It is well known that cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, are the #1 killer in the United States. Since 1963, February has been proclaimed by the president as "American Heart Month," to raise awareness and help fight cardiovascular disease. Undergoing heart scans is an effective way to monitor your heart’s health now and in the future. Check out these Heart Scan FAQ’s to learn more about this potentially life-saving scan:
FAQ: Can heart scans predict heart attacks? What exact risk-factors or problems can heart scans identify, and can a heart scan predict if I’m going to have a heart attack?
Answer: A Coronary Calcium Scoring study predicts the chances of you having heart disease, which can ultimately result in a heart attack. The scan does this by evaluating the amount of plaque build up you have, which is a risk factor for having a heart attack.
FAQ: Should I get a heart scan every year? Does age or family history affect how often I should get one?
Answer: For most people, the initial (baseline) scan will tell them how soon they should come back for their next scan, based on the amount of plaque build-up in their heart. When making a recommendation about when you should have your next scan, your specialist will take into account whether you have a family history of heart disease, or if you are over age 50.
To read more questions about heart scans, or to ask one of your own, visit our Heart Scan Q & A page.
