Heart Scan CT
Laboratories:
•Lipid (Cholesterol) Panel
•Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
•Cardio CRP
Plus Summary Report and Guide
What is a Heart CT Scan?
A Heart CT Scan is a simple non-invasive test used for early detection
of heart disease. The scan is a painless test that takes about 10 minutes.
The process is similar to taking an x-ray of your body. An individual lies
on the scanner table and multiple images of the heart are taken.
A qualified physician then interprets these images to determine
the amount of calcified plaque in the arteries.
What is a Lipid (Cholesterol) Panel?
A lipid panel usually measures 3 different kinds of lipids in the blood, all of
which are related to a type of fat called cholesterol. Most of the cholesterol
in your blood is made by your liver from the fats, carbohydrates, and proteins
you eat. You also get cholesterol by eating animal products such as meat,
eggs, and dairy products. The 3 kinds of lipids measured in a lipid panel are:
LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein)
HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein) triglycerides.
The lipid panel also measures total cholesterol,
which is the sum of all the types of cholesterol in your blood.
What is a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel?
A comprehensive metabolic panel is a blood test that measures
your sugar (glucose) level, electrolyte and fluid balance,
kidney function, and liver function. Your doctor may use this test
to check on a medical condition, such as high blood pressure,
or to help diagnose a medical condition, such as diabetes.
What is a Cardio CRP (hs-CRP)?
Cardio CRP is the first heart disease indicator to be recommended by the
American Heart Association in twenty years. This test entails a surprisingly
simple, inexpensive blood test. This high sensitivity C-reactive protein
(hs-CRP) test takes the traditional cardiac check-up a step further,
pinpointing those people who are at a much higher risk than others for
heart disease, America’s leading cause of death. From hs-CRP results,
doctors gain crucial insight into inflammation of the blood vessels
around the heart, a factor not considered until now for patients at risk.