169 Riverside Drive, Binghamton, NY 13905
Phone: 607-798-5225
Coronary artery disease, also known as atherosclerosis, occurs
when the arteries that carry blood and oxygen to the heart become
clogged with plaque. The plaque build-up slows the flow of blood to
the heart muscle causing ischemia and increasing the chance of
fatal and non-fatal heart failure.
CT cardiac scoring is the best noninvasive test for quantifying
coronary artery calcium content.
The procedure begins with a fast, convenient, and painless
computed tomography (CT) exam. CT, more commonly known as CAT
scanning, is the process of making an x-ray image of a very small
section of your body. During CT scanning, an x-ray beam passes
through the body and is recorded by electronic detectors. These
detectors send the information to a computer where it is translated
into an image.
During your exam, you will be attached to a cardiac monitor and
then you will simply lie on the CT couch as it slowly moves into
the donut-shaped gantry. The scanner then takes an image or picture
of your beating heart while you hold your breath for approximately
20 seconds. The procedure requires no injections, treadmills, or
preparation such as fasting.
The information acquired during your CT exam is then processed
with HeartBeat-CS, a cardiac scoring software package that
evaluates and quantifies the amount of calcium in your coronary
arteries. The results will be sent to you and your doctor for
further consultation.
NEW in
2010!
Health insurance may now cover this test. A
physician's order is required.
Facts About Heart Disease
- Every 26 seconds, someone has a cardiac event.
- Every 45 seconds, someon has a stroke.
- Over 33% of all Americans who have a heart attack each year,
show no symptoms before hand.
- 85% of sudden heart attacks may be prevented if the conditions
that lead to the attack are diagnosed early enough to prescribe
treatment to correct the problems.
- Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death in most
industrialized nations.
- Coronary artery disease claims more lives than lung, colon,
prostate and breast cancer combined.
- Cardiac scoring is at least ten times more powerful a predictor
of coronary artery disease episodes than cholesterol
screening.
- 45% of all heart attacks occur in people under the age of
65.
- 44% of women who have heart attacks, die within a year after
the attack.
- Women are 10 times more likely to die of heart disease than of
breast cancer.
Where to go.
For information on where to go when you arrive for your
appointment, visit our Where
to Go page.
To schedule an appointment for a Cardiac
Scoring Test, please call Lourdes at 607-798-5723.
