The heart scan procedure is simple; all you have to do is lie down and let the CT scanner do the work. There are no injections or radioactive dyes. The scan is easy, non-invasive and non-claustrophobic.
A heart scan is a CT scan conducted on a 64-Slice CT scanner measuring the calcium load in the coronary arteries which can lead to future cardiac events, such as heart attack. The information provided by the scan can be used by your physician to recommend appropriate interventions.
Anyone 40 or older could benefit from having a heart scan, particularly those with these risk factors:
- High Cholesterol
- Diabetes
- History of smoking
- Lack of physical activity
- High blood pressure
- Family history of heart disease
- Being overweight