Screenings

A simple heart screening can help you keep your heart healthy

According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the #1 cause of death for both men and women. But there’s good news: it can be treated if caught early. And one of the best and easiest preventive tests for your heart is a heart screening.

Schedule a calcium scoring today

Albuquerque - 505-835-1615

Roswell - 575-625-3371

There are different heart screenings designed to detect potential heart issues before they occur. One of the most common is the calcium score, a specialized X-ray that provides pictures of your heart to help detect and measure plaque buildup lining the walls of your coronary arteries.

Plaque buildup narrows the arteries, restricts blood flow to the heart and ultimately can lead to a heart attack if left unchecked. By detecting plaque buildup early, your doctor can provide a treatment plan to help you reduce your chances of a heart attack or stroke.

If you are a male 40 years or older or a female 45 years or older and are at an increased risk for heart disease, you should consider a heart screening. You are at an increased risk if you:

  • Are diabetic
  • Have a family history of heart disease
  • Are a past or present smoker
  • Have a history of high cholesterol, diabetes or high blood pressure
  • Are overweight or lead an inactive lifestyle

We can help you manage your heart health by starting with a heart scan to detect potential issues before they happen. Plus, a heart scan can motivate you to make important lifestyle changes and follow treatment plans for a lifetime of good heart health.

A calcium score heart scan is a simple test that takes around 10-15 minutes. A technician will attach sensors, called electrodes, to your chest before the scan. These sensors connect to a device that records your heart activity and helps take X-ray pictures between heartbeats when the heart muscles are relaxed.

During the heart scan, you will lie on your back on a table that slides into a CT scanner. Your head is outside the scanner the whole time. You will lie still and hold your breath for a few seconds while the pictures are taken. After the procedure, you can drive yourself home and resume your normal activities.

Get peace of mind

Call 505-835-1615 to schedule your $150 calcium scoring in Albuquerque or call 575-625-3371 to schedule your $149 calcium scoring in Roswell today. No referrals are needed.

Wellness Vascular Screening Exam

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US, but vascular disease outside the heart causes almost as much death and disability as heart disease, and more than any cancer.The vascular laboratory now offers a vascular screening exam for the detection of arterial disease. This examination is an optional screening procedure that is not reimbursable by insurance plans. It is not related to any other vascular examination, screening or complete evaluation, which may be payable by insurance, Medicare or other third-party payers. This examination consists of three components:

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)

  • Vascular disease can cause aneurysms of the aorta, the main artery of the body
  • Aortic aneurysms are the 10th leading cause of death in men over 50
  • Nearly 15,000 people die each year in this country from rupture of an aortic aneurysm
  • More than 700,000 people in this country have an undiagnosed aneurysm

The Aortic Scan is an ultrasound scan of the aorta, the body's main artery. The scan can tell how big the aneurysm is and when it needs treatment.

Carotid Artery Disease

  • Vascular disease can block the carotid arteries to the brain and cause paralyzing strokes
  • Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the U.S.
  • Stroke is the leading cause of disability; our country annually spends more than $50 billion on care of stroke patients

The Carotid Scan consists of a quick carotid duplex ultrasound scan and a blood pressure check for severe hypertension. These exams can detect the most frequent causes of stroke – significant internal carotid artery stenosis.

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)

  • Poor circulation in the legs can cause serious disability or lead to amputation
  • This is especially common in smokers and people with diabetes
  • Up to 20 percentof people over 70 years of age have peripheral arterial disease

The Peripheral Artery Disease scan is a Doppler exam for PAD can quickly determine if there is any impairment in the circulation to the limbs. The exam can identify blockages in the leg arteries and tell how severe the blockage is and whether treatment is needed.

Preperation: Your screening will be scheduled for the earlier morning hours. Please fast from midnight (do not eat or drink) before your test to improve the quality of the images of the abdominal aorta. Please wear comfortable clothing that allows access to your neck, abdomen and ankles.

About the Heart Hospital of New Mexico

The Heart Hospital of New Mexico at Lovelace Medical Center is the only hospital in New Mexico that is entirely dedicated to heart care. Our skilled team use state-of-the-art technology, offering treatment options for all types of heart and vascular conditions

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Have a question? Call us @ 505.727.1100

©2023 Heart Hospital of New Mexico | Lovelace Medical Center
Serving all of New Mexico including Albuquerque, Roswell and Santa Fe