A Test For Lifelong Heart Health

In today’s era of advanced healthcare, we can now examine the intricate highway of arteries that nourish your most vital organ, without ever lifting a scalpel.

A CT coronary angiogram is used to diagnose and evaluate coronary artery disease, offering high-quality imaging without the need for invasive procedures.

About 1 in 12 (or 2.6 million) Canadian adults aged 20 and over live with diagnosed heart disease.

Public Health Agency of Canada, 2022

Test : CT Coronary Angiogram
Early Detection Of : Coronary Artery Disease, Heart Disease, Aneurysms, Atherosclerosis, Pulmonary Embolism, Plaque Buildup

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CT Coronary Angiograms

A computed tomography (CT) angiogram is a test to examine your blood vessels and tissues.

During the test, your provider injects a contrast dye that highlights your blood vessels and tissues. Then, a specialized X-ray known as a CT scan is used to view the highlighted areas.

A CT coronary angiogram is used specifically to examine your coronary arteries. Your coronary arteries are the blood vessels that supply blood to your heart muscle.

Early Detection of Blood Vessel Conditions

The most common reason people get a CT angiogram is to check if you have narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. However, you may need a CT angiogram to diagnose any condition involving blood vessels.

Aneurysms and Atherosclerosis

Coronary Artery Disease

Pulmonary Embolism

Aneurysms are irregular bulges or widening of the blood vessels. Atherosclerosis are fatty plaques that build inside blood vessels. Both of these conditions develop over time and may not show symptoms until you have complications like a heart attack or stroke.

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) limits the blood flow in your coronary arteries, which deliver blood to your heart muscle. Early detection is crucial, as CAD can lead to a heart attack, abnormal heart rhythms, or even heart failure.

A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot from your leg that travels to your lung and stays there. This causes issues with blood flow and oxygen levels in your lungs. Early diagnosis and treatment is crucial.

Benefits of a CT Coronary Angiogram

A CT coronary angiogram offers several benefits as a diagnostic tool for assessing coronary artery disease (CAD) and evaluating the coronary arteries.

High-Quality Imaging

A CT coronary angiogram provides high-quality, detailed images of the coronary arteries. It allows for the visualization of both the coronary arteries and any potential blockages or plaque buildup.

Non-Invasiveness

Another main benefit is that a CT coronary angiogram is a non-invasive procedure. It does not require the insertion of catheters into the arteries or any surgical incisions. This reduces the risk of complications and shortens the recovery time compared to invasive procedures like traditional coronary angiograms.

Minimal Discomfort

Patients typically experience minimal discomfort during a CT coronary angiogram. The procedure is well-tolerated and does not involve the use of needles or catheters, which can be uncomfortable for certain individuals.

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How a CT Coronary Angiogram Works

Step 1: Preparation

Your healthcare provider will give you numbing medicine and will insert an IV through your arm or hand. Contrast dye flows through the IV.

Step 2: Placing Electrodes on Your Chest

Next, sticky patches (electrodes) are attached to your chest. The electrodes connect to a machine that records your heart rate and rhythm. You will lie on a table that glides into a CT scanner.

Step 3: Taking Images With a CT Scanner

A technician operates the CT scanner from another room, taking images from several angles. They may instruct you to hold your breath for several seconds to prevent chest movement during the scan.

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Reasons to Get a CT Coronary Angiogram

It is important to mention that a CT coronary angiogram is not always the first diagnostic step. Healthcare professionals will evaluate the patient’s medical history, symptoms, and risk factors before recommending this procedure. They may also recommend other non-invasive tests, such as an echocardiogram.

Chest Pain or Angina

If an individual is experiencing chest pain or symptoms of angina, a CT coronary angiogram can help determine whether there is a blockage or narrowing in the coronary arteries that may be responsible for reduced blood flow to the heart muscle.

Assessment of Coronary Anomalies

Some individuals may have congenital abnormalities in their coronary arteries. A CT coronary angiogram can help identify these anomalies.

Monitoring Disease Progression

This scan can be used to track the progression of coronary artery disease over time, allowing healthcare providers to adjust treatment plans as needed.

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Packages

InvestMed offers thorough health packages designed to meet the individual needs of our patients.

