A coronary test can reveal in minutes if you are at risk of developing heart disease. The scan, dubbed “a mammogram for the heart”, reveals if there are excessive calcium deposits in the coronary arteries – a surefire sign of a risk of heart disease.
The scan determines the coronary artery calcium score (CACS) using one of two methods – an electron beam CT scan or a multi-detector CT scan. Both tests are non-invasive with the electron beam CT scan the most common method used for CACS.
The scan measures the amount of calcium in the coronary arteries with those results then converted into a score to determine the heart disease risk. It takes around five minutes to do the test, which involves holding your breath while receiving a small dose of radiation.
A negative test means there is little likelihood of developing heart disease; a score up to 100 indicates an above average risk of a cardiac event in the next five years; and a score up to 1000 shows a high risk of a cardiac event.
The procedure is simple, safe and effective. Your doctor might refer you for a coronary calcium scan on the NHS if you present with symptoms that are not easily identifiable as heart disease. The test is often used to rule out the condition rather than to confirm a diagnosis. The scans are also available privately.
Cardiovascular disease is the UK’s biggest killer, causing the deaths of more than 179,000 people every single year. Cardiovascular disease includes heart disease, heart failure, congenital heart disease and stroke.
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