A CT Calcium Score screening is a CT scan of your heart. This simple, non-invasive test measures the amount of calcified plaque in your coronary arteries. Results can help you and your doctor determine if you are at increased risk of developing coronary artery disease (CAD), which can lead to a heart attack. The test is beneficial even if you have no symptoms of CAD.
Your doctor may recommend a Calcium Score screening if you have risk factors for CAD. These risk factors include:
- Family history of heart disease
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Physical inactivity
- Being overweight
- Cigarette smoking (past or present)
The screening can detect heart disease long before symptoms are present. It is more accurate in predicting coronary events than cholesterol screening or other risk assessments.
The test is quick and easy. Here’s how it works:
- You lie on a padded scanner table and a technologist attaches electrodes (small, sticky discs) to your chest. These electrodes are connected to a machine called an electrocardiograph (ECG) that reads your heart's electrical activity.
- You hold your breath as the table moves through the CT scanner, capturing images. You may hear a humming sound from inside the machine.
- You can communicate with the technologist throughout the exam, which takes just a few minutes.
There is no downtime after a Calcium Score screening; you can go about your normal activities immediately.
A radiologist will analyze your images and provide a comprehensive report to your doctor. The higher your calcium score, the greater your risk of heart attack. Based on your score, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes or a treatment plan.
Learn more about CT Calcium Score screening at Fairfax Radiology.