You can choose between a risk-specific package or a comprehensive package to analyze your health and wellbeing. Each package includes a comprehensive 1 hour physical exam and 1 hour review of results with recommendations to achieve optimal health.

Package costs will vary based on individual diagnostic test recommendations. Financing options are available.

Risk-Specific Screening Packages

Cancer Screening Package

Mitigate your cancer risk with preventive screening.

Package starting at $3,999*

MRI
DNA testing – 84 genes for cancer
Mole mapping
Advanced blood work
CT scan
Virtual colonoscopy

Proactive testing can detect changes in your body that could become cancer.

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*Package cost will vary based on individual diagnostic test recommendations. Financing options are available.

Stroke Screening Package

Knowing your risk for stroke can save your life.

$5,999*

MRA – Magnetic resonance angiography
DNA testing – 83 genes for heart conditions
Advanced blood work
Carotid doppler ultrasound
Echocardiogram

Detect your risk of stroke early, even before symptoms present themselves.

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*Package cost will vary based on individual diagnostic test recommendations. Financing options are available.

Heart Disease Screening Package

Early screenings are essential for heart disease prevention.

Package starting at $3,999*

Coronary calcium score
DNA testing – 83 genes for heart conditions
Advanced blood work
Exercise stress test
Echocardiogram
CT coronary angiography

Screening for cardiovascular risk factors before you develop heart disease, can help you prevent it.

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*Package cost will vary based on individual diagnostic test recommendations. Financing options are available.

Comprehensive Screening Packages

Comprehensive Screening Package

Get the right screening tests at the right time.

Packages from $5,999 - $11,999*

Whole body MRI
Coronary calcium score
DEXA scans
Microbiome gut testing
Genetic testing+
Heart health workup
Cancer risk review
Mole mapping
Screen for all material risks

Prevention is key to longevity, whether or not you are presenting symptoms or risk factors.

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*Package cost will vary based on individual diagnostic test recommendations. Financing options are available.

Corporate Services

Please contact us for a custom corporate package. Specialized corporate rates available.

Comprehensive, proactive health plans
Customized screening tests
Extensive medical risk assessments
Preventive approach to healthcare

Proactively manage executive wellness.

FAQ

How long does a CT coronary angiogram take?

The actual CT scan may only take a few seconds to a few minutes. However, with setup time, the procedure typically takes around an hour.

How do I prepare for a CT angiogram?

To prepare for a CT coronary angiogram, you will need to stop eating around 4 hours prior to the test. You may drink water as usual. You will also need to avoid drinking caffeine within 12 hours of the test, since caffeine can increase your heart rate and make it more difficult to get a clear picture of your coronary arteries.

When will I know my results of the test?

Your healthcare provider will typically review the test results with you in several days or weeks. Depending on the results of your test, you may need follow-up tests, or if it shows a risk of heart disease, your provider may discuss treatment options with you.

What are the risks of a CT angiogram?

CT angiograms are safe tests for most people. If you have a history of allergic reactions, especially to the contrast dye, your provider may give you medicine, such as steroids you take by mouth, to lower your risk of having a reaction to the contrast dye. If you have a known kidney disease, your kidneys are more susceptible to injury from contrast dye.

Who should not get a CT angiogram?

There is a small risk that the contrast dye could damage your kidneys if you have certain health conditions, such as diabetes or kidney disease. Your healthcare provider may recommend a different test if you have such conditions.

Please tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or think you could be pregnant. CT angiograms use small amounts of radiation, so providers don’t usually recommend them for people who are pregnant.

What is the difference between a CT coronary angiogram and a traditional angiogram?

CT angiograms and traditional angiograms are both tests to view your blood vessels. However, CT angiograms are less invasive than traditional angiograms.

With a traditional angiography, a catheter is inserted through an artery, usually in your groin or your wrist. Then, a contrast dye is injected through the catheter and X-ray fluoroscopy is used to image your coronary arteries (blood vessels).

With a CT angiogram, contrast dye is injected intravenously, meaning through an IV into your vein. It is usually inserted into a vein in your arm or hand.

What is the difference between a CT coronary angiogram and a cardiac CT scan?

Both CT coronary angiograms and cardiac CT scans use specialized X-rays to look inside your body. However, CT coronary angiograms are slightly more invasive because they use a contrast dye injection, whereas cardiac CT scans do not use dye injections.

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