St. Mary's Hospital - Decatur Services Heart Care Screening & Tests Heart Scan
St Mary Decatur Heart Scan Nurse checking patient heart

Heart Scan

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 a heart attack. The information provided by the scan can be used by your physician to recommend appropriate interventions.

Why should I have a Heart scan?

Even though you feel great, you could still be at risk for heart disease. Fifty percent of people do not have symptoms prior to a heart attack

A heart scan will give you the necessary information to determine your risk for having a heart attack.

Once you have a Heart Scan, if you are at advanced risk, your physician can help you reduce your risk of having a heart attack.

FAQs on Heart Scans

 

Is a Heart Scan a difficult, or painful test?

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.

Is a Heart Scan right for me?
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