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Coronary calcium scoring can lead to healthy heart
Coronary calcium scoring is a simple and painless test that can tell patients whether they already are on the right track toward lifelong heart health or you need to act now to prevent serious problems.
The test, now offered by Beloit Memorial Hospital, can put people on the right track of heart health. Som basic rules for heart-healthy living include:
Control your blood pressure.
Exercise regularly.
Don't smoke.
Keep your cholesterol and triglycerides in check.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Limit alcohol consumption to no more than one drink daily.
Find healthy ways to cope with stress.
“Many people have no idea if they have coronary artery disease, or heart disease, because it often has no outward symptoms,” said Dr. Leo Egbujiobi, cardiologist with Beloit Memorial Hospital and Beloit Clinic. “For many, the first sign is a heart attack - a clot in an artery that blocks blood and oxygen to the heart.”
Each year more than 1 million people in the United States have heart attacks, and about half of them die. Those who survive may have permanent heart damage. Coronary calcium scoring can reveal the health of your arteries before a clot can threaten your life.
“Coronary calcium scoring is a short and easy test that includes a CT (computed axial tomography) scan of your heart,” adds Mardell Jacobsen, Director of Medical Imaging at the hospital. The CT scanner, which looks like a large, white donut, can look inside your heart and coronary arteries. The scanner takes X-ray pictures as the patient lies on a table that slowly slides through the donut-shaped opening. The scan only takes about 10 minutes.
Calcium looks like bright, white spots on a scan. The good news is that your doctor can help you take control of your health. The test can motivate you to adopt a heart healthy lifestyle and prevent further build up of calcium.
Coronary calcium scoring tests for calcium in the arteries because plaque contains calcium. When plaque builds up in the arteries and hardens over time, it leads to a condition called atherosclerosis, or narrowing of the arteries. A negative test shows no or little calcification in the arteries and suggests a low chance of heart disease developing over the next five years. A positive test means heart disease is present. A scan can show heart disease even if the patient has never experienced any of the symptoms of heart disease, such as chest pain or shortness of breath.
To schedule an appointment, call 608-364-5249 or toll-free at 800-637-2641. The cost of a HeartCheck scan is $150 (paid by patient as this test is not billable to insurance) and you will know your results in about a week.
The test, now offered by Beloit Memorial Hospital, can put people on the right track of heart health. Som basic rules for heart-healthy living include:
Control your blood pressure.
Exercise regularly.
Don't smoke.
Keep your cholesterol and triglycerides in check.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Limit alcohol consumption to no more than one drink daily.
Find healthy ways to cope with stress.
“Many people have no idea if they have coronary artery disease, or heart disease, because it often has no outward symptoms,” said Dr. Leo Egbujiobi, cardiologist with Beloit Memorial Hospital and Beloit Clinic. “For many, the first sign is a heart attack - a clot in an artery that blocks blood and oxygen to the heart.”
Each year more than 1 million people in the United States have heart attacks, and about half of them die. Those who survive may have permanent heart damage. Coronary calcium scoring can reveal the health of your arteries before a clot can threaten your life.
“Coronary calcium scoring is a short and easy test that includes a CT (computed axial tomography) scan of your heart,” adds Mardell Jacobsen, Director of Medical Imaging at the hospital. The CT scanner, which looks like a large, white donut, can look inside your heart and coronary arteries. The scanner takes X-ray pictures as the patient lies on a table that slowly slides through the donut-shaped opening. The scan only takes about 10 minutes.
Calcium looks like bright, white spots on a scan. The good news is that your doctor can help you take control of your health. The test can motivate you to adopt a heart healthy lifestyle and prevent further build up of calcium.
Coronary calcium scoring tests for calcium in the arteries because plaque contains calcium. When plaque builds up in the arteries and hardens over time, it leads to a condition called atherosclerosis, or narrowing of the arteries. A negative test shows no or little calcification in the arteries and suggests a low chance of heart disease developing over the next five years. A positive test means heart disease is present. A scan can show heart disease even if the patient has never experienced any of the symptoms of heart disease, such as chest pain or shortness of breath.
To schedule an appointment, call 608-364-5249 or toll-free at 800-637-2641. The cost of a HeartCheck scan is $150 (paid by patient as this test is not billable to insurance) and you will know your results in about a week.
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