The Importance of Heart Scan

Anyone with multiple risk factors like family history of heart disease , high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, stressful lifestyle, men over 35, postmenopausal women, sedentary lifestyle should take the heart scan .
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women. Cardiovascular disease is responsible for 1 death every 34 seconds. Approximately 50% of heart attacks occur in people with no previous record of heart disease. Research has found that 50% of men and 64% of women who suddenly die of heart disease have no prior symptoms. 35% of people suffering from heart disease have a normal cholesterol level. Around 33% of all initial heart attacks are fatal. It has been estimated that this year, approximately 700,000 Americans will have a new heart attack, and approximately 500,000 will have a chronic recurring attack. It has also been found that almost 150,000 Americans killed by cardiovascular disease every year are under age 65.
Heart Scan is carried out on a Computed Tomography(CT) machine. The CT machine takes a series of pictures (X-rays) of your heart that requires around 20 seconds. This scan provides information regarding the risk of developing coronary artery disease. Such information is indispensable for the doctor in managing the disease.