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11/Aug/2025

When a healthcare provider suggests a CT scan for diagnostic purposes, you might feel curious about it. It is completely common to have certain questions, such as what happens during a CT scan, whether it is risky, or whether it has any side effects. Knowing about the imaging process and how it works will make you feel more guided.

Let’s walk you through each step of the CT scan, from how it works to scan preparation to what happens during or after the procedure.  

What is a CT scan?

A computed tomography (CT) scan is a type of advanced imaging test used in medical terms to evaluate injuries and diagnose diseases. This scan utilises X-ray technology and advanced computers to create 3D images of various body parts from multiple angles. 

This will help your healthcare provider to see your internal structures, such as bones density scan, tissues, and blood vessels from multiple angles clearly. The scanning images are typically used to evaluate the progress of ongoing treatments, diagnose diseases, or detect certain infections, such as cancer.

How does imaging technology work?

The CT scanner is a large, doughnut-shaped machine with a moving bed attached to it that will go in and out while taking pictures. 

X-ray source 

While you are lying down on the table, the X-ray source will move around your body, sending radiation to your targeted body parts.

Detectors

Advanced detectors will detect the emitted radiation on the other side of the body. 

Computer processing 

The computer will collect the data and combine it to create a 3D image that your healthcare provider can see on the screen. You can see them later as well. 

This advanced, accurate, and precise technique will help doctors to see tiny fractures or early tumours before they spread. 

Why do I need a CT scan?

Your doctor might suggest a CT scan for various reasons, including:

  • Detect bone fractures 
  • Identify any early tumours or blood clots 
  • Detect blockages in blood vessels 
  • Diagnose infections and heart disease 
  • Monitor the progress of treatment 
  • Trace disease progression 

A CT scan is the most trusted choice in cases where healthcare providers need quick and clear answers. 

How do I prepare for the CT scan?

The scan preparation depends on the scan your doctors have suggested for you. Moreover, your doctor will explain everything you need to know, from how you need to prepare for the scan to what will happen during the procedure. Here are some guidelines:

  • You may be advised to stop eating or drinking a few hours before the scan. 
  • If you are allergic to any dye, chemical, or medication, you need to inform your doctor beforehand, and they will adjust your treatment accordingly. 
  • You must arrive early on the scan day to become familiar with the surroundings and remain calm. 
  • Remove all the jewellery before the scan, as any metallic object can distort the images, leading to inaccurate results.
  • It’s better to change into a hospital gown for a more comfortable journey.

Furthermore, if you have any questions or concerns, you can ask your doctor right away.

What should I expect during my CT scan?

  1. First, you will arrive at the facility, and your doctor will review all the instructions and re-explain the entire process to ensure there is no confusion.
  2. They will inject a contrast dye to make some structures more visible. It can be either injected into your blood or given orally, depending on the type of scan.
  3. You will be asked to lie on the bed.
  4.  The bed will go inside the scanner during the scan.
  5. Throughout this time, your doctor will monitor you, and you can even talk to your doctor. 
  6. When the bed begin to move inside the scanner, you will hear some whirring sound as well.
  7. During the scanning, you may be asked to stop breathing. This will be only for a few seconds.

The computer will collect all the images, and your doctor can now see them for diagnostic purposes. If you want, a board-certified radiologist can review the results and decide what’s next.

How long does a CT scan take?

The entire process is completed in under an hour, with most of the time spent preparing for the scan. The scan itself only takes 5 minutes.

Are there any risks of a CT scan?

Healthcare providers consider CT scans completely safe because they use low doses of radiation. However, if you have certain health concerns, you can talk to trained professionals for a clearer and better understanding. 

People often ask, “Can I get a CT scan while pregnant? Or does it have a side effect?” The scan usually doesn’t have side effects, but some might feel nauseous due to the dye; however, it is rare. Moreover, if you are pregnant and need to go through a scan, it is wise to consult with the doctor.

