Iowa Radiology Blog

Menopause and the years of shifting hormone levels that lead up to it (called perimenopause) cause changes in the body that affect both mental and physical health. Decreasing levels of estrogen and progesterone influence not just the reproductive system but also the nervous system, urinary tract, circulatory system, bones, muscles, hair, skin, and more. 

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., accounting for one in four deaths. Last year, the American Heart Association reported that a staggering 48% of Americans are living with some form of cardiovascular disease, which includes coronary artery disease, stroke, heart failure, and high blood pressure. Many factors influence your individual risk, and you can reduce or eliminate some, but not all, of these risk factors by adopting healthy behaviors.

A cardiac calcium test uses CT scanning to determine the amount of calcified plaque buildup in the coronary arteries, which helps doctors assess the presence of coronary artery disease and the risk of associated events such as heart attack and stroke.

February is American Heart Month. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and responsible for approximately 25% of deaths nationwide.[1] Although most people think of heart disease as a condition that mainly affects older people, it can occur at any age, and risk factors such as obesity and high blood pressure among young people puts them at risk for heart disease earlier in life. Learn what you can do to increase your heart health and help protect yourself and your loved ones from heart disease.

Every February, we recognize American Heart Month, which was first designated by President Johnson in 1964. At that time, more than half of deaths in the U.S. were attributable to heart disease.^[1] As of 2011, approximately one third of deaths in this country were due to heart disease, stroke, or other cardiovascular conditions. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death around the globe.^[2]

According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease is the underlying cause of 1 in 3 deaths in the U.S, and about 92.1 million American adults suffer from cardiovascular disease or the after-effects of a stroke. A CT cardiac calcium score can help individuals and their doctors understand their risk of cardiovascular disease and related events such as heart attack and stroke, arming them with information they need to best protect their health.

Cardiac calcium scoring, also known as a cardiac CT scan or heart scan, is used determine the presence and extent of calcified plaque in the coronary arteries in the interest of identifying coronary artery disease (CAD). Coronary arteries do the work of providing oxygen-rich blood to the heart.  The calcification that can occur within these arteries is the result of the buildup of fat and other substances beneath the inner layer of the artery and indicates atherosclerosis, or coronary artery disease.

Cardiac calcium scoring, also known as a cardiac CT scan or heart scan, is used determine the presence and extent of calcified plaque in the coronary arteries in the interest of identifying coronary artery disease (CAD). Coronary arteries do the work of providing oxygen-rich blood to the heart.  The calcification that can occur within these arteries is the result of the buildup of fat and other substances beneath the inner layer of the artery and indicates atherosclerosis, or coronary artery disease.