What is the HeartScan CT?
This new technology at St. Joseph's Mercy Health Center is a diagnostic tool to help us determine calcium build-up in a patient's arteries.

How does the HeartScan work?
HeartScan is a non-invasive, painless procedure performed in less than seven minutes. The patient rests comfortably and fully clothed on an exam table while the scanner records a picture of the inside of the arteries.

What's the objective of the test?
The HeartScan "scores" the amount of calcified plaque in coronary arteries to determine the extent of calcium build-up, if any. The exam is also accompanied by cholesterol, lipid panel, blood glucose and blood pressure testing to give us an overall picture of the patient's cardiovascular health.

Why is this test important?
Calcified plaque in the arteries is a risk factor that may lead to coronary artery disease. Early detection is key in reducing the risk of this disease and heart attack.