The buildup of plaque (atherosclerosis) is a silent disease that is the number one killer of Americans. For as many as 250,000 people each year, a fatal heart attack represents the first and only symptom. There are millions of Americans at great risk for a heart attack who have few, if any, major risk factors. Atherosclerosis can be halted (and occasionally reversed) once diagnosed, but catching the problem before it becomes deadly has been difficult.
Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute in Metairie is proud to offer the CardioScan. It’s a state-of-the-art CT scanner that are able to measure calcium deposits in the arteries and identify potential problems years before symptoms may occur. This non-invasive, high-resolution CT scan takes cross-sectional images of the coronary arteries to detect and measure the amount of plaque calcification. This examination represents the most accurate way to determine if an individual has early atherosclerosis (cardiovascular disease) before the development of symptoms. The examination uses no injections or dyes, and the CT scanner covers only the chest area.
