When you hear heart scan, a non-invasive imaging test that checks for calcium buildup in the arteries of the heart. Also known as a coronary calcium scan, it’s one of the most direct ways to see if plaque is forming in your heart’s arteries — even if you feel perfectly fine. Unlike an EKG or stress test that looks at how your heart performs under pressure, a heart scan shows actual physical changes in your arteries. It’s not about how hard your heart is working right now — it’s about what’s been building up over years.
This test uses a CT scanner to take detailed pictures of your heart and blood vessels. The result? A number called the coronary calcium score, a measure of calcified plaque in the coronary arteries, used to estimate heart disease risk. A score of zero means little to no detectable plaque. A score above 100 suggests moderate plaque buildup, and above 400 means extensive disease. These numbers don’t just tell you if you’re at risk — they tell you how much risk you’re carrying. And that’s powerful information. People with high scores often don’t have symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath, but they’re still at high risk for a heart attack. That’s why a heart scan can be life-saving: it catches problems before they become emergencies.
Who should consider this test? If you’re between 40 and 75, have risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, or a family history of early heart disease — and you don’t have symptoms yet — a heart scan can clarify your true risk. It’s not for everyone. If you already have heart disease, or if you’re young and healthy with no risk factors, it’s usually not needed. But for those in the middle — the people who think they’re fine but aren’t sure — this scan cuts through the guesswork. It turns vague warnings into concrete numbers you can act on.
And here’s the thing: knowing your score doesn’t just scare you — it empowers you. A high score doesn’t mean you’re doomed. It means you now have a clear reason to change. Maybe you start taking a statin. Maybe you get serious about walking daily. Maybe you finally quit smoking. The scan doesn’t fix anything — but it makes the next steps undeniable. That’s why so many doctors recommend it for people who are stuck in the gray zone of heart health.
What you’ll find in the posts below are real stories and facts about how heart scans fit into everyday care. You’ll see how results connect to medications like eplerenone and azilsartan, how lifestyle choices affect calcium buildup, and why electrolyte balance matters for your arteries. You’ll also learn how other tests like stress tests or echocardiograms compare — and when a heart scan is the better choice. These aren’t abstract medical theories. They’re practical insights from people who’ve been through it, doctors who’ve seen the results, and studies that show what actually works.
Cardiac MRI and echocardiography both image the heart, but they serve different purposes. Learn when each is used, how accurate they are, and why one might be chosen over the other for your diagnosis.
