How A Private Cardiac CT Scan Can Help Protect Your Heart Health
Over half of UK adults will develop a heart or circulatory disease in their lifetime. These diseases can reduce your quality of life and life expectancy. Thankfully, many can be prevented or effectively treated, which is why early detection is so important.
A cardiac CT scan is a non-invasive scan that can detect early signs of coronary heart disease, so you can take steps to get your heart health back on track.
At Vista Health, you can have a cardiac health check at our conveniently located clinics: Fitzrovia in the heart of London, Salford (Manchester), and Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.
Cardiac CT scans: the basics
A cardiac CT (computerised tomography) scan is also called a CT coronary angiogram. Using X-rays and computer technology, it creates detailed images of the inside of your body.
In the case of a conventional coronary angiogram CT scan, high-resolution images of your heart and its main blood vessels are created.
A CT scanner is a doughnut-shaped structure that rotates around you, releasing X-rays that pass through your body. Some X-rays are absorbed while others pass through, depending on the body tissues they encounter.
The X-rays that pass through your body are detected by the CT scanner, which converts these signals into images using a computer. These images are taken from different angles and stitched together to form a 3D image.
A cardiac CT scan allows your doctor to check for narrowing, blockages or plaques in the blood vessels that supply your heart. These can be signs of coronary artery disease.
It can also help diagnose other heart conditions, such as problems with the structures of your heart (eg your heart valves). A cardiac CT scan can be used to assess your risk of heart disease and heart attack.
Why choose Vista Health for your cardiac CT scan?
When you opt for a private heart scan with Vista Health, you will benefit from:
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Fast access to cardiac CT scans
To book a scan, you’ll need a referral from a GP, doctor, consultant, physiotherapist, osteopath, or chiropractor. If you don’t have one, Vista Health can help. We offer our own GP referral service, so you can avoid long waits and get an appointment at a time that suits you.
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An expert-led service
Your cardiac CT scan will be conducted by specialist radiographers and reviewed by expert radiologists and cardiologists. This ensures you receive accurate results.
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Advanced technology
Vista Health has invested in state-of-the-art scanning facilities. You benefit from cutting-edge CT scanning equipment.
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Competitive pricing
We aim to make rapid access to advanced diagnostic scans available to as many people as possible. This is why our cardiac CT scans start from £445.
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A prime location
It’s easy to get to our Fitzrovia cardiac CT clinic in central London, with lots of transport links nearby. You can also visit our Milton Keynes clinic, 50 miles northwest of London, or our Salford clinic in Manchester, which is easy to reach from across the North West.
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Fast digital reporting
Your cardiac CT scan results will be securely stored online for easy access. Plus, we aim to deliver your results within 3 working days.
What happens on the day of your cardiac CT scan?
Before your scan, you will be instructed not to eat or drink anything other than water for 4 hours preceding your scan.
When you arrive for your CT coronary angiography, you will be asked to change into a hospital gown and will be injected with a special dye called a contrast agent. This helps create clearer images.
You will then be asked to lie back on the scanner table with your arms raised above your head. You will need to remain in this position for the duration of your scan, which will take around 5 minutes.
The scanner table will slide into the ring-shaped part of the CT scanner. The ring will rotate around you to create images of your heart from multiple angles.
Once your scan is complete, you will be asked to remain at the clinic for monitoring for around 30 minutes in case you develop a reaction to the contrast dye — this is not common.
You can then return to your usual activities. We will aim to send your results to you — with expert insights from one of our radiologists or cardiologists — within 3 working days. Your results can also be sent to your GP.
Take charge of your heart health
If you’re concerned about a family history of heart conditions or are experiencing unexplained breathlessness or chest pain, a heart health screening can deliver peace of mind without the waiting lists.
With our cardiac CT scans, diagnostic tests, expert insights and advice from our experienced doctors, you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing how to protect your heart health.
To get started, book your private cardiac CT scan today.