Coronary Calcium Scoring

Know the Score When It Comes to Your Risk for Heart Disease

A Coronary Calcium Scoring is a simple, fast and safe imaging exam that uses computerized tomography (CT) to detect calcium in the coronary arteries, allowing the detection of early plaque formation all the way to heavy plaque burden. This, along with other risk assessment tools allows clinicians to launch more aggressive preventive strategies in at risk patients. The test is often not covered by most private insurance carriers or Medicare. With a prescription, your patients can receive this valuable test for only $49 at an RWJBarnabas Health facility.

With a prescription from your doctor, you can receive this valuable test for only $49 at RWJBarnabas Health.

The images provided by a Coronary Calcium Scoring help to determine if your coronary arteries, which supply your heart with oxygen-rich blood, contain calcium deposits or plaques. These deposits are often the result of a build-up of fat or other substances within your coronary arteries and may indicate the presence of atherosclerosis, also called coronary artery disease (CAD). If left undetected, the plaque can build up and narrow the artery walls, leading to chest pain and even a heart attack.

Within minutes of completing the scan, a physician can determine the patient’s calcium score. The higher the calcium score, the greater the risk for a coronary event. In fact, patients who have scores over 400 are more likely to have at least one critically stenotic coronary artery. This finding warrants further work up for critical coronary disease and enhanced preventive strategies.

You may be a candidate for Coronary Calcium Scoring if you:

• Have a family history of heart disease.
• Have high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol.
• Are a current or previous smoker.
• Have been diagnosed with diabetes.
• Lead a stressful lifestyle.
• Are a man over 45 or a woman over 55 (or post-menopausal).
• Lead a sedentary lifestyle.
• Are overweight or obese.

Whoever your heart beats for, our hearts beat for you.

Click here or call 888-724-7123 to request an appointment with one of New Jersey’s top cardiac specialists to determine if a calcium score is right for you.