Cardiovascular Screening and Diagnosis
Heart Disease Screening
Trust the Meritas Health Cardiology experts for a painless way to detect early signs of heart disease. Call 816.691.5267 to schedule your heart scan, also known as a calcium scoring cardio scan.
At North Kansas City Hospital (NKCH) Cardiology, we’re here to help you reduce your risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease. Heart disease is preventable with lifestyle changes, the help of medication and a supportive heart care team. Consider meeting with our cardiologists. Together, we can improve your heart health.
Heart Disease & Stroke Facts
It’s important to do what you can to manage existing heart conditions and prevent stroke and heart disease. Left untreated, heart conditions often lead to cardiac events like heart attacks, which are common in the U.S.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease and stroke are among the top causes of death for both men and women. Nearly 700,000 people in the U.S. die from heart disease each year. And over 800,000 have a heart attack each year.
Heart Disease Screenings
To see if you’re at risk for developing heart disease or having a stroke, your doctor may recommend:
- Calcium heart scan ($50) — Takes pictures of your heart with special X-ray equipment. Helps detect early signs of heart disease and assess your risk based on calcium deposits. Also called heart computed tomography (CT) scan.
- Carotid artery screening (ultrasound) ($40) — Takes detailed pictures of your carotid arteries. Helps show any buildup that puts you at risk of a stroke or heart attack.
You can schedule your heart screenings directly because they don’t require a doctor’s order. Make sure you have a primary care provider for any follow-up care. If you need help to find a primary care doctor, call 816.221.HEAL (4325). A physician referral specialist at NKCH is ready to assist.
To help your doctor detect conditions before you have signs or symptoms, you may need a heart test or procedure:
- Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) — Takes detailed pictures of your heart
- Echocardiogram (echo) — Uses ultrasound to show how your heart beats and pumps blood
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scan — Uses a small amount of radioactive material and contrast dye, so your heart and blood vessels are visible on a special camera
- Transradial cardiac catheterization — Takes pictures of your heart to diagnose certain heart conditions, such as coronary artery disease (CAD)
Heart monitors and stress tests help your doctor detect coronary artery disease, identify abnormal heart rhythms and determine safe levels of exercise. To check if your heart beats too fast or too slow (arrhythmia), you may receive:
- Electrocardiogram (EKG/ECG) — Causes your heart to beat to check for heart damage or stress
- Holter monitor (event monitors) — Records the electrical activity of the heart for 24 or 48 hours as a portable ECG
Your doctor may want to check the blood flow in your arteries and veins. They may recommend:
- Carotid artery disease (CAD) screening — Uses ultrasound to check the arteries in your neck for plaque (fat) or aneurysms (weak areas) that could slow blood flow to the brain and cause a stroke
- Peripheral artery disease (PAD) screening — Checks blood pressure of your lower legs and arms, then compares the readings for a sign of an artery blockage
Instructions for Tests & Procedures
Before arriving at North Kansas City Hospital for a test or procedure, follow any guidelines from your doctor. That way, you get the most accurate, helpful results.
