Calcium scoring is a noninvasive test using advanced Computed Tomography for determining the amount of plaque buildup in your arteries. This simple, safe examination creates a cross-sectional image of the heart using RWJ Hamilton’s 64-slice CT scanner combined with special calcium scoring software. The patient is required to hold a single breath, as a beam of X-ray quickly records the quantity of calcium in the coronary arteries. The computer constructs an image based on the data and converts the amount of calcium into a score. High scores are extremely predictive of coronary artery disease.

Physicians use this calcium score to evaluate risk for future coronary artery disease. Simply put, more coronary calcium means more coronary atherosclerosis, suggesting a greater likelihood of significant narrowing somewhere in the coronary system and a higher risk of future cardiovascular events.

What's Your Score?
A normal score is 400. Tony scored 3,000. Read about Tony's journey back to better heart health -- and how calcium scoring saved his life. 
Read Tony's story. 


Are You a Candidate?
If you have any of these risk factors, consider calcium scoring:

• family or personal history of coronary artery disease

• male over 45 years of age, female over 55 years of age

• past or present smoker

• history of high cholesterol, diabetes or high blood pressure

• overweight

• inactive lifestyle