Many people who have a first heart attack have had no previous symptoms or warning. How it works During the procedure, a high-resolution imaging device is used to create a picture of the coronary arteries.
Doctors use the picture to see how much plaque is present.
A radiologist studies the images to determine a final score, which helps the team predict the risk for arterial narrowing, which could lead to future heart attack. What to expect The process takes about five minutes and is completely painless. Patients, who are fully dressed, simply lie on a table. The procedure is recommended for men over 45 and women who are postmenopausal or over 50. Use of our site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use .