Key takeaways
- Heart disease is still number one, and many heart attacks are silent. Do not wait for symptoms. (CDC)
- A CT heart scan with calcium scoring reveals plaque early and improves risk prediction beyond standard calculators. (JAMA Network)
- CT is the gold standard to see both the heart and lungs, and the scan is fast, safe, and comfortable, typically under 5 minutes. (American Cancer Society)
If you are 30 or older, or have risk factors, this is the smartest move you can make for yourself and your family.
The simple truth
Heart disease is still the number one cause of death in the United States. In 2023, it remained the top killer, with hundreds of thousands of lives lost, and the CDC notes someone dies from cardiovascular disease roughly every half minute. (CDC)
Here is the opportunity most people miss. Heart disease usually builds slowly. Atherosclerosis, the plaque inside your coronary arteries, often grows in silence. Many heart attacks arrive with few or even no classic symptoms, which is why “I felt off, not in pain” stories are so common. The American Heart Association estimates about 170,000 of the roughly 805,000 heart attacks in the U.S. each year are “silent.” (www.heart.org)
Early detection gives you time to act. That is the entire play.
What “early” actually looks like
See plaque before it becomes a problem
A coronary artery calcium score (often called a heart calcium score) is one of the most reliable ways to visualize calcified plaque in your coronary arteries. Large population studies show that as your calcium score rises, your 10-year risk of coronary heart disease rises too, and that CAC improves risk prediction beyond traditional factors like age, cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking. (AHA Journals)
Why this matters: if your score is elevated, you and your clinician can get aggressive with the levers that work, from lifestyle to medications. If your score is zero, that can reframe risk and help personalize your plan. Either direction, you get clarity.
Catch “silent” events before they catch you
Silent myocardial infarctions are real and common. Reviews place their share at roughly one fifth to almost half of all heart attacks, and they carry real risk for future events and heart failure. You do not want to learn about your heart after that kind of surprise. (www.heart.org)
Why CT is the gold standard for early cardiac insight
When the goal is to see coronary arteries and the lungs clearly, CT is the tool designed for the job. MRI has many strengths, but it is not the first choice for visualizing coronary calcium or for screening the lungs. Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer death in the U.S., responsible for about 1 in 5 cancer deaths. If you are scanning for the two biggest threats, heart disease and lung cancer, CT gives you the coverage you need. (American Cancer Society)
At Advanced Body Scan, the scan is fast and comfortable, typically under 5 minutes, with no needles and no clothing change needed. That speed and simplicity make it easier to get done, and easier to repeat over time to watch trends.
Bottom line: CT is built to see the heart and lungs clearly and quickly. That is exactly what early detection demands.
Who should consider a heart scan?
We recommend scans for anyone 30 and up, especially if you have one or more of these risk factors:
- Family history of early heart disease
- High blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or prediabetes
- Current or former smoker
- High stress, poor sleep, or sedentary lifestyle
- Overweight or central obesity
Even if you feel fine, remember, a significant portion of events are silent. Early visibility is insurance for your most important asset, your life. (www.heart.org)
What you get from an early heart scan
1) A personalized, objective risk signal
A calcium score is an objective number that stratifies your risk. Studies show it significantly improves risk prediction when added to traditional calculators. (JAMA Network)
2) A clear action plan
- Zero or very low score: maintain strong habits, repeat at intervals to confirm you are staying low risk.
- Moderate to high score: tighten up lifestyle and discuss therapies with your clinician. The right mix of diet, exercise, sleep, and medication can change your trajectory.
3) Motivation that sticks
Seeing your own arteries tends to make the abstract feel real. Patients often become more consistent with lifestyle and medication when they see their score and images.
4) Visibility into the lungs
Because CT sees the lungs so well, we can spot issues that point to lung disease risk, the top cancer killer, early enough to do something about it. (American Cancer Society)
“But I already get annual checkups”
Great. Keep them. But checkups and routine blood work cannot see coronary plaque. Standard visits find risk factors. Imaging finds disease. Both matter. Together, they are powerful.
“Will this end up in my insurance record?”
Advanced Body Scan keeps your results private, which lets you make decisions without insurance friction. You control who sees your images and report.
Safety and comfort first
Your scan is quick, comfortable, and designed with safety in mind. No needles. No tight tube. No long appointment. You are in and out in minutes, then you get a clear, plain-English report. If the scan flags significant findings, our specialist reaches out to walk you through next steps.
The cost of not knowing
Cardiovascular disease carries a massive human and economic cost. The CDC estimates hundreds of billions in annual costs for care, medicines, and lost productivity. Early detection, paired with targeted prevention, is one of the smartest investments you can make. (CDC)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a calcium score really better than traditional risk scores?
It is not either or. Large studies show CAC adds predictive power on top of traditional risk factors, helping reclassify people into more accurate risk groups. (JAMA Network)
I feel fine. Why would I scan now?
Because many events are silent or have vague symptoms. By the time chest pain shows up, the disease may already be advanced. Early detection gives you time to change the outcome. (www.heart.org)
Can MRI do the same thing?
MRI is excellent for many things, but it is not the first choice for seeing coronary calcium or for broad lung screening. CT provides the clarity and speed early detection needs, particularly for the heart and lungs. (American Cancer Society)
How often should I repeat the scan?
Many people repeat every 1 to 2 years to track trends, especially if they have a non-zero score or multiple risk factors. Your clinician can personalize that interval based on your baseline and goals.
Is heart disease really still our top threat?
Yes. Heart disease and cancer remained the top two causes of death in 2023, and lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death. (CDC)
Ready to know, not guess?
Book your heart scan now and get clarity in minutes, not months. Choose the location closest to you.
- Oklahoma City: 3209 NW. Expressway, Oklahoma City, OK 73112
- Dallas–Plano: 3801 W 15th St, Building C, Suite 160, Plano, TX 75075
- Houston–Bellaire: 4460 Bissonnet St, Bellaire, TX 77401
Your next five minutes can change the next five decades.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Leading causes of death and cardiovascular burden. (CDC)
- American Heart Association Newsroom. Silent heart attacks are common and often overlooked, about 170,000 per year in the U.S. (www.heart.org)
- Mehta A, et al. Circ Cardiovasc Imaging 2020. CAC categories predict coronary heart disease across sexes and races. (AHA Journals)
- PubMed summary of population cohorts on CAC and ASCVD risk. (PubMed)
- Khan SS, et al. JAMA 2023. CAC significantly improves discrimination beyond traditional risk. (JAMA Network)
- American Cancer Society. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. (American Cancer Society)
Editor’s note for clarity on care model
- Scan appointments are quick and comfortable, typically under 5 minutes, and results are provided privately. Our specialist will reach out if there are significant findings.
Book now. Decide with facts. Be there for the people who count on you.
For more information give us a call at 1-844-756-0200
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