Your heart health is important not only for longevity, but also for quality of life in Nyack, New Square, Spring Valley, New City, Hillcrest, Bardonia, NY, and the surrounding areas. There are times when other tests that a cardiologist does prove a bit inconclusive, and that’s when a cardiac CT scan can really help. At Cardiology of Hudson Valley, we use the cardiac CT scan to help look for things like coronary artery disease, plaque buildup in arteries, as well as structural abnormalities that can affect the normal rhythm of the heart. There are different scenarios where this diagnostic tool is important for further understanding, including evaluating chest pain from the patient, helping to address the risk of heart disease, as well as identifying early signs of coronary artery disease. Don’t take chances with your heart health; contact us today to learn more about this important tool.
What Will a Cardiac CT Scan Be Like
Because a cardiac CT scan provides a three dimensional image of your functioning heart, it is a great tool to allow your cardiologist to see what your heart looks like without any invasive surgeries. The procedure is something that doesn’t take very long and you can go home the same day. The scan is not painful at all and takes perhaps an hour. During the scan, the patient may be asked to hold their breath for short periods of time in order to get the clearest images of your heart.
When we have patients that are experiencing chest pain, have shortness of breath, or are experiencing pain in their neck, jaw, back, or arm, they are prime candidates for a cardiac CT scan to see what is happening to help formulate a plan of addressing the symptoms. Other issues to observe include structural issues with heart valves or tumors, as well as uncovering congenital heart defects that can affect heart health.
An Additional Test to Confirm Issues
There are other simpler tests that your cardiologist will typically do before ordering a cardiac CT scan. A stress test is a common easy test that provides a lot of good information, as well as an EKG. There are two different versions of the cardiac CT scan: a coronary CT angiogram that uses a contrast dye to better look at the arteries, and a calcium score CT scan that checks for calcium buildup which reveals information on the potential future risk of heart issues.
Like most other things in life, the more information you have about an issue in Nyack, New Square, Spring Valley, New City, Hillcrest, Bardonia, NY, and the surrounding areas the better your options are, especially if things are caught earlier. Cardiology of Hudson Valley wants all of our patients to have the proper diagnosis, and that might include the use of a cardiac CT scan to provide that extra detail. Contact us today to learn more and take care of your heart health.