February is American National Heart Month and heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Advanced Medical Imaging offers a Cardiac Calcium Scoring test that checks the level of calcified plaque lining the coronary arteries using a CT scanner. This fast and painless test can be a helpful tool in determining a person’s risk level for heart disease or heart attack.
Plaque build-up can lead to a heart attack without warning. Those who should consider this test are age 40-75 who have a moderate risk for heart disease. Factors that can increase the risk of heart disease include smoking, diabetes, obesity, poor diet, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. A chart similar to the one shown here will be used to determine whether a patient should make lifestyle changes to improve heart health.
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