Preventive Care
Coronary Calcium Score (Checking Your Heart Health)
Your heart works hard every day, and keeping it healthy is important. A Coronary Calcium Score is a special CT scan that looks for calcium buildup in the arteries of your heart.
- Why It’s Important: Calcium can build up in your heart’s arteries over time, which can make them narrow. This can lead to heart disease or even a heart attack.
- How It Works: The scan is quick and painless. You’ll lie down on a table, and the CT machine will take detailed pictures of your heart. There’s no need for injections or contrast dye.
- Benefits: Knowing your calcium score helps you understand your risk of heart disease. With this information, you can make lifestyle changes or seek treatment to keep your heart strong and healthy.
Low-Dose Chest CT (Lung Cancer Screening)
Your lungs are vital for breathing and overall health. A Low-Dose Chest CT scan is used to screen for lung cancer, especially in people who have a history of smoking.
- Why It’s Important: Lung cancer can develop without obvious symptoms. Catching it early greatly improves the chances of successful treatment.
- How It Works: This CT scan uses a lower amount of radiation compared to a regular CT scan, making it safer while still providing clear images of your lungs.
- Benefits: Early detection means more treatment options and a better chance of recovery. It’s a proactive step to ensure your lungs are healthy.
- invasive, more comfortable, and doesn’t require sedation.
Preventive Care Ultrasound Screenings
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening
- Why It’s Important: Detects bulging or weakness in the wall of the aorta (the large blood vessel in your abdomen), which can be life-threatening if it ruptures.
- How It Works: An ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of your aorta, checking for any enlargements.
- Benefits: It’s quick, painless, and doesn’t use radiation.
Carotid Artery
Ultrasound
- Why It’s Important: Checks for blockages or narrowing in the arteries of your neck, which can increase the risk of stroke.
- How It Works: An ultrasound scans your carotid arteries to see how well blood is flowing.
- Benefits: Early detection allows for treatments to reduce stroke risk.