Cardiac Scoring (Calcium Scoring CT)
If you have an upcoming cardiac scoring procedure, you may be unsure of what to expect. Read on to learn more about this procedure.
What Is Cardiac Scoring?
Calcium or plaque in your coronary arteries is sometimes difficult to detect and can lead to dangerous complications like a heart attack or heart disease. Cardiac scoring allows your doctor to find out how much of this buildup is present so they can recommend the appropriate next step to ensure your overall health.
Cardiac scoring is a painless procedure that takes less than 10 minutes of your time. Using CAT scan technology, the team at Health Images takes about 70–90 images of your coronary arteries to determine your cardiac score. If calcium or plaque is present, the test also helps identify how much and where it’s located.
The coronary arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to your heart. When you have a buildup of fat and other substances under the inner layer of these arteries, the result is plaque. When this material calcifies, it could indicate coronary artery disease (CAD)—a condition that increases the risk of heart attack. Plaque buildup can also narrow arteries, cutting off blood flow to the heart, which can result in a heart attack.
Uses of Cardiac Calcium Scoring
Cardiac scoring in conjunction with a CAT scan helps your physician determine if you have coronary artery disease (CAD), and to what extent. Many patients don’t present symptoms, so this test is an essential tool to check for disease presence.
Your doctor may recommend this procedure if you’re at a higher risk for CAD. This includes patients with:
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Smoking habits
- Diabetes
- Being overweight or physically inactive
- Family history of heart attack
Once your doctor determines your cardiac score, they can recommend ways to lower your risk of heart disease or heart attack based on your results.
How to Prepare for Cardiac Scoring
Not much preparation is needed before undergoing a cardiac scoring CAT scan procedure. However, there are a few steps to help ensure optimal imaging:
- Refrain from smoking and caffeine for at least four hours before the exam.
- If there’s a chance you are pregnant, be sure to let us know ahead of time.
- Wear loose-fitting and comfortable clothing on the day of your scan.
- You may be asked to wear medical scrubs or a hospital gown for the test.
- Remove all metal objects such as jewelry, eyeglasses, and hairpins, as these might affect the CT images.