Heart scans are valuable tools used to assess the presence and extent of atherosclerosis—a condition where plaque, builds up inside the arteries. This buildup can harden and narrow the arteries, restricting blood flow to the heart muscle and significantly increasing the risk of a heart attack The most effective tools for evaluating this condition is the coronary calcium scan.

This specialized imaging test uses CT technology to detect and measure the amount of calcified plaque within the coronary arteries. Even in patients who do not yet show symptoms, a coronary calcium scan can provide early warning signs of coronary artery disease.

By identifying plaque before it leads to symptoms, this test empowers your doctor to take proactive steps in managing your cardiovascular health. Depending on your results, your physician may recommend lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise adjustments, or start you on preventive medications to lower your heart disease risk.

If you’re experiencing symptoms such as chest pain, fatigue, or shortness of breath—or if you have risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or a family history of heart disease—it’s important to consult a top cardiologist in Brooklyn. Your cardiologist may perform an electrocardiogram (EKG), blood work, and may order a coronary calcium scan to evaluate the health of your arteries in detail.

Early detection is critical. Don’t wait for symptoms to escalate—speak with a heart specialist to better understand your risk and protect your long-term health.
If you are experiencing cardiac issues, it is recommended that you see Top Cardiologist in Brooklyn. Cardiologist in Brooklyn may order an electrocardiogram (EKG) and other tests to rule out heart disease as a possible cause of your symptoms. 

Who Should Get a Coronary Calcium Scan?

A coronary calcium scan is not recommended for everyone—but for certain individuals, it can be a powerful tool to detect early signs of heart disease before symptoms appear. The test is especially valuable for people who are at moderate risk for developing cardiovascular problems. If you have one or more of the following risk factors, your doctor may recommend a coronary calcium scan to better assess your heart health and determine whether early intervention is needed:

• Obesity: Excess body weight increases the strain on the heart and raises the likelihood of plaque buildup in the arteries.

• Family History of Cardiovascular Disease: If your parents or siblings experienced heart attacks, strokes, or other cardiac conditions at an early age, you may carry a genetic predisposition to similar issues.

• Arterial Hypertension (High Blood Pressure): Chronic high blood pressure can damage the arterial walls over time, making it easier for calcium deposits to form.

• Unhealthy Diet and Lack of Physical Activity: Poor nutrition, combined with a sedentary lifestyle, often results in elevated cholesterol levels, which directly contribute to plaque formation.

• Chronic Stress: Long-term exposure to stress hormones like cortisol can contribute to hypertension and inflammation, both of which are risk factors for coronary artery disease.

• Smoking: Tobacco use damages the lining of blood vessels, accelerates atherosclerosis, and increases the likelihood of calcium deposits forming in the arteries.

A coronary calcium scan helps determine your calcium score, which reflects the amount of plaque buildup in your coronary arteries. This score provides a clearer picture of your risk level for a future heart event, helping your physician tailor prevention strategies just for you.

If you fall into any of these categories, speak with a cardiologist to find out whether a coronary calcium scan is the right step in your preventive care plan.

When a Coronary Calcium Scan May Not Be Necessary

While a coronary calcium scan can be a valuable tool in early heart disease detection, it’s important to understand that this test is not recommended for everyone. In certain cases, the scan may not offer meaningful benefits and could lead to unnecessary costs or exposure.

For example, individuals with very low risk of cardiovascular disease—such as young adults with no family history, normal blood pressure, healthy cholesterol levels, and no lifestyle risk factors—are unlikely to benefit from this type of screening. A negative result (a score of zero) is often expected in these cases, confirming what is already known: a low likelihood of heart disease. For these patients, a coronary calcium scan may offer peace of mind but little added clinical value.

Conversely, those who are already at high risk or have been diagnosed with coronary artery disease likely won’t gain new insights from a calcium score. In such cases, the scan would merely confirm an already established diagnosis and may not change the course of treatment. Doctors typically prefer to proceed directly with appropriate management plans such as medication, lifestyle changes, or more advanced testing.

Additionally, since the coronary calcium scan uses X-ray technology, it exposes the patient to a small amount of radiation. Although the exposure is considered low and safe—roughly equivalent to what you’d encounter from natural background radiation over the course of a year—this is still a factor worth considering, especially for those who may not need the test.

Another issue to consider is cost and accessibility. Some urgent care centers and diagnostic imaging clinics advertise coronary calcium scans as a quick and easy way to evaluate heart health—often without requiring a physician’s referral. However, these walk-in scans are not always covered by insurance, and may result in out-of-pocket expenses. Furthermore, other more accessible and affordable methods, such as blood pressure monitoring, cholesterol testing, and lifestyle risk assessments, can sometimes provide comparable insight without the need for radiation or expensive imaging.

The Cardiologists at Doral Health and Wellness have built a remarkable reputation among patients. Because of his training and expertise, Heart Specialist in Brooklyn is able to give his patients accurate diagnoses, collect detailed patient histories, and craft unique plans of care. Family members are encouraged to bring up any difficulties or concerns they have during consultations and treatment sessions. If you or a loved one are having medical, surgical, or cardiovascular issues, you should look into Doral Health & Wellness. For mail delivery, please use 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11212. To book an appointment, please call 1-347-384-5690.