A simple heart scan can help you and your doctor better understand your heart health so that you can get the right treatment sooner. A heart scan creates high-resolution images to identify and measure calcium-containing plaque in your arteries. Too much plaque can narrow your arteries and restrict blood flow. If daily tasks or a short walk are more difficult than they used to be, ask about your heart screening options.
Calcium buildup in your arteries can be caused by diet, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and other pre-existing medical conditions. That’s why our heart care team starts by getting to know you. We listen to understand you and your health concerns. Then, we work together to create a heart care plan that’s right for you.
Who should get a heart scan?
Your age, gender, lifestyle and medical history play a role in your heart health. You may benefit from a heart scan if you:
- Are a man over age 40 or a woman over age 50
- Are a smoker or have a history of smoking
- Have a family history of heart attack at an early age
- Have diabetes
- Have high blood pressure
- Have high cholesterol
*A heart scan is not for everyone. It is not recommended for routine screening of people who do not have symptoms of heart disease and have a low risk of heart attacks. Heart disease risk factors include hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, tobacco use, family history of heart disease. We recommend you work with your doctor on your overall health plan and any risk factors you have.
Schedule a heart scan, close to home
A doctor’s referral from your primary care doctor is needed to schedule a heart scan. After your heart scan, your care team sends your results to your cardiologist.
SCHEDULE YOUR HEART SCAN
Advanced imaging for your heart
Care teams at Ascension Seton provide advanced diagnostics and cardiac imaging, including:
- Cardiac MRI – advanced imaging technology used to diagnose heart disease.
- Chest X-ray – used to diagnose chest trauma and heart-lung disease.
- CT angiography – used in combination with the HeartFlow® test to diagnose and treat heart and vascular conditions.
- Echocardiography – also known as an echo test, uses ultrasound to show heart function.
- Electrocardiogram (EKG) – records how your heart’s electrical system is working and creates a digital record, so your doctor can quickly assess your heart during routine checkups and emergency care.
- Exercise stress test – records your heart’s activity while you walk on a treadmill.
- Event monitor – a small recording device that records your heart activity, and is used as part of our cardiovascular telehealth monitoring services.
- HeartFlow® cardiac imaging – creates a 3D image of the heart and arteries to detect blood flow blockages.
- Holter – a recording device that records the electrical activity of your heart for 24 hours.
- Myocardial perfusion test – also known as a nuclear stress test, helps your doctor see how your heart muscle works at rest compared to when it’s working during exercise.
- Nuclear cardiology imaging – creates 3D images of your heart structure to evaluate heart failure and other heart conditions.
- Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) – uses an ultrasound probe placed in your esophagus to create images of your heart.
- Tilt table testing – evaluates your blood pressure and heart rate while mimicking the conditions of a fainting episode.
HeartFlow® helps diagnose coronary artery disease
Clogged arteries, also known as coronary artery disease (CAD), happens when plaque, including fats and cholesterol, build up on your artery walls. Plaque buildup, called atherosclerosis, can slow or completely block blood flow to your heart. If left untreated, CAD can lead to heart failure and heart attack. At Ascension Seton, our cardiac imaging specialists use 3D HeartFlow® imaging technology to diagnose CAD.
Diagnostic imaging for vascular conditions
Interventional vascular specialists at Ascension Seton deliver imaging tests to help diagnose and treat heart and vascular conditions. These can affect the peripheral arteries in your legs, carotid arteries to your brain, your renal artery and other veins in your lower limbs. Interventional vascular specialists may provide advanced vein care to help improve circulation, reduce pain and swelling, and manage restless leg syndrome.
Connected to a national team for heart care
When you need more advanced heart care, your doctor can connect you with the right cardiovascular specialists close to home. Your personalized heart care may include advanced surgical options. And your doctor is part of a national team of specialists, surgeons and care teams, delivering the latest in heart care testing, treatment and procedures.
Cardiac imaging locations
Northern locations:
Ascension Seton Williamson
201 Seton Parkway
Round Rock, TX 78665
Schedule an appointment online
Surface parking available at no charge.
Ascension Seton Highland Lakes
3201 S. Water St.
Burnet, TX 78611
Schedule an appointment online
Surface parking available at no charge.
Central Locations:
Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin
1201 W. 38th St.
Austin, TX 78705
Schedule an appointment online
Parking garage available.
Dell Seton Medical Center
at The University of Texas
1500 Red River
Austin, TX 78701
Schedule an appointment online
Parking garage available
Ascension Seton Northwest
11113 Research Blvd.
Austin, TX 78759
Schedule an appointment online
Surface parking available at no charge.
Southern locations:
Ascension Seton Edgar B. Davis
130 Hays St.
Luling, TX 78648
Schedule an appointment online
Surface parking available at no charge.
Ascension Seton Southwest
7900 FM-1826
Austin, TX 78737
Schedule an appointment online
Surface parking available at no charge.
Ascension Seton Hays
6001 Kyle Parkway
Kyle, TX 78640
Schedule an appointment online
Surface parking available at no charge.
All registered marks are property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.
