The American Heart Association estimates that 60,800,000 Americans have one or more types of Cardiovascular disease. It is the leading cause of death in the United States and claims more lives every year than the next six leading causes of death combined.

The most common type of heart disease is known as Coronary Artery Disease or CAD. CAD results from the gradual build-up of deposits of fat, cholesterol and calcium in the arteries that surround your heart and supply it with the oxygen rich blood it needs to do its job. These deposits, or calcifications, cause a narrowing of the arteries which can reduce or even block blood flow to the heart. This blockage is the most common cause of heart attack.

The build-up of plaque in the arteries happens very slowly over time, generally beginning in early adulthood. Often you will have no symptoms at all until a heart attack occurs or you experience chest pain or shortness of breath. This is why it is so important for individuals to be proactive in evaluating their risks and making heart healthy changes in their lifestyles. In many cases, positive lifestyle changes and medical treatment can slow, stop or even reverse early coronary artery disease.

Until recently calcium build-up in the coronary arteries has been difficult to detect in early stages when lifestyle changes and medical treatment can have the greatest impact on slowing the disease. Definitive diagnosis required an invasive procedure called coronary angiography in which a small catheter is inserted into an artery in the groin or the arm and then guided to the opening of the coronary arteries with the assistance of an x-ray device. While considered to be the gold standard for evaluating coronary artery disease, the test is expensive and carries certain risks. Consequently, it is generally not performed on patients considered to be low or medium risk individuals with possible CAD.

Recent advances in ultra fast CT technology have opened an exciting new option for patients and physicians alike. Non-invasive CT coronary angiography produces an amazingly precise 3 dimensional reconstruction of the heart and arteries leading to it. The image quality is comparable to that of invasive angiograms at a fraction of the cost. It carries none of the risks of the invasive procedure and is ideal for patients who have multiple risk factors for CAD but atypical symptoms.

Known risk factors for CAD include:

•  Family history of heart disease
•  High cholesterol
•  History of smoking
•  High blood pressure
•  High stress levels
•  Sedentary lifestyle
•  Diabetes
•  Men 45 plus with one other risk factor
•  Women 55 plus with one other risk factor

If you have one or more of these risk factors, you should talk with your doctor about whether or not testing is appropriate for you.

A more abbreviated screening version of CT angiography is also available at EPIC. Called Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring, the test provides a clear profile of your risk for heart disease. Using an ultra fast CT scanner and sophisticated software, images are reconstructed into a three dimensional look at your coronary arteries. We can accurately detect and measure whether or not you have calcium build-ups. This is significant because healthy coronary arteries don’t contain calcified plaque.

The amount of calcium detected is used to generate a profile, based on National standards, of your risk for future heart attack. The whole procedure takes just minutes and is completely non-invasive. Most importantly, you and your physician have key information to direct your future healthcare.

It must be noted, Cardiac Scoring is not appropriate for every patient. Patients with prior heart attacks, bypass surgery or known angina should not have this test. Screening is also not recommended for pregnant women or those under the age of forty unless advised by their physician.

For more information on evaluating your risk for heart attack, visit the American Heart Association website at www.americanheart.org or ask your doctor.