A Simple Test Can Help Determine Your Risk for Heart Attack

Fact: One in four people are at risk for heart disease. Half of them will die, most without any prior symptoms.

For people age 60 or older, or who have a family history of heart disease, one simple test and a matter of minutes can determine the potential risk of a future heart attack. The key is early diagnosis.

CardioScan, also known as Coronary Artery Calcium Scan, is a special type of CT scan that detects calcified plaque in the coronary arteries. This calcified plaque, commonly referred to as hardening of the arteries, indicates the presence of coronary artery disease.

The buildup of plaque prevents blood flow and increases the risk of heart attack.

"Many times, the beginning stages of plaque building up in arteries starts in our younger years," says Deepthi Vodnala, MD, a cardiologist with Saint Luke’s Cardiovascular Consultants who sees patients in the specialty clinics at Allen County Regional Hospital and Anderson County Hospital. 

"We've learned that coronary disease festers for years and even decades before causing a heart attack or stroke. A CardioScan can provide a baseline and allow us to see if there are any concerning areas to monitor."

Identifying plaque buildup early allows the patient and their provider to determine the best course of treatment and whether additional testing is required.

“We know that genetics plays a major role in calcium buildup,” says Dr. Vodnala. “While we can’t change genetics, there are things we can control through diet, exercise, and medications.”

You should consider having a CardioScan if you are 60 years and older or meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Mother or sister diagnosed with heart disease at age 65 or younger
• Father or brother diagnosed with heart disease at age 55 or younger
• Have a history of:
  • Diabetes
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol)
  • Stroke
  • Peripheral vascular disease
  • Tobacco use, either current or former

Saint Luke’s was the first in Kansas City to offer CardioScan, and the exam has been available at Anderson County Hospital in Garnett, Kansas, for several years. With the implementation of a new CT machine at Allen County Regional Hospital, CardioScans can now be scheduled in Iola.

A referral from your primary care provider or cardiologist is required. Referrals can be made to Allen County Regional Hospital in Iola, Kansas, or Anderson County Hospital in Garnett, whichever is most convenient. Once the referral is received, the hospital will call you to schedule the scan.

The exam takes about 10 minutes and no needles or pain are involved. 

You will have three ECG leads placed on your chest and lie back with your arms above your head. You will need to hold your breath for 15 to 20 seconds two or three times during the scan. 

The scanner is not confining, and most patients don’t feel claustrophobic.

A Saint Luke's cardiologist interprets the imaging, and a patient educator will contact you to review and discuss your results. Results will also be sent to the primary care provider and/or cardiologist who referred you for the test.

Most insurance companies do not cover CardioScan, but the cost of this important screening is kept to $60 out-of-pocket.
Talk to your primary care provider or cardiologist about a referral, or to learn more, visit saintlukeskc.org/CardioScan.