Your heart doesn't always tell you it's in trouble. Heart disease is the #1 killer for both men and women in America. It is estimated that 500,000 Americans will die this year from a sudden heart attack. For many, the first symptom of heart disease is a sudden, sometimes fatal, heart attack.

A New Way to Know Your Risk for Heart Disease

At Saint Louis University Hospital and SLUCare Cardiology at the Des Peres Medical Arts Pavilion, we are the among the first in St. Louis to offer this new advanced test to check for heart disease before you have symptoms.

SLUScan for your heart is a fast, convenient, non-invasive and painless procedure. In 30 seconds it analyzes your heart to reveal calcium and plaque buildup in your arteries. SLUScan for your heart uses an ultrafast computed tomography (CT) scanner to take clear pictures of your heart so that the amount of calcium deposits in your coronary arteries can be measured. This buildup is a warning sign of heart disease. SLUScan for your heart can detect coronary artery disease years or even decades before it is suspected. With this information, our nationally ranked heart services professionals can recommend the heart-healthy lifestyle changes that could help slow, stop and even reverse the blockage in your arteries.

Who Needs SLUScan for your heart?

According to the American Heart Association, factors that can put you at higher risk for heart disease include:

 - Age (men over 35 and women over 40)
 - High blood pressure
 - Diabetes
 - High cholesterol
 - Family history of heart disease
 - Smoking
 - Lack of exercise
 - Overweight
 - High stress lifestyle

It's Fast, Simple and Could be Life-saving

With SLUScan for your heart, you simply lie on a table and hold your breath for a few seconds while the fast CT scanner takes pictures of your heart. There are no needles, dyes or shots. Exercise is not required, and you don't even have to remove your clothing. You are on your way in just a few minutes, and you will have your results in just a few days.

What the Results Mean

If your test is positive, it means that calcium was noted in one or more of your coronary arteries. This doesn't necessarily mean you will have a heart attack. Small amounts of calcification are common in older people. But, an excessive amount of calcification for your age may indicate you have coronary artery disease and should consult your physician to determine necessary steps to reduce the risk of sudden death or heart attack. If detected early enough, these steps may be as simple as changing your diet and exercise habits.

If your test is negative, it means that no calcium deposits were found in your coronary arteries, indicating it is unlikely that you have coronary artery disease.

Enjoy Peace of Mind with SLUScan for your heart

Why put off knowing the health of your heart, especially if any heart disease risk factors figure in your life? Call us now at 1-800-268-5880 any time between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and schedule a SLUScan for your heart. Currently, health insurance does not usually cover the cost of SLUScan for your heart. But at $400, this test is fast, convenient and non-invasive.