’t take long. An appointment takes approximately 15 minutes from start to finish, including less than a minute of total scanning time.
How Much Does a Heart Scan Cost?
At Preventative Diagnostic Center in Las Vegas, we offer heart scans with calcium scores for less than $600. You do not need a doctor’s prescription for a heart CT scan; our team includes a board-certified physician and radiologist. Our team will take your medical history, discuss your concerns, perform a comprehensive scan, and explain your results.
Does a Heart CT Scan Show Blockages?
A heart CT scan can clearly show your arteries and any calcium buildup or blockages.
Sources:
Coronary Calcium Scan. (2023).
Do I Need a Coronary Calcium Scan? (2024).
Cardiac Computed Tomography (CT) Scan.
Leading Causes of Death. (2024).
Torberg, L. (2017). Mayo Clinic Q and A: Do I Need a Heart Scan?
