Should you have a heart calcium CT scan?

When I was a hospital chaplain resident, some of the most harrowing experiences were Code Blues involving cardiac arrest. To stand with tearful families in the hallway, providing support and prayers, while their loved one received CPR and other emergency intervention is not something I’ll soon forget. Heart emergencies strike fear into the best of us.

My own family has been touched by heart disease. At 59, my late father had a heart attack; his father passed away from cardiac arrest at 55. A first cousin of mine keeled over at 60, his heart suddenly giving out.

Because of this family history, though I had no major symptoms, at my request, my primary care physician green-lighted a CT heart calcium scan (no contrast dyes). I had to pay $ 100.00 for the test, but am so glad I did. That test uncovered significant calcium build-up, leading to a referral to a cardiologist and further CT testing using contrast dyes, which revealed that I had extensive CAD (coronary artery disease). On December 26, a heart catheterization confirmed that two arteries were 100% blocked, and one was 85% occluded.

In the end, my surgical team decided on a hybrid treatment plan. On January 5, I had a four hour heart catheterization placing two stents in my RCA (artery at back of heart). Less than a week later, on January 10, I underwent a twelve hour double bypass surgery, using a robotic procedure that accessed the heart through the ribs, allowing for necessary repairs and easier recovery than a traditional open-heart surgery.

I’m now five weeks post-surgery, and gradually getting stronger. For this, I thank the Lord, my medical team, and all those who have prayed for me. I’ve been given a second chance at life and am profoundly grateful.

Are you hesitating about whether to have your heart checked? Hesitate no longer. By getting the heart calcium CT scan, I was able to defuse a ticking time bomb. Speak to your doctor about whether this inexpensive diagnostic is right for you.

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Image: No machine-readable author provided. Ekko assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons