You may need a heart scan to assess for early signs of heart disease, like calcium deposits in the lining of your arteries.

These scans are usually advised for adults 50 to 70 years old; they are rarely recommended for people younger than 40. This is because calcium development is relatively minimal at younger ages and doesn’t show up on a heart scan. However, if you have a history of heart disease, murmur, or other conditions, your doctor may order a heart scan as a preventive health measure.

A heart scan can detect the presence of calcium in your heart’s arteries. Heart disease occurs when arteries are blocked by inflammation or plaque. A heart scan produces images of the:

• Aorta
• Ventricles
• Blood vessels
• Heart valves
• Rib cage

Heart pain is sometimes best described by the sensations it causes: think sharp, stabbing pain, crushing pressure, and dull aches.

Certain heart and chest pain is caused by severe issues that require urgent medical attention. For example, a heart attack, or myocardial infarction (MI), occurs when there is a blockage or restriction of blood flow to the heart muscle. Other causes of heart and chest pain may include:

• Aortic dissection. This condition occurs when there is a tear in the inner layer of the aorta, the body's main artery.
• Angina. This painful condition is caused by inadequate distribution of blood to the heart.
• Blood clots in the lung.
• Panic attacks.

The following diagnoses are often associated with heart pain:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Muscle disorders
• Esophageal hypersensitivity
• Stomach problems, including ulcers
• Stress and anxiety
• Lung problems
• Depression

There are several scans available to evaluate the condition of the heart and surrounding blood vessels.

A heart CT scan, or computed tomography scan of the heart, is an imaging procedure that utilizes X-rays to produce detailed images of the heart and its blood vessels.

The test takes about 10 minutes, and you are required to remain still to prevent the scan from producing blurred images. A heart CT scan will show if there is a buildup of calcium in the heart’s arteries. It may reveal if the blockage is in the arteries supplying blood to the heart itself. A CT heart scan can also diagnose other kinds of heart conditions.

The cost of a heart scan will vary based on the type of scan you’re receiving, your insurance coverage, and your insurance copay. The average cost of the scan itself is $1,000 to $3,000, with the average copay falling between $150 and $300.

The length of a heart scan depends on the type of scan being performed. Here are some useful averages:

• Heart CT scan: 10 minutes
• Heart MRI scan: 15 to 90 minutes
• Heart ultrasound (echocardiogram): 10 to 30 minutes

Heart scans are simple, non-invasive procedures that tell your doctor if you are at risk of certain heart diseases. If you are looking for a heart scan, check out scan.com’s scan search tool to find an imaging location near you.

1. www.mayoclinic.org
2. www.nhs.uk
3. https://www.healthline.com/health/chest-pain
4. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/heart-scan/about/pac-20384686
5. https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.html