A CT Angiography can detect and measure calcium in the walls of the coronary arteries. Calcium is a marker of atherosclerosis. The accumulation of plaque in the blood vessels that transport blood and oxygen to the heart muscle can assist your doctor in identifying soft plaque, or blockages, and calcium in the arteries. It also provides a precise look at the structure, shape and size of the heart.

The earlier heart disease is detected, the better chance that there is to have it slowed, stopped or even reversed.

The procedure is non-invasive compared to a heart cath and provides much more detailed anatomy of the coronary arteries than is obtained with other non-invasive procedures, such as stress tests.

You are a good candidate for a heart scan if you are a man over 35 or a woman over 40 or if you have any of the following risk factors:

• High blood pressure

• High cholesterol

• Diabetes

• Smoker

• Overweight or obese

• Family history of heart disease

• Stress

• Other vascular disease

CT Angiography can help your physician to decide if your health care related issues can be managed with drug therapy, diet and exercise of if you need to be referred for cardiac catheterization for angioplasty and stenting. For more information about a CT angiography, talk to your physician today to find out what options are available for you.

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