Most heart attacks are preventable.
As many as 80 percent of heart attacks don't have to happen. Yet, at the same time, they don't always come with warning signs.
A series of simple screening tests can identify problems early, save lives and prevent heart attacks. They are fast, accurate and painless. You do not need a physician referral.
Consider a life-saving screening if any of the following apply to you:
- Man older than 45
- Woman older than 55
- Smoker
- Take blood pressure medications
- Close relative has a history of heart attack, bypass, stroke or balloon surgery
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
Screening Tests Available
1. Carotid Artery Evaluation (15 minutes, $40)
Ultrasound probe is placed on your neck to screen for blockages in your carotid arteries which supply blood to the brain.
2. Cardiac Function Evaluation (15 minutes, $40)
To analyze cardiac function and calculate your Ejection Fraction (the amount of blood your heart is able to pump), an ultrasound probe will be positioned at various locations on your chest.
3. Abdominal Aorta Evaluation (15 minutes, $40)
Most abdominal aneurysms are asymptomatic. To screen for aneurysm, an ultrasound probe is used to analyze your abdominal aorta.
4. Ankle/Brachial Index (15 minutes, $40)
Blood pressures are obtained from your legs and arms to screen for peripheral artery disease. It not only assesses circulation to the legs, but also is a marker of heart attack risk.
5. Cardiac Calcium Score (15 minutes, $99)
This test measures the calcified plaque in the coronaries and is an indirect measure of the total amount of plaque in the coronaries. A multi-slice CT scanner takes a series of pictures of your heart in just a few seconds.