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Conclusion 

A CT scan is more than just a diagnostic test; it provides clear answers and guides you to the right treatment options. It’s normal to have questions, and finding a trusted partner for a CT scan you can count on for your health is essential. At ViaScan, we offer low-dose CT scans and prioritise patient safety and comfort to ensure you receive the best care. Our trained professionals will answer all your queries and will walk you through each step.

If your doctor has recommended a CT scan, trust ViaScan for quick, accurate, and trustworthy answers.


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04/Aug/2025

When it comes to heart health, early detection can save lives. Coronary artery disease creeps in silently and is the leading cause of heart attacks in the US. But, do you know what the good thing is? CAD is detectable and curable when identified early, and knowing what tests are available for early, safe detection is crucial. 

Whether you are experiencing symptoms or just want to be concerned because of your family history, getting tested for CAD is your early line of defence. At ViaScan, we specialize in noninvasive imaging techniques to help you catch the disease early, before the symptoms start haunting you. Let’s explore the tests for coronary artery disease, why early testing is important, and how CAD is tested.  

What is coronary artery disease?

CAD occurs when blood vessels that supply blood to the heart are blocked with plaque buildup. This calcium deposition will completely or partially block the coronary arteries, reducing the supply of blood, ultimately leading to chest pain and heart attacks.

Coronary artery disease doesn’t come with full-blown symptoms. Therefore, early screening or a coronary CT scan can help you identify the extent of blockages, especially if you fall into the following categories:

  • Have a family history of heart disease
  • Overweight or obese
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Diabetes 
  • Smoking

The crucial part is that you may not even experience the symptoms until it’s too late. Therefore, getting tested early when you can will allow you to make early medical interventions.

How is coronary artery disease tested?

There are several ways to detect CAD, but the modern and safe way is noninvasive coronary CT scans, which are leading the way.

Coronary Calcium Scan

This quick and noninvasive scan uses an advanced CT scanner to measure the amount of calcium deposited in the walls of arteries. The calcium score indicates the level of risk your heart faces and helps identify early signs of plaque buildup. Coronary calcium scans can also be used for those who smoke or do not exhibit heart disease symptoms to determine their risk of developing coronary heart disease.

Blood Tests

Blood testing can measure cholesterol and blood sugar. A high-sensitivity test for C-reactive protein (CRP) detects a protein associated with inflammation in the arteries.

Electrocardiogram

This brief test examines the heart’s electrical activity. It displays the heart’s rhythm. Electrodes are sticky patches that adhere to the chest and occasionally the arms and legs. The electrodes are connected via wires to a computer, which prints or shows the test findings. If you have had or are experiencing a heart attack, the ECG signal patterns can reveal it.

Nuclear Stress Test

Stress tests examine your heart while it is beating rapidly and working at a high rate. Your doctor may prescribe medication to temporarily increase your heart’s workload if you have a medical condition that keeps you from exercising. Your healthcare professional will use an ECG or another imaging test to look for insufficient blood flow to your heart muscle. As you exercise, an ECG will track the electrical activity of your heart.

Heart CT scan

This CT scan of the heart will identify and show blockages in the arteries, as well as detect the extent of calcium deposition. Arteries might constrict due to calcium deposits. During the scan, dye is occasionally administered intravenously. This dye will flow through the arteries, allowing your doctor to clearly visualise the blood flow and take detailed images of the carotid arteries. This scan is known as a CT coronary angiography if dye is utilized.

A safer way to diagnose coronary artery disease?

Coronary artery disease comes with no warning signs. Therefore, if you are experiencing symptoms such as:

  • Shortness of breath 
  • Sudden chest pain
  • Palpitations 
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Dizziness after minimal work

Don’t delay a heart CT scan. But what is the risk-free and safest way to detect coronary artery disease? A quick and noninvasive coronary CT scan at Viascan. We specialize in low-dose CT scans to provide you with an accurate diagnosis within a few minutes. 

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Conclusion 

Knowing how CAD is detected and what options you have will put you in control. Early screenings and timely detection allow you to make early lifestyle changes for a healthy future. Even if your arteries begin to narrow due to blockage, you might not feel a thing. Therefore, early detection is crucial for identifying CAD and assessing early symptoms. Viascan offers a range of imaging services, including heart CT scans and coronary calcium scans, to provide a clear picture and insight into your heart health, allowing you to prevent complications.


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21/Jul/2025

Time is of the essence when you have a heart to worry about! When you consult your doctor and are scheduled to get a Heart CT scan, you are likely to ask yourself how many hours of your day will be consumed. You said you are going to miss lunch? Can you fit it into your lunch hour? Are you free to clear your afternoon?

Being a qualified scanning expert, I receive these time-related questions daily. Customers prefer to know clearly what they will be signing up for, and frankly, that is good planning! A heart scan may appear to you to be something never-ending; however, the truth of the matter is more thrilling than what you can imagine.

The heart scanning of today is fast, convenient, and designed to suit your hectic lifestyle with minimal interruptions. Let us break down what you can really expect!

What is the Time Taken for The Heart CT Scan?

And here is the most amazing moment: most people would be surprised to learn that the actual heart CT scan itself can take only 10 to 15 minutes. 

Throughout those several seconds, you will lie on a comfortable table with everything still as the CT scanner will rotate about you and take hundreds of detailed images of your heart. The machine is fast enough to capture clear pictures between heartbeats, which is quite amazing when one takes a second to consider this.

In some cases, when your heartbeats are quick or irregular, it may take 20 minutes to scan, which is incredibly fast. The scanner has become so advanced that, intelligently, it can operate in sync with your heartbeat, allowing it to capture perfect pictures once.

The point is to remain quite stationary in those seconds. Consider it a very significant photograph; you want to be as still as possible so that the image turns out to be as clear as possible.

How long should a customer’s overall visit last?

Although the actual scanning itself is extremely rapid, you will spend between 30 minutes and an hour at the facility. This consists of the total time of preparation, which is equally important as the actual scan.

Upon arrival, you will need to complete some paperwork and allow 10 to 15 minutes for check-in. Next, you will be transferred into a comfortable hospital gown, a process that will take approximately five minutes. The technologist will discuss the procedure and address any questions you may have about it.

If you require the use of contrast dye, you may need an additional 10 to 15 minutes to prepare. The staff will also place certain monitoring electrodes on your chest to monitor your heart rhythm during the scan.

Once you have completed your “heart scan,” you will take a couple of minutes to dress and then be given basic instructions regarding your results. Most of the facilities are highly efficient, and your time is respected; therefore, they maintain a steady pace.

My advice? Allow for an hour in total and carry a good book or download a podcast in case of a minor delay.

Is the heart scan time-consuming with Contrast Dye?

Great question! Taking contrast dye does take some time from your appointment, but not if you believe. The contrast dye helps produce ultra-clear and detailed images of your heart and blood vessels, much like high-definition television does for regular tv.

An additional 15-20 minutes should be allowed when contrast dye is required. This will consider the time needed for a technologist to insert a small line into your arm using an IV, a procedure that lasts approximately one to two minutes and involves a slight pinch.

The contrast injection occurs immediately prior to your scan and usually requires no more than 30 seconds. You may experience a warm feeling that runs through your body – it is perfectly normal and, in fact, an indication that the contrast is working just as it should.

Once the scan is complete, you will lie down for approximately 10 minutes as the medical staff ensures you are in a stable condition before you leave. There is concern among some people about side effects; however, serious reactions are extremely rare with newer contrast materials.

The fortunate part is that the actual heart CT scan is no longer necessary due to the use of contrast; the 10 to 15 seconds it takes to scan the body part is still extremely fast.

Do I Immediately Get the Results After the Scan?

This is the most frequently asked question, and I completely understand the reasons why you would want to have the answers at hand. Although the scanning process is incredibly fast, it simply takes a little longer to get your total results, as precision is crucial when it comes to your heart.

All the pictures from your so-called heart scan will also be thoroughly studied by a specialised radiologist (read: a physician highly qualified in interpreting medical images). The elaborate review would typically require 24-48 hours, as they would scan hundreds of pictures to ensure nothing is overlooked.

Yet, in case something requires attention, the radiologist will call your doctor immediately, e.g. even when you are still in the scanning centre. The emergency findings are dealt with urgently; therefore, you never think of delays when something important is at stake.

Depending on the specifics of your doctor’s request, especially in certain parts of scanning centres, the preliminary results can be provided on the same day. The findings will then be discussed with you by your doctor, who will clarify them regarding your health status.

You will receive a follow-up in most places within a few days, or they may have an online patient portal where results are available.

What can I expect in Recovery?

Yet another piece of good news is that there is practically no recovery period or time required after a heart CT scan. Because it is a non-invasive process (that is, nothing is put inside your body, except that the milk chocolate and marble chocolate might remain outside of your body by dint of your IV and your stomach), you are able to resume all your usual activities immediately.

If you received contrast dye, you may be advised to drink additional water throughout the day to aid the absorption process, but this is the most specific advice that most people receive.

You can drive home, return to work, exercise, eat normally, and do what you usually do. One can perform any activity without limitation following a heart CT scan.

Others are slightly nervous after waiting to get their results, and this is normal. It is essential to remember that no news is typically good news; however, if you have any updates to share, please contact your medical team immediately.

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Conclusion

Receiving a heart CT scan should not be the event that affects your whole day or makes you stressed over time. When it takes only 10 to 15 seconds of real scanning time and the total time is approximately an hour to gather a wealth of information regarding your heart’s health, it is among the most effective time-saving methods to find out in detail about your heart health.

At ViaScan, we appreciate your busy life, and we will serve you well through efficiency and quality in our heart scanning services. When it comes to protecting your heart, you cannot afford to lose any moment (and that’s why we make sure these moments are worth spending)


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23/Dec/2024

Technological advancements in arthroplasty and surgical procedures necessitate cardiovascular diseases and heart attacks due to artery blockage as the leading cause of mortality globally. Signs of blockages, when detected early, can greatly minimize the risk of developing complications. Although self-diagnoses should never replace a doctor’s opinion and practice, some things people can observe at home and practices that they can perform may give them an idea of what might be possibly dangerous and, therefore, may call for a doctor.

What Are the Signs of A Heart Blockage?

Such blockages cause some diagnosable symptoms that are usually seen as early signs of a disease. A simple heart CT scan detects heart diseases at early stages. Pain or discomfort in the chest, described as angina pain, pressure, or tightness, is one of the most frequent signs. It may radiate to the shoulders, arms, neck, or jaw, causing discomfort. Another important sign of the disease is dyspnoea: this occurs during simple activities or even while walking or in a resting position. Vague and unexplained tiredness may also be a signal of heart problems because the flow of blood is restricted, and the organ fails to pump the blood efficiently.

Other signs, such as a high pulse rate, sweating, especially cold drops, light-headedness, or edema over the lower limbs, can also signify problems within the cardiovascular system. These symptoms can be diagnosed and addressed early, which could save a life. 

Can Technology Support You to Closely Track Heart Health in Your Own Space?

Today, medical technologies offer methods for people to monitor their heart conditions from the comfort of their homes. Wearable devices such as smartwatches with features like heart rate monitors and Electrocardiograms (ECGs) can detect abnormalities like Atrial Fibrillation, which may also indicate a blockage. Sphygmomanometers are also crucially important, as hypertension, a risk factor for occlusive arterial disease, is commonly present.

These cannot diagnose blocked arteries or blood vessels but provide a lot of information regarding the state of the heart and motivate people to seek the advice of professionals. For example, CT scans are essentially in clinical facilities to analyze the degree of coronary artery calcification and, therefore, the probable degree of blockage in coronary veins.

Which changes to make in Your lifestyle may assist in avoiding a blocked heart?

It is, therefore, only wise that people who want to avoid incidents such as heart blockages undergo various changes that will enable them to achieve heart-healthy lifestyles. A healthy diet plan should, therefore, incorporate fruits, vegetables, whole-grain foods, and lean sources of protein. Low cholesterol diets, through the elimination of foods pointing toward saturated fats, trans fats, and sodium, can make a huge difference in cholesterol and blood pressure, hence avoiding blockages.

Aerobic exercises, such as walking briskly, swimming, cycling, and others, should be done for at least 150 minutes per week to support heart health. Mindfulness, yoga, or meditation can also help avoid the dangerous effects of stress hormones on the heart. Last but not least, one must quit smoking because tobacco affects the arteries and aggravates plaque formation.

When should you Go for Medical Assistance?

As observed, those involving home care and daily changes are useful, but effective and accurate results can’t be obtained from home monitoring. Some of the symptoms that require the client to seek medical advice include chest pain, breathlessness, or irregular heartbeats that do not go away. If attention is not sought early, one is likely to suffer a heart attack.

ViaScan: Your Partner in Advanced Heart Diagnostics

If you need an all-inclusive diagnostic, you should turn to advanced diagnostic technologies such as ViaScan. ViaScan brings the latest technologies in imaging, which include coronary calcium scans, full body scans, and virtual colonoscopies, to check on blockages in the heart as well as other diseases. These harmless procedures provide exact information about the status of the heart and the cardiovascular system so patients can work on altering their lifestyles. For instance, their CT scans can be highly accurate in diagnosing the illness called coronary artery calcification or in evaluating risks linked to coronary veins as well.

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Conclusion

Healthy heart care is a lifelong process that involves knowing a number of facts, monitoring health status, and medical checkups. Signs, home technology, and a general outlook remain crucial to addressing the problem at the first stage. However, in high-end precise diagnoses such as the ViaScan, the health of the cardiovascular system can be fully and accurately assessed, and this can enable doctors to provide early treatment for blockages. CT scans are useful in helping identify CAD (coronary artery calcium) and further evaluating the coronary veins, which are among the services that will safeguard your heart. Today, paying attention to your heart for healthier living is equivalent to having a healthy heart.


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20/Mar/2024

It’s critical to take care of our health as we age. This includes adopting a healthier diet, exercising, and using screenings and preventive medications that can identify health concerns before they worsen. One condition that may be detected early and treated to help avoid heart attacks, strokes, and other heart disease-related problems is blocked arteries. In this blog, we will explore how you can identify this important risk factor at an early stage. Can a CT scan reveal obstructive arteries? What you should know is as follows.

A Heart CT Scan: What is it?

A cardiac CT scan is a noninvasive, painless procedure that examines the heart and surrounding blood vessels to find any artery blockages or narrowing and any heart pumping issues that could point to potential heart disease. A dye, also called contrast, is injected through an IV during the CT scan. With the use of this dye, we may identify a variety of heart diseases by tracking the blood flow through your heart’s blood channels and the heart itself.

When is a Heart CT Scan Necessary?

A team of cardiac imaging experts determines the appropriate cardiac tests for each patient. Typical causes of cardiac CT needs include:

  • If you have chest discomfort and/or believe you may have coronary artery disease, a noninvasive method to find out if your pain is coming from coronary artery blockages or narrowing is cardiac CT angiography. 
  • Inconclusive stress test: If the information obtained from a stress test cannot definitively address your health concerns, we may suggest a cardiac CT scan to check for coronary artery disease or other heart issues.
  • Existence of additional heart disease symptoms: Similar to chest pain, you may benefit from a cardiac CT scan to assess your heart for potential heart disease if you have shortness of breath, neck, jaw, back, or arm discomfort, among other symptoms.

How Can Blocked Arteries Be Found Using a CT Scan?

Since its inception, CT scanning technology has advanced significantly. Doctors may use CT scans to evaluate the amount of calcium accumulation in a patient’s arteries since the imaging is so comprehensive. Using a CT scanner, the calcium score test procedure entails:

  1. The machine’s electronic X-ray detectors pick up the X-rays after the scanner delivers them through the body. 
  2. After processing the data, the CT scanner produces cross-sectional pictures. 
  3. The heart and blood arteries are then shown in crisp 3D by reassembling these photos.
  4. Your doctor will use the pictures to assess your risk of heart attack or other heart-related problems. Your healthcare provider may suggest medication and lifestyle modifications if you have a high risk of developing heart disease to lower your risk of clogged arteries.

Guidelines for Getting Ready for a Heart CT Scan

You should do some things before a CT scan, which your doctor will go over with you. Until your physician instructs you differently, you should take your medicine as directed. Nevertheless, four hours before your treatment, you shouldn’t ingest coffee. There’s also a four-hour smoking ban that you must adhere to. The test findings will be impacted by the heart rate rise caused by caffeine and nicotine.

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Heart CT Scan Results and Lifestyle Changes

Your CT coronary angiography pictures ought to be available soon after your test. You will probably be able to discuss the test findings with the healthcare physician who requested the test. If your test results indicate that you have or are at risk of heart disease, your provider might discuss treatment options. It’s always a good idea to adopt lifestyle modifications to assist protect the heart, regardless of the findings of a CT coronary angiography. Some heart-healthy lifestyle modifications are:

Regular exercise is important. It aids in weight control and lowers blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, all of which are risk factors for heart disease.

Consume nutritious meals. A heart-healthy diet low in sodium, cholesterol, and saturated fat and high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains may all help manage blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight.

Give up smoking. One of the main risk factors for heart disease, particularly atherosclerosis, is smoking. The greatest strategy to lower your risk of heart disease and its consequences is to stop smoking. Consult your healthcare physician about smoking cessation techniques if you require assistance in stopping.

Control medical conditions. Take prescription drugs as prescribed if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. Find out from your doctor how often you require follow-up appointments.

Heart Scan And Calcium Scoring

One of the most significant variables affecting your general health and well-being is the condition of your heart. This is why timing is crucial when receiving the appropriate screening tests. The coronary calcium score test, sometimes called a calcium heart scan or calcium score, is one of the heart CT scan procedures that is becoming increasingly well-liked for evaluating heart health.

Using CT (computerized tomography) technology, coronary artery calcium scoring looks for accumulations of calcium in the coronary arteries, which feed the cardiac muscle with blood rich in oxygen. A medical condition known as atherosclerosis, in which plaque builds up on the wall of an artery, is indicated in these arteries by the accumulation of calcium. The resulting plaque gradually narrows and stiffens the coronary arteries, limiting blood flow. A heart attack may occur if the arteries are clogged.

The total score produced by the coronary calcium scan is determined by the degree of calcification within the coronary arteries. Higher scores are associated with more plaque accumulation and an increased risk of stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.

Conclusion

The arteries that supply the heart gradually narrow and solidify as time goes on. The secret to averting future unfavorable cardiac events is to catch it early and stop more calcium buildup. A heart CT scan can provide important information about your risk and state of heart health. To help you reach the best possible heart health, ViaScan of Las Colinas offers precise coronary calcium scoring and individualized guidance using our state-of-the-art CT equipment and specially trained radiologists. 

FAQ

How does a CT scan show heart blockage?

During the CT, a dye (also known as contrast) is administered through an IV during the scan. This dye allows us to follow the blood flow in your heart as it travels through blood vessels and the heart to help diagnoses a wide range of heart conditions.

Cardiac CT uses advanced CT technology, with or without intravenous (IV) contrast (dye) to better visualize your heart structure and associated blood vessels. With multi-slice scanning, your healthcare provider can get high-resolution, 3D images of your heart  and great vessels.

How to check heart blockage at home?

Monitoring your heart health at home can include taking regular blood pressure readings, measuring your heart rate, and even performing simple tests like the stair test. However, it’s important to remember that these methods are not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you notice any changes or have concerns, it’s always best to consult with your doctor and get heart scan at reputable facility like 123bodyscan for accurate assessment.