Coronary Calcium Scan

A coronary calcium scan is a noninvasive heart test that can detect calcium deposits in your arteries. By identifying this sign of heart disease early, you can take action to improve your heart health.

Our approach to coronary calcium scan

When it comes to treating heart disease, finding it before you have symptoms is key. This starts with knowing your coronary calcium score, which can predict your risk for heart disease and heart attack.

At UCI Health, we offer an innovative test called a coronary calcium scan. This painless, noninvasive heart computed tomography (CT) scan can detect hardening in your arteries from calcium deposits. 

Your coronary calcium score is determined by the amount of calcium deposits you have. The higher your score, the higher your risk is for heart disease and heart attack. 

Your primary care physician or cardiologist can help you understand if a coronary calcium scan is right for you. 

A focus on prevention

If your coronary calcium score is high, your cardiologist will work with you to determine the next steps and treatments, such as: 

• Medications to address high cholesterol, high blood pressure and other conditions
• Starting an exercise program
• Nutrition counseling
• Smoking cessation programs
• Procedures such as cardiac stenting or heart surgery

Your cardiologist will be your partner in heart health. They’ll continue to monitor your progress and adjust your treatment plan based on your results and preferences.

Am I a candidate for a coronary calcium scan?

If you have risk factors for heart disease, it’s important to know your coronary calcium score. This will allow you to start taking steps to prevent heart disease and improve your heart health. 

If you have any of these risk factors, you may be a good candidate for a coronary calcium scan:

• You are a man who is 40 or older
• You are a woman who is 50 or older
• You have a family history of premature heart disease (under age 55 for men, under age 65 for women)
• You have high blood pressure
• You have high cholesterol
• You have pre-diabetes
• You have diabetes
• You smoke
• You are overweight or obese

If you have two or more of these risk factors, you have a higher likelihood of having significant coronary calcium deposits.

Benefits of a coronary calcium scan

Heart disease is often referred to as the “silent killer.” Symptoms don’t often appear until there are significant blockages in your arteries, which pose many risks, like heart attack. 

The earlier you can detect heart disease, the more treatable it is. That’s why the biggest benefit of getting your coronary calcium score is early detection of heart disease. 

Your heart CT scan can identify the calcium deposits that cause blockages well before they start causing symptoms. This allows you to be proactive in taking steps to prevent heart disease and improve your heart health.

What to expect with a coronary calcium scan

A coronary calcium scan is a painless, noninvasive heart test that uses heart CT technology to take images of your heart. 

Here’s what you can expect during your heart scan:

• Before your heart scan, your technician will place electrodes on your chest to record your heart activity. This allows the scanner to take images of your heart that are timed with your heartbeat.
• This helps us get the clearest, most precise images of your arteries.
• During the test, you’ll lie still in the scanner for about 10 to 15 minutes, while the scanner takes images of your heart.
• After the test, you can go home right away. Your care team will contact you within a few days to discuss the results of your heart scan and next steps. 

Your coronary calcium scan results

After your test, your doctor will review your results and contact you to discuss your coronary calcium score. 

• If your test shows no signs of calcium deposits in your arteries, the test is considered negative. This indicates that you have a low risk for developing a heart attack in the next 10 to 15 years. Your doctor will discuss ways to ensure you maintain a healthy lifestyle.
• If your test finds calcium deposits in your arteries, the test is positive. You’ll receive a personal coronary calcium score based on the amount of coronary calcium deposits in your arteries. The more coronary calcium that the test finds, the higher your risk for heart disease and heart attack.
• If your test is positive, your cardiologist will work with you to:
  • Evaluate your other risk factors
  • Perform additional testing, such as glucose and lipid (cholesterol) testing
  • Create and manage a personalized treatment plan
  • Refer you to other heart specialists if needed

If you don’t have a cardiologist, we can connect you to a UCI Health cardiologist. They’ll partner with you to determine your next steps and possible treatment options. 

Why choose UCI Health for a coronary calcium scan?

Preventive cardiology

 If you have risk factors for heart disease or concerns about developing it, the UCI Health preventive cardiology program can help. Through this program, you’ll have access to a cardiologist dedicated to prevention, a dietitian and exercise physiologist. Together, they’ll evaluate your needs and develop a plan tailored to your specific risks, lifestyle and preferences.

Advanced cardiac imaging technology

 We use newer generation CT technology to perform your coronary calcium scan. This technology is noninvasive and doesn’t require any dyes or injections. It also delivers a much lower dose of radiation compared to older versions of the technology. 

Comprehensive heart care

Whether your coronary calcium score is high, or you have other heart concerns, it’s important to get expert heart care. At UCI Health, our specialists all work together to ensure you’ll get the comprehensive heart care services you need. Our highly specialized team includes experts in general cardiology, preventive cardiology, heart surgery, arrhythmia care, cardiac rehab and more.