A doctor has recommended one simple test he says everyone over the age of 40 should get to help prevent a heart attack. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States in both men and women.

Dr. Anthony Youn has more than 8.2 million followers on TikTok and gained his Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. He has now been a plastic surgeon for 20 years.

Illustration of human chest with heart and pacemaker. Concept of heart diseases. Men’s health concept. Credit: Eugene Mymrin (Getty Images)

Test to help prevent heart attack

“One common cause of death in people our age is a heart attack. So if you’re over the age of 40, whether you have a history of heart disease or not, I strongly encourage you to get a CT calcium score,” he said.

A coronary calcium scan can be done to see if you have a buildup of calcium in your heart arteries, Medline Plus explains. Computed tomography (CT) uses X-rays to create detailed pictures of the heart and its blood vessels, to check for excessive plaque.

“If you have a high number on your calcium score, then that’s a sign that you may have underlying heart disease,” Dr. Youn said. “This would be your chance to make changes in your lifestyle and diet and in medications to hopefully help prevent a heart attack.”

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The CT scan gives you a calcium score. If it’s 0, your results are normal and the chance of having a heart attack over the next several years is very low. However, a high score means you have a calcium buildup in the walls of your coronary arteries, putting you at risk of major cardiovascular events.

@doctoryoun
If you are over 40, especially if you are high risk, ask your doctor about getting a CT Calcium score. Although it’s not 100% predictive of coronary vascular disease, it gives a good idea of what’s going on. Rest in peace to my old friend David. The photo was from our senior year in high school 1990. #calciumscore #heartdiseaseawareness
♬ Dance You Outta My Head – Cat Janice

How heart CT scan is performed

Medline Plus reveals that the scan only takes around 10 minutes in total. You are asked to lie on a table that slides into the center of a CT scanner. Small patches called electrodes are put on your chest to record your heart’s electrical activity, and the machine’s X-ray beam rotates around you.

A computer then creates 3D images called slices, which are detailed pictures of the heart and its arteries. The test may diagnose or detect a number of things including plaque buildup in the coronary arteries, congenital heart disease and problems with the heart valves.

It can also detect blockage of the arteries that supply the heart, tumors or masses of the heart and pumping function of the heart. Having a CT scan can catch any issues early, making you aware of heart attack risk and allowing doctors to provide necessary treatments.

MRI Scanner. Credit: JazzIRT (Getty Images)

‘It saved my brother’s life’

In the comments, many TikTok users are explaining how having a heart CT scan saved their lives, or their loved ones.

One person wrote: “My brother had no symptoms but got this done since we had a family history of heart disease, he ended up getting a bypass since he was 90% blocked. He was 42, it saved his life.”

“CT scan with high calcium score saved my life. I had zero symptoms,” said another.

A third person added: “Husband got the test and had quadruple bypass surgery at 58. No symptoms, but huge family history. Saved his life.”

“My husband works cath lab in a cardiac hospital – I will scream this from a rooftop! Get your heart scan! It’s only $50 here. WORTH IT,” someone else said.

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