Medically Reviewed by Alan M. Blaker, MD

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Half of the people who have heart attacks will not have any symptoms prior to their heart attack, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A heart attack occurs when the flow of blood is cut off by plaque and a blood clot has formed in the coronary arteries, the arteries that give blood to the heart. Plaque, the build-up of cholesterol and calcium, can cause hardening of these arteries, which narrows the arteries causing a decrease of blood flow. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) occurs when the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart become hardened and narrow, prohibiting blood flow.

To help detect heart disease in its early stages, McLeod offers Coronary Calcium Scoring, a heart attack prevention screening program. Coronary Calcium Scoring is a non-invasive method of determining the presence of Coronary Artery Disease in someone without symptoms, but who is at an increased risk for coronary artery disease. It is a very quick, painless test that only takes about five minutes. The calcium score is obtained from a CT scan. The score indicates the amount of calcium in the arteries around the heart. After the study, the score numbers are calculated and reported to your doctor.

The screening test is best for people who are at an intermediate risk for heart disease. Candidates for Coronary Calcium Scoring are men and women over the age of 40, with at least one additional risk factor.

Risk Factors include:

• Family history of heart disease
• Smoking
• High Blood Pressure
• High Cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Sedentary Lifestyle

Calcium scores are reported based upon the amount of calcium build-up around the heart. Zero is the lowest number and that generally indicates there is no calcium build-up. If the score is more than 400, a fairly high number, it may indicate the need for further non-invasive testing like a stress test. If the score is between 0 and 400, these are lower levels but still indicate the presence of disease and the need for aggressive risk factor modification.

Benefits of the Coronary Calcium Scoring Test

The benefits of the Coronary Calcium Scoring Test include:

• Detection of Coronary Artery Disease at an early stage when there are no symptoms
• A determination of future risk of coronary artery disease
• Prevention of a fatal heart attack
• Discussion of a treatment plan if coronary artery blockages are present
• Although the test will not tell us the severity of a blockage, it does indicate that there may be some blockages present.

The information provided by the test can be very useful in alerting people to modify their risk factors for preventing heart disease and to help guide doctors and patients in their treatment approach. Modification of risk factors is key. When a person is aware they have heart disease, most will tend to be more aggressive about their health and adjusting their lifestyle or medication.

Through early detection, we are able to help patients modify their risk factors, receive earlier treatment and prevent the disease from worsening or becoming a life-threatening event. McLeod offers the Coronary Calcium Score Screening at a low cost of $150, regardless of health insurance status. Any recommended follow-up care is the patient’s responsibility. A physician referral is required.

Talk with your doctor or primary care provider to determine if Coronary Calcium Scoring is a screening test for you.