Baylor Scott & White Legacy Heart Center

Coronary calcium scoring

What is coronary calcium scoring?

Coronary calcification has been shown to be a powerful risk indicator for heart disease.

A coronary calcium scoring is a simple, safe and quick way to “score” the amount of calcium in your heart. Studies have shown that coronary calcium scores directly correlate with the risk of heart attack, even if your other risk factors—family history, age, cholesterol levels, diabetes, smoking and obesity—are low. A higher coronary calcium score signals that plaque is present and atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries has begun. The test is performed with a computed tomography (CT) scanner and takes about 15 minutes.

What are the heart disease risk factors?

According to the American Heart Association, the following are major contributing and other risk factors for heart disease:

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Family history of heart disease
• Smoking
• Inactive lifestyle
• Obesity

It is important to remember that calcium scoring only estimates your risk of heart disease or a heart attack. Talk to our doctor to find out if coronary calcium scoring makes sense for you.

What should I expect at my CT scan?

A technologist will escort you into the scanning room, where you’ll see a table and a large, doughnut-shaped device called a gantry. The technologist will have you lie down on the padded table and make sure you’re comfortable. You’ll be asked to lie very still during the scan and hold your breath for a short time to minimize any body movement. During the scan, you might hear a humming noise but you will not feel anything unusual. The technologist can monitor you during the entire exam through a window and will talk to you through an intercom. The specific details of your upcoming examination will be explained fully by a technologist or your physician.

Are IVs or shots involved?

No, This procedure does not require injections, treadmills or other preparation such as fasting. However, it is a good idea to avoid caffeine four to six hours prior to your scan.

What should I expect after my scan?

The cardiologist will carefully analyze your images, review the findings with your physician and provide a report. Your physician will then discuss the results with you.

What does my score mean?

Scores can range from zero (low-risk) to 400 and above (high-risk). Scores indicate the extent of calcification in the heart’s coronary arteries, which indicates the presence of atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. Determining the extent of cardiac risk requires your doctor to interpret your calcium score in combination with other tests and risk factors.

Will my insurance cover the test?

Calcium scoring may not be covered by your insurance. Check with your insurance provider to see if your test will be covered.

Coumadin clinic

The Coumadin Clinic provides patients a convenient way to safely monitor their Coumadin levels.

Patients may schedule an appointment at the clinic for a face-to-face visit with specialized clinical staff or participate in a home monitoring system. We utilize machines that provide accurate results from a fingerstick within minutes. 

Pacemaker clinic

Our pacemaker clinic evaluates and manages the care of patients prior to and following the implantation of cardiac pacemakers.

The frequency of a patient’s evaluation is determined by the patient’s needs, the age and type of pacing device, and the cardiologist’s recommendations. A typical schedule will include both clinical visits and remote/telephone monitoring. Telephone monitoring utilizes specifically designed transmitter units which allow the staff to analyze how well the pacemaker is working while the patient is at home.

The trained technician will review information from the device to check for function and battery life and make any adjustments recommended by the cardiologist.

Test and procedures

• Ankle Brachial Index
• Cardiolite Perfusion Tests
• Stress Test/Cardiolite
• Stress Test with Dobutamine and Cardiolite
• Stress Test/Regadenoson and Cardiolite
• Cardiac PET
• Computed Tomography (CT) Scan
• Echocardiogram Studies
• 2D Doppler Echocardiogram with Color Flow
• Exercise Stress Echocardiogram
• Dobutamine Stress Echocardiogram
• Exercise Tolerance Test
• Heart Health Screening
• Monitoring
• Sonograms
• Aorta Sonogram
• Carotid Artery Sonogram
• Venous Sonogram

Vein clinic

Baylor Scott & White Legacy Heart Center offers minimally invasive treatment options for varicose veins and spider veins.

Do you experience discomfort from varicose veins?

Our vein specialists offer effective solutions for treating varicose veins and spider veins. We specialize in minimally invasive techniques that allow patients to be treated right in our office. 

What to look for when considering treatment:

• Veins that are dark purple or blue in color
• Veins that appear twisted and bulging
• An achy or heavy feeling in your legs
• Burning, throbbing or muscle cramping in your legs
• Swelling in your legs
• Worsened pain after sitting or standing for a long time
• Itching around one or more of your veins
• Bleeding from varicose veins
• Color changes, hardening of the vein, inflammation of the skin or skin ulcers near your ankle, which can mean you have a serious form of vascular disease that requires medical attention

Dramatic results without drastic measures

Banish varicose veins with a minimally invasive vein treatment that is safe and effective without lengthy downtime. It’s a non-surgical alternative to vein stripping that seals varicose veins shut and eliminates them for good. 

Endovascular radiofrequency or laser ablation

During the procedure, a thin fiber is inserted into the varicose vein through a tiny entry point, usually near the knee. A local anesthetic is used to minimize the pain from the small incision. A local anesthetic is also applied along the length of the vein to make the procedure virtually painless. As the fiber is withdrawn, targeted energy damages the vein walls, shrinking them and closing the faulty vein so that blood cannot flow through it. The body simply reroutes the blood flow through healthier veins. No other tissue in the legs is affected.

Sclerotherapy

For this procedure, your doctor injects small-sized varicose veins known as spider veins with a solution that closes those veins. Treated varicose veins should fade in a few weeks. Each vein can respond differently and may require an additional injection to achieve the desired result.

FAQs

What are the complications of this procedure?

A small number of patients experience numbness that usually passes quickly. Also, there may be minor soreness and bruising. Any discomfort can be treated with over-the-counter, non-aspirin pain relievers as necessary.

How long does it take to recuperate?

Patients can expect a fast recovery. Usually a patient is up and walking immediately and can resume normal daily activity; however, patients are advised to avoid rigorous activities such as gym workouts for a few days.

Is this therapy effective for smaller varicose veins or spider veins?

Call 469.800.6300 to schedule a consultation with one of our vein specialists