Heart scans are still controversial. First they are not for everyone. Secondly, it is a consumer beware for walk-in medical facilities that advertise you can get a quick check of your coronary arteries. The American Heart Association recommends that you speak with your physician before you are tested by a walk in.  Besides, it may not be covered by your insurance.

What’s more, it is still unclear whether heart scans should be used widely. Routine use of heart scans on people who do not have any symptoms of heart disease is also not recommended by the American Heart Association or the American College of Cardiology.

They report that a heart scan is not useful if you have a low heart attack risk. For example, if you are younger than 55 years old, have normal cholesterol and blood pressure levels and don’t smoke, your heart attack risk is less than 10 percent and a heart scan isn’t going to tell your doctor something he doesn’t already know.  On the other hand if you are at high risk because you are over 65, your cholesterol is high and so is your blood pressure, the heart scan may not do you much good either because you and your doctor already know you are at high risk.

If on the other hand, you fall somewhere between the two and have borderline high cholesterol or high blood pressure you may find having a heart scan will give you valuable information. You will be able to tell more precisely what your risk of CAD is.

Common sense in medicine!

Love to hear your experiences with a heart scan. Were you surprised at the results? Was your physician surprised?

To your healthy aging.

Ruthan Brodsky

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Filed under: Conditions and Diseases

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