CT Scan Early Detection of Heart Disease

EBCT is a fairly new CT scan being used to determine if you have heart disease.

Calcium deposits on our arteries are caused by the healing process attempting to heal lesions and scratches on our arterial walls.

The body's natural mechanism deposits the calcium to fortify the injury. When this process occurs over and over it narrows the arteries, blocking blood flow and oxygen to the heart muscle. This process is one of several processes that cause atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries and heart disease.

When the coronary artery gets totally blocked, the heart muscle doesn't get enough blood flow and oxygen, which causes a heart attack, (MI) and permanent damage to the heart.

Being that heart disease is the leading cause of death, if there would be a way how to detect it early on before it causes severe damage it would save many lives. Now there may be a way.

CT Scan or EBCT Electron Beam Computed Tomography Scan.

Calcium is in fact the substance of which our bones are made. When it forms in the arteries it too is hard, and it shows up on x-rays.

By taking a series of high resolution x-rays of the heart from many different angles, computer images reconstructed from the x-rays can detect specks of calcification in the coronary arteries.

Conceptually this CT scan is a great test. The problem with it is that virtually everyone over 65 in the United states has some specks of calcification in their arteries, and the CT scan test doesn't see the arteries clearly enough to know which arteries are actually diseased.

Regardless, this CT scan test is a great test that can be taken by young people who know that they are at high risk of developing heart disease. This test can alert them that unless they reduce the risk factors they will eventually succumb to the disease.

If you have a history of heart disease in your family, or have any of the symptoms of heart disease you should talk to your doctor and have a CT scan test.

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