This post is in response to questions about the information in my last 2 posts on why you should have or should not have a heart scan.

The theory behind using heart scans is that the more calcification you have, the worse your heart disease. Part of the theory is that even having small amounts of calcium might indicate you could go on to develop heart disease unless you take aggressive measures to stop it such as reducing your cholesterol and living a more healthy lifestyle.

However, having calcium in your coronary arteries does not necessarily mean you have heart disease. How much do you pay attention to the dreaded false-positive results? That means there is an error on the scan. For instance, if you show heart disease your doctor may request more invasive tests that would not be necessary because there was a mistake.

On the other hand, the heart scan can show your free of calcium and that does not mean you absolutely do not have heart disease. The plaques that build up in your arteries start out as soft and only become calcified over time. So your arteries can be clogged but the scan can’t detect them.

Nothing is perfect. The technology, however, is improving.

In a study published last November in an issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, it was reported that the combination of coronary artery calcium score, or CACS testing and a single-photon emission computed tomography, or SPECT scan during a stress test may be the most accurate way to determine long term risk of heart disease.

Another post at another time for SPECT.

To your healthy aging.

Ruthan

PS  Plans are in the works for a Computer Radio program on Healthy Aging. What topics would you like covered?  Type them in the comment box.

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