Text Box: Coronary Artery Disease

Text Box: Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring

Text Box: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a disorder caused by cholesterol plaque that builds up within the walls of the arteries that supply blood to the heart— the coronary arteries. As these arteries become progressively clogged, blood flow slows causing chest discomfort or breathlessness during exertion— symptoms that physicians call angina.  In other patients, a blood clot may suddenly form on the surface of the plaque, causing a heart attack — also called a myocardial infarction. 

Text Box: · Every 29 seconds an American suffers a heart attack. · Every 60 seconds an American dies from a heart attack. · Over half of men and women who die suddenly of heart disease have no previous symptoms. · About 80% of the people under 65 who died of heart disease did so during their first heart attack.  

Text Box: Calcification in the coronary arteries is the earliest indicator of heart disease.  Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring (CACS) uses noninvasive, high-speed computerized tomography (CT) to scan your heart and detect calcium deposits along the walls of arteries. This technique can detect coronary artery disease at its earliest stages….many years before a stress test or cardiac catheterization will show an abnormality.

Text Box: A HeartScan Calcium Score measures the amount of calcium within the walls of your coronary arteries.  The calcium score—along with other risk factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, age, and family history—can be used by your physician to measure your potential for heart disease, and begin appropriate treatment early….potentially preventing heart attack or death.

Text Box: HeartScan Cardiac CT Exam

Text Box: What to expect during the exam. · Eat and drink normally before the test. Fasting is not required. · You should take all your usual medications . · Electrocardiogram (ECG) leads will be placed on your chest to synchronize the CT scan  to your heartbeat. · You will lie on the CT exam table for about five minutes. · You will be asked to hold your breath for about 15 seconds while the scan is performed. · There are no needles and no injection of intravenous contrast.   

Text Box: How can I get a HeartScan?

Text Box: Your primary care physician can order the test for you.  If you do not have a primary care physician, you may call Cardiology Associates directly to schedule the exam. 610-375-6565.