 |
 |
|
Normal
Scan |
Abnormal
Scan |
|
I
have been told my ‘calcium score’. What is this? |
In
a normal scan, the calcium score will be very low (zero to
10 units). This means that no significant disease
(calcium) was found in the heart arteries |
If
the scan is abnormal, we can tell you how much disease
(calcium) is present:
10-100 units: Mild disease
100-400 units: Moderate disease
400+ units: Extensive disease |
|
What
does it mean? |
No
significant coronary heart disease was found
The chance of a heart attack in the next 5 years is very low |
Coronary
heart disease was found. The chance of a heart attack in the
next 5 years is increased
>more |
|
What
needs to be done?
|
No
specific recommendations, but risk factors (e.g. high blood
pressure) might still need to be treated |
All
risk factors need to be AGGRESSIVELY treated – high blood
pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, according to
the advice of your Cardiologist. |
|
What
other tests might be recommended? |
For
some individuals, repeating the test in 1-3 years time may
be helpful |
Depending on the individual
further tests may be required. If symptoms like chest pain are present, a test
like Dual-Source CT Coronary Angiogram or myocardial perfusion
imaging (nuclear cardiology) may be helpful to see if the
coronary arteries are sufficiently diseased that they have
become blocked. |
|
Is
effective treatment available? |
|
Yes. The point of early
detection of heart disease is so that we can start you on the
many treatments that are known to be effective. Medication can
reduce the risk of further heart attack. Blocked arteries can
be unblocked. |
Why
should you have Heart Scan?
