Indian River Radiology - Cardiac Calcification Screen

CARDIAC CALCIFICATION SCREEN

Cardiac Calcification Scoring Information

Who should have a Cardiac Calcification Screen?

Cardiac Calcification Scoring is an appropriate screening option for individuals with three or more of the following risk factors:
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol
• Family history of heart disease
• Smoker
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Overweight
• Men over 45 years old and women over 55 years old

Who should not have a Cardiac Calcification Screen?

Individuals who exhibit any of the warning signs described below are not candidates for Cardiac Calcification Screens. If you are experiencing any of the following warning signs you should consider notifying your physician. Warning signs of heart disease are:
• Chest discomfort such as pressure, squeezing, pain
• Discomfort in other areas of upper body such as one of both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach
• Shortness of breath
• Cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness

*Individuals who have had Coronary Artery Bypass Grafts (CABG) with stent placement may opt to not have the screen performed due to difficulty in interpreting images.

What can the Cardiac Calcification Screen Identify

The Cardiac Calcification Screen addresses the amount of calcification in the prominent coronary arteries leading to your heart. Determining the degree of calcification will provide you and your physician additional information to help assess your potential risk for a heart attack.

Benefits of Cardiac Calcification Screens

85% of sudden heart attacks may be prevented if the conditions that lead to the attack are diagnosed early enough to prescribe treatment and lifestyle changes. The earlier a warning sign is detected, the more control you have over reducing your risk. Cardiac Scoring quantifies the amount of calcification present in the coronary arteries by converting it into a score. Researchers have found that high scores are extremely predictive of coronary artery disease and heart failure. Cardiac Calcification Screens are a means of early detection of coronary artery stenosis and may be life-saving. Other benefits of Cardiac Calcification Screens are:
• Painless
• Takes only minutes to perform
• No preparation

Risks associated with Cardiac Calcification Screens

There are no risks associated with Cardiac Calcification Screens. Possible skin irritation from electrode (3) placement on chest may result. Individuals who have had a CABG with stent placement have an increased risk of misinterpretation due to the alteration of coronary/ heart anatomy. Soft plaques

Alternatives to Cardiac Calcification Screens

• If exhibiting symptoms, notify your physician for more aggressive treatment alternatives.
• If exhibiting no symptoms, there is no alternative to determine cardiac calcification composition. Alternatives, which are complimentary to the calcification screening include, but are not limited to, lifestyle modifications such as exercise, good diet, low stress, blood pressure monitoring, and cholesterol checks to live a "healthy- heart" life.

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