HeartCam Scan

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We’ve been told time and time again—heart disease is America’s #1 killer. But what do we do about it? Education and action are the answers—we must learn about the dangers of heart disease, and most importantly, what steps to take toward prevention.

A recent weapon in the fight against heart disease, the HeartCam Scan, may help in early detection. After all, half of all heart attacks occur in those who have no symptoms. Rather than asking someone else to try it, Suzanne decided to be the guinea pig and have the HeartCam Scan herself. Dr. Daniel Rader, the Director of Preventive Cardiology at the University of Pennsylvania Health System, joins Suzanne to tell us more about this new technology.

What is the HeartCam Scan?

The HeartCam system uses Electron beam tomography to take ultra-fast pictures of the heart. According to the Preventive Heart Care Center, this test detects the presence of coronary plaque in the heart. Dr. Rader says the electron beam acts similarly to a CAT-Scan. It sweeps back and forth across the patient very rapidly to acquire "slices" of the heart.

The HeartCam then looks for calcification, or plaque build-up, in the arteries of the heart and determines the risk for heart attack long before a patient ever suffers any symptoms. The actual scan involves taking 2 pictures of the heart, the first lasts a period 10 seconds and the latter 30 seconds.

Should I Get a HeartCam Scan?

If you have a family history of heart disease and a HeartCam Scan is available to you, it is a good idea to have the test. Some of us are unsure of our family’s medical history or if we’re taking the right steps to fight heart disease. In this case, Dr. Rader also advises to have a HeartCam Scan.

There are no preparations (such as fasting) for this safe scan and it requires no injections and no dye. The HeartCam Scan is believed to be 98% accurate in the detection of calcification in the heart.

Don’t be mistaken—the HeartCam does not take place of a stress test. In fact, Dr. Rader says they complement each other. While a stress test provides the percentage rate of blockage in the arteries, the HeartCam Scan tells how much plaque is present in and around the heart.

Suzanne’s Results

What did Dr. Rader have to tell Suzanne? Well, unfortunately there was evidence of plaque in her coronary arteries. However, the good news is that Suzanne took a step toward heart disease prevention. And Dr. Rader had some advice for healthy heart living. He told Suzanne to begin exercising more regularly, to lose a little weight and to take an aspirin on a daily basis. Many of us would benefit from exercising more and watching our weight!