Know the Facts Before Your Heart Scan Appointment
It’s normal to feel a little nervous before your appointment, but your heart scan will be easy and painless. The St. Luke’s team is here to help answer your questions and make you feel comfortable.
You don’t need to take any special steps to prepare for your heart scan. You can eat and drink as you normally do and continue to take your medications as prescribed. Your heart scan is noninvasive, so there will be:
- No intravenous (IV) access
- No injections
- No use of dye
Before Your Heart Scan
When you arrive, we’ll ask you to remove clothing above your waist and wear a hospital gown. You will also need to remove any jewelry around your neck and chest.
During Your Heart Scan
After you’ve registered, you’ll go into an imaging room. Your technician will ask you to lie on the CT scan table. They will attach a few sticky patches to your chest to record your heart’s electrical activity. The table will slide into the scanner. The technician will ask you to hold your breath briefly to ensure clear images. The scan will take 20 to 30 seconds.
Including registration, preparation and completion, your visit will last approximately 30 to 60 minutes.
After Your Heart Scan
When your scan is done, you’re free to carry on with your day. There are no restrictions or special instructions to follow.
We’ll use the images we take during your scan to calculate your coronary calcium score. This score helps determine your risk of developing coronary artery disease. We’ll send your results to your doctor so you can discuss them together.