LightSpeedT CT Heart Scan Offers Early Detection of Coronary Calcium Buildup and Heart Attack Risk
Contributors to Coronary Calcium
- Advancing age
- Male sex (or the absence of protective female hormones)
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Cigarette smoking
- Family History
Prevention
- Maintain normal blood pressure, normal cholesterol and a lean body weight
- Control diabetes
- Stop smoking
- Control family risk factors to minimize their impact
February 2004 — If you could find out today what your risk of heart attack would be wouldn't you want to know? That's exactly what the LightSpeedT CT Heart Scan at Memorial Regional Hospital can do for you.
This quick, painless, noninvasive procedure measures the plaque and calcium deposits in your arteries. If you have a buildup of coronary calcium, you are one of 11 million Americans with the disease atherosclerosis. While it may be difficult to reverse, it is possible for the majority of patients to slow and/or stop the progression of calcium buildup, making this a manageable disease. And the earlier you catch it, the better.
What Is Coronary Calcium?
Calcium, the body's most abundant mineral, circulates through the body and is vital for bone strength and for many cellular functions. But calcium can also form deposits in the arteries. This calcification stiffens the blood vessels, causing "hardening of the arteries" or atherosclerosis. This buildup, along with cholesterol and other fatty substances, adds to the formation of "plaque" in the lining of an artery, which blocks the flow of blood to the heart.
There is a direct link between the degree of calcium buildup in the blood vessels to the amount of atherosclerotic plaque, and therefore, the likelihood of subsequent heart attack or stroke. "Conceptually, it is like buying a house with new plumbing," says Frank Pearl, MD, cardiologist on the medical staff at Memorial Regional Hospital, Memorial Hospital West and Memorial Hospital Pembroke. "Even after the first week, the inside of the pipes will be coated with some matter. If not maintained over the years, the coating inside of the pipes builds up." Proper care of your health can help prevent similar buildups in your arteries.
Coronary artery calcium screening helps physicians detect atherosclerosis, the leading cause of heart disease. This is especially important since over half of all first coronary heart disease events are sudden and occur in individuals who had no previous symptoms.
A Valuable Test
The LightSpeedT CT Scan, a 30-second, 3-D procedure, is one of the newest tools to help identify high-risk individuals. "It's the best screening test available at Memorial Regional Hospital for coronary atherosclerosis," says Dr. Pearl. "This is a cost-effective and medically beneficial test."
LightSpeedT CT, a form of the familiar CT (or computed tomography) scan, allows the detection of even small amounts of calcium in the coronary arteries. "It makes sense to do this test first. If the calcium score is 0, there is no calcium buildup and a stress test may not be required," says Dr. Pearl. "However, if there is calcium buildup, a stress test should follow to determine the level of blockage."
For some, the results of the scan have been a wake-up call leading to the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. "One man was an overweight smoker, over 40 years old, with an elevated cholesterol level," says Barbara Ayars, manager of Outpatient Radiology at Memorial Regional Hospital. "When he saw his cardiac score, he immediately made an appointment with his doctor and joined programs to lose weight, lower his cholesterol and stop smoking."
Who Should Have this Test?
According to Dr. Pearl, men over 40, peri-menopausal women and those with a family history of heart disease or who have experienced chest pain should have the LightSpeedT CT Scan, available at Memorial Regional Hospital.
Individuals under 40 also may be candidates, depending on their risk-factor profile — especially young people with atypical symptoms.
A Treatable Disease
"People need to become active in slowing or halting the progression of the disease process with aggressive lifestyle modification and/or medication," says Dr. Pearl.
In the majority of cases, coronary calcium buildup is not reversible — but it is manageable. Results from a LightSpeedT CT Scan, along with other indicators, present an overall picture of your heart health, which will help your physician develop an appropriate treatment plan. One of the best ways to manage coronary calcium buildup is to change your habits. Under the guidance of your physician, this may include eating low-fat foods, adding fruits and vegetables to your diet, losing weight and exercising. It may also be necessary for your physician to prescribe medication.
In general, if you are not already experiencing symptoms of cardiac disease but have several of the contributing factors, the LightSpeedT CT Scan is an important option for you to consider. Detecting coronary calcium buildup in the early stages can help ensure a healthier future.
For more information or to schedule a LightSpeedT CT Scan, call Memorial Physician Referral Service toll-free at (800) 944-DOCS. We're available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.