LabFinder encourages men and women to have vital testing to check on their heart health. We believe early testing and screening leads to early understanding and prevention of heart disease.
A coronary calcium scan is a quick, non-invasive, specialized X-ray test that provides pictures of your heart. It allows your doctor to detect the presence of plaques in the artery caused by calcium. It allows your doctor to detect the presence of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), which is one of the most common culprits behind heart attacks. CAD causes the arteries to narrow or harden (calcify) due to a buildup of calcium-containing plaque. This plaque is primarily composed of fats, calcium deposits, and cholesterol, which are not good for your heart. If left untreated, the plaque can grow inside the arteries of the heart slowly over time and can eventually restrict or block the flow of blood to the muscles of the heart. The coronary calcium scan is one of the most effective tests in assessing heart attack risk. The results of the coronary calcium scan will indicate how much calcified plaque is present in your heart's arteries. Based on the results of the scan, your doctor will decide whether you need medication or lifestyle changes.
A coronary calcium scan is performed to help clinicians assess the severity of the plaque formation that are caused by fat and calcium. Restriction of these vital vessels deprive them of oxygen rich nutrients needed for survival. This scan helps to see how narrow the vessel is to give appropriate treatment options.
First, the technician attaches electrodes to your chest. These connect to an EKG, which monitors your heart's electrical activity during the exam. The X-Ray images are taken between heartbeats During the heart scan, you can expect to lie on your back on a movable table. The table slides into the tubelike CT scanner. Your head is outside the scanner the entire duration of the test. You may be given medication either by pill or injection that slows your heart to help ensure clear images. If you are nervous or anxious, you may be given medication to help you remain calm. You'll be asked to hold still and hold your breath for a few seconds while the pictures are taken. The technician will be in a room next door, but can see and talk to you the entire time. The entire procedure should take about 10 to 15 minutes.
You can now receive a doctor’s script for a lab or radiology test virtually for the low price of $5. After testing, a thorough review of your test results by one of our board-certified providers will be uploaded to your dashboard.
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