The Test You Need to Prevent a Heart Attack

Calcium is a natural part of the body, but sometimes it appears in places where it shouldn’t.

When plaque builds up in the arteries, it can calcify over time and block the flow of blood, which leads to a heart attack.

A coronary calcium scan is a relatively new and accurate test used to determine the blockages of arteries in the heart. This knowledge can significantly reduce the risk of having a heart attack.

Every 7 minutes, a Canadian dies from heart disease or stroke.

Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada, 2023

Test : Heart Disease
Early Detection Of : Coronary Artery Disease, Heart Attacks, Heart Disease
Included in plan : Blue | Gold

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Coronary Calcium Scan

Calcium deposits usually begin to form years before any symptoms develop.

A coronary calcium scan uses computerized tomography (CT) to detect calcium deposits in the coronary arteries of your heart, potentially years before a standard exercise stress test could detect disease. The amount of calcified plaque is correlated with the patient’s additional risk factors to obtain the necessary information to chart a proactive treatment.

Calcium deposits do not correspond directly to the percentage of narrowing of the arteries. They do, however, correlate directly to the amount of coronary plaque and to the risk of future coronary disease.

Early Detection of Coronary Artery Disease

The main goal of the coronary calcium scan is to detect the blockages of arteries in the heart, or in other words, signs of coronary artery disease. A higher coronary calcium-score suggests you have a higher chance of significant narrowing in the coronary arteries and a higher risk of future heart attack.

What Your Calcium Score Means

The calcium score can range from zero to over 300. Here is a more detailed breakdown of the calcium score:

0: No evidence of calcified coronary plaque
1-10: Minimal
11-100: Mild
101-300: Moderate
301 and higher: Severe

Your calcium score should not be considered alone, but rather alongside other risk factor measurements, including diabetes, smoking, family history, cholesterol, and blood pressure. This will help determine your risk for future coronary artery disease.

Benefits of a Coronary Calcium Scan

Prevention of Heart Attacks

The main benefit of a coronary calcium scan is that it can detect whether there is plaque build-up in your coronary arteries, which helps evaluate if you are at increased risk for heart attack.

Plaque is made up of fats, cholesterol, calcium and other substances in the blood. It develops gradually over time, long before there are any signs or symptoms of disease. These deposits can restrict the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the muscles of the heart.

Plaque may also burst, triggering a blood clot that can cause a myocardial infarction. Detecting plaque early is crucial for preventing a heart attack.

Does Not Require Injection of Contrast Material

Contrast material refers to any internally administered substance that helps show abnormal areas inside the body. It is injected into a vein or by mouth, and is typically used with x-rays, CT scans, MRIs, or other imaging tests.

However, with coronary calcium scans, no contrast material is required. This makes the procedure simple and convenient, and also does not provide patients with any pain during the scan.

No Immediate Side Effects

The x-rays used in a coronary calcium scan should have no immediate side effects. Although radiation is used in the scan, the exposure is low so that no radiation remains in a patient’s body after a CT scan.

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How A Coronary Calcium Scan Works

Preparing For the Scan

You will begin by lying down on a special scanning table. The radiologist will clean three small areas of your chest and stick electrode patches on these areas. The electrodes are attached to an electrocardiograph (EKG) monitor, which monitors your heart’s electrical activity during the test.

During the Procedure

During the scan, the table will be moved inside a donut-shaped scanner. The high-speed CT scan captures multiple images, synchronized with your heartbeat. A sophisticated computer program, guided by the cardiovascular radiologist, then analyzes the images for presence of calcification within the coronary arteries.

Results of the Scan

=An absence of calcium is considered a "negative" exam. However, it does not exclude the presence of "soft" non-calcified plaque.

If calcium is present, the computer will create a calcium score that estimates the extent of coronary artery disease.

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Reasons to Get a Coronary Calcium Scan

Provides a Better Understanding of Your Risk of Heart Disease

The scan used in a coronary calcium scan creates multiple images that can show any plaque deposits in the blood vessels. A heart scan provides an early look at levels of plaque, which provides you and your doctor a better understanding of your risk of coronary artery disease.

Helps You Develop a Better Treatment Plan

Without a proper understanding of your risk of heart disease, it could be hard for your doctor to develop an accurate treatment plan. By knowing exactly what your risk for coronary artery disease is, it will be easier for your doctor to create a treatment plan that is right for you, whether it is lifestyle and dietary changes, or something more drastic.

Convenient and Non-Invasive Procedure

A coronary calcium scan is a quick and easy procedure. The scan itself takes several minutes, and it is non-invasive. Patients who undergo this scan do not experience any pain, and may return to their regular daily activities after the scan with no downtime or recovery period required.

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

Who should get a coronary calcium scan?

People at increased risk for heart disease should consider getting a coronary calcium scan, including those with the following traits:

Family history of heart disease
Past or present smoker
History of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes
Overweight
Inactive lifestyle

How long does a coronary calcium scan take?

The CT scan itself only takes a few minutes, but the entire procedure may take about 15 minutes in total.

How can I prepare for a coronary calcium scan?

If you are planning on getting a coronary calcium scan, you should not eat, drink, or smoke for 4 hours before the scan. Do not wear any jewelry and wear loose, comfortable clothing that is easy to remove. You may need to change into a gown for the procedure.

What should I expect after the scan?

After your coronary calcium scan, you may continue all normal activities and eat as usual.

Can I still get a coronary calcium scan even if I am pregnant?

Although the x-rays used in the CT scans have low radiation exposure and no contrast dye is used, it is still not recommended for patients to complete this scan if they are pregnant.

When is a coronary calcium scan used?

A coronary calcium scan may help guide treatment if you have a low to moderate risk of heart disease, or if your heart disease risk is not clear. Your doctor can tell you if you might benefit from having a heart scan based on your risk factors.

A coronary calcium scan may also help motivate people at moderate risk to make important lifestyle changes and follow treatment plans.

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