Heart CT Scans

Red and blue heart CT Scan Illustration

Heart Scans

According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in America, contributing to one out of every four deaths in our country.

Sometimes, the first symptom of heart disease is a heart attack itself. Our non-invasive, low-dose, technologically advanced SOMATOM go.All CT scanner from Siemens Heathineers can be crucial in detecting early cardiovascular disease and therefore may change your life. Early detection is key!

Why should you get a Heart Scan?

Heart scans will let you know if you have calcium buildup in your arteries.

A heart scan will let you know if you have calcium buildup in your arteries. Arteries are the vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients from your heart to the rest of your body. The arteries should be flexible and elastic but calcium build up causes them to be hard and stiff. Pieces of calcium in the heart are called calcifications and a buildup of calcium deposits in the arteries increases the risk of coronary artery disease, the most common reason for heart attacks.

According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention,1 cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in America, contributing to one out of every four deaths in our country. About 610,000 people will die just this year from cardiovascular disease, a disease that if caught early, can be prevented, treated and even cured. For many of these victims, sadly, the first sign of their heart attack, is the heart attack itself.

1 – cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm

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Frequently Asked Questions

How safe is a Low Dose CT Scan with the Somatom go. ALL?

The radiation exposure of a Low Dose CT Scan with the SOMATOM go.All is extremely low. Typical, less accurate CT or CAT scans, will expose you to up to 20 times more radiation. With our Low Dose SOMATOM go.All CT Scanner, there are no shots, no dyes to drink, no fasting, and no medication to take. The SOMATOM go.All in is an open structure greatly reducing or removing the claustrophobic fears all together.

Our scans are comfortable, noninvasive and fast. The total exam takes only 10 to 15 minutes to perform with approximately 10 seconds of actual scan time. After your scan is complete, you will receive a comprehensive radiology report. This report is prepared by a Board-certified Radiologist.

No, it is not painful. It takes less than a breath hold to complete the scan. It takes you longer to get on and off the table, and you simply hold your breath while the machine scans you. So there’s no pain and no injection that’s involved in the procedure.

You should wear loose fitting clothes and women are encouraged to wear a sports bra or a bra with no underwire.  For better imaging, it is recommended that you refrain from caffeine for 4 hours prior to your scan.  We will have you remove all contents of your pockets and your belt.  You will lie down on a patient table in your street clothes.  Our CT Technician will place 4 EKG electrodes on your chest.  The scan will be programmed based on your specific body characteristics.  The CT system is shaped like a large doughnut and the center of it is called the gantry. The patient table will move slowly through the gantry. Once the table and you are in the correct position, your CT Technician may ask you to hold your breath or not to move. You’ll hear the CT system, which makes a low whirring sound.  The entire scan takes approximately 10 seconds.

Each state has different laws regarding CT scans. In some states it is mandatory for a doctor to issue a prescription. However, in Nevada, no prescription is required to get a CT scan. Preventative Diagnostic Center provides the accessibility and access you deserve. People are ready to take control of their health care and are done with the days of waiting for symptoms.

What factors put someone at risk for heart or lung disease? Just as everyone in their 40’s and 50’s should begin undergoing regular colon exams and mammograms, people over the age of 40 with specific cardiac risk factors should consider having a Low Dose CT Heart and Lung Scan performed on a regular schedule. If you are between the ages of 40 and 72, with any of the following, you are considered an optimal candidate for the Low Dose Heart and Lung Scan.

  • Age
  • Tobacco Usage
  • High Blood pressure
  • High Cholesterol or Tryglyceride Levels
  • Obesity
  • Diabetes
  • Family History of Heart Attack
  • Lack of Physical Activity
  • High Stress

With your heart CT Scan, you will receive a comprehensive radiology report.  This report is prepared by a Board-certified Radiologist and will take up to 7-10 business days that will be mailed to your home. Should you require further information about your results, Preventative Diagnostic’s  Medical Director will be available for consultation.

A non-invasive heart CT scan can detect calcium buildup or other blockages in the coronary arteries to help doctors measure a patient’s heart health and risk for heart attack. The special x-rays used in a CT scan create high-quality images of a beating heart that could also help diagnose problems with the aorta, valves, and heart function. When these high-risk factors are detected early, patients are able to make necessary life changes to improve their cardiovascular health.

Yes, a CT scan and a CAT scan are two terms for the same diagnostic imaging procedure using computed tomography (CT). This process captures multiple x-ray images of the body and combines them to create high-quality 3D images that doctors use to diagnose patients. Most medical professionals today refer to this as a CT scan, but it was also called a CAT (computed axial tomography) scan in the earlier years of this technology.

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