This is why the Rush Heart Scan is so valuable. This is important because these pictures will show if there is any build-up of plaque in the arteries. The Rush Heart Scan is able to see calcium in the arteries which represents plaque. Studies have shown that the more calcium there is, the more plaque there is in the arteries and the higher the risk of having a heart attack in the future. Although some people are at greater risk for having coronary artery disease because of risk factors such as cigarette smoking or high cholesterol, many people who develop coronary artery disease do not have these risk factors.
Some physicians use a stress test to look for the build-up of plaque in the arteries of the heart.
If the plaque is large enough to reduce blood flow, the stress test will be positive. However, a stress test cannot detect smaller plaques that do not block blood flow, even though the smaller plaques still put you at risk for a heart attack. The Rush Heart Scan utilizes the latest electron beam tomography unit and imaging analysis system available. The physicians who oversee the Rush Heart Scan are the same ones who developed this technology years ago. The Rush Heart Scan can take pictures of the entire heart, exposing you to a minimal amount of radiation, comparable to approximately three chest x-rays.