Coronary Calcium Scans Benefit Seemingly Healthy Individuals by
Predicting Heart Attacks and Making Prevention Possible

By the time a person reaches middle age, cholesterol may have accumulated in the blood vessels, and become hard, calcified plaque. This artery-clogging plaque blocks blood flow and can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Until recently, coronary artery disease (aka CAD or heart disease) wasn’t detectable until it was dangerously advanced. Currently for millions of people, a heart attack will be their first symptom.

Leading heart specialists now use a painless, non-invasive technique to provide early disease detection for the heart’s “plumbing problems.” An ultra fast CT scanner accurately depicts calcium deposits. If these clogs are found in time, lifestyle changes and treatment can prevent coronary artery disease from progressing and, in some cases, reduce calcium deposits. Sudden death and disability may be averted and major medical interventions can sometimes be avoided. The American Heart Association and leading cardiovascular specialists recently validated the advantages of this calcium screening, called an Electron Beam Computed Tomography (EBCT) scan.

St. Joseph Hospital, home to the region’s foremost Women’s Heart Center, is the first women’s heart program in Orange County to offer an EBCT Coronary Calcium Screening as part of its comprehensive HEART program. Since its inception the Women’s Heart Center has screened more than 2,000 women for heart disease – more than any other heart center in Orange County.

According to Renee Mazeroll, R.N., MSN, Executive Director of Cardiology and the Vascular Institute, “We’ve found that coronary calcium EBCT screening is an excellent addition to traditional screening methods, because of its ability to detect calcified plaque, before the onset of symptoms. Although we cannot guarantee that a cardiac event will or will not occur, predictive capabilities are much improved with a thorough evaluation that includes EBCT screening. It is a major step forward in fighting the leading cause of death in America today.”

EBCT screening is most helpful in predicting heart troubles for the millions of men and women considered in the mid-range of coronary risk. In this group, symptoms of coronary artery disease often go unnoticed, and traditional risk-factor measurements fail to identify about one-third of those at risk for heart disease.

Men and women over age 35 are likely to have intermediate risk for developing heart disease if they have one of the following: diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, a family history of heart disease, peripheral heart disease, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity or a smoking habit.

If you suspect you may be at risk, you could benefit from a complete heart evaluation at the St. Joseph Hospital Women’s Heart Center. Men and women are welcome. The entire heart screening takes about an hour and a half and includes a risk assessment, EKG, cholesterol, BMI, nutrition evaluation, blood pressure and the EBCT Coronary Calcium Screening. No needles, injection, sedation or disrobing are required. Radiation exposure is minimal. The comprehensive screening costs $255 and results are immediately available. A cardiac nurse provides nutrition and lifestyle counseling tailored to your needs and preferences. In cases where extensive calcium deposits are found, more intensive prevention strategies are discussed.