Heart disease screening

What’s a heart CT scan?

A CT scan uses special X-ray equipment to look at your heart and take pictures of your coronary arteries, which supply blood to your heart. The scan can detect and measure calcium-containing plaque deposits in your arteries that can restrict blood flow (atherosclerosis) or block your arteries (coronary artery disease). Your scan results can help your provider see if you have an increased risk of heart attack.

Do I need a heart scan?

Ask your provider if you should have a heart CT scan, also called a coronary calcium scan. Heart disease screening may be right for you if you are:

• Thirty to 45 years old and have two or more heart disease risk factors
• Older than age 45 with at least one heart disease risk factor

Heart disease risk factors

Your heart disease risk factors include:

• Diabetes
• Family history of heart disease
• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Obesity
• Inactive lifestyle
• Smoking

What to expect

During the screening, you’ll lie on the CT scanner bed, which moves your body slowly into the scanner. Your head will remain outside the scanner. The scan takes hundreds of computerized heart images. The test is painless and only takes 10 to 15 minutes.

Your results

If you wish, you can receive preliminary results before you leave. Your final results will be uploaded to your MyChart account once a radiologist reviews them. Your primary care provider will also receive a copy of your results.

If you have questions about your heart scan, follow up with your primary care provider. Talk to your provider about whether you should consider lifestyle changes or treatment based on your results.

Accessible, low-cost heart disease screening

To get a high-quality heart disease screening, call 262-928-3000 to schedule an appointment at:

• Brookfield: ProHealth Imaging Center, 18905 W. Capitol Dr.
• Mukwonago: ProHealth Waukesha Memorial Hospital-Mukwonago, 240 Maple Ave.
• Oconomowoc: ProHealth Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital, 791 Summit Ave.
• Pewaukee: ProHealth Medical Group clinic, N16W24131 Riverwood Dr.
• Waukesha: ProHealth Care’s Imaging Services, 1111 Delafield St., Suite 112
• Waukesha: ProHealth Waukesha Memorial Hospital, 725 American Ave.

The self-pay cost of your screening will be $45 and may be an eligible flexible spending account expense. ProHealth does not bill insurance plans for this screening test.