Newton Medical Center (NMC) announced today participation in the National Heart Health Program in an effort to reduce heart attacks and sudden cardiac death.
This internationally recognized heart attack prevention and early detection program is centered on coronary calcium scoring. Coronary calcium scoring is a noninvasive, painless, five minute test to check for the presence of calcium in the coronary arteries. The test is delivered using a 160-slice CT scanner, and will allow doctors to identify the coronary artery disease (CAD) in its earliest stages, prevent this deadly condition from worsening and reduce life threatening events.
According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming more lives than all forms of cancer combined.
“This is an important milestone for our community, our patients and the area,” said Cardiologist Hossein Amirani, M.D. “The National Heart Health Program will help meet goals of providing the area with the most advanced cardiac care and of detecting undiagnosed cardiac disease, ultimately reducing the number of heart attacks and deaths each year.
Coronary calcium score testing is offered in Newton Medical Center’s Imaging department, Monday through Friday, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. A physician order is required, so talk to your primary care provider to find out if calcium scoring is right for you.
