Ask the Expert: Calcium scoring screening

Q. What is a calcium scoring screening?
A. The calcium scoring screening uses state-of-the-art equipment to measure the plaque build-up on the walls of your coronary arteries, a leading contributor to the development of heart disease. The calcium score reveals if you have early signs of heart disease and how severe the heart disease is. Scores range from zero to over 400, the higher your score the more plaque you have in the arteries of your heart and the higher your risk for a heart attack.

Q. Why should I get one?
A. If you have risk factors but no symptoms it is still important to have a heart screening. Some risk factors include high cholesterol, a history of smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity or any family history of heart disease.

Some of the benefits of having a heart screen include early detection. When conditions become symptomatic, they are often difficult to treat. Cancers and heart conditions are more easily treated the earlier they are found. Early detection of a potential problem could change how aggressive you and your doctor treat your risk factors mentioned above.

Q. Where can I get a heart screening?
A. Ball Memorial Hospital now offers an easy way to identify potentially serious heart problems. It is a pain free process that takes 15 minutes and gives physicians the best possible view of your heart using the latest medical imaging available. It is not covered by insurance companies, but it is quite affordable.

Q. What do I do to schedule a calcium scoring screening?
A. You don’t need a physician referral, just call Ball Memorial Hospital at 765-741-1073 and you can schedule your screening today.

Charles Routh, MD is a physician at Muncie Internal Medicine, for more information on a calcium scoring screening, call (765) 751-2727 or info@chsmail.org.

More Screening Information

Learn more about the CT Lung Screening

How do I register for a CT Lung Screening or a Calcium Scoring Screening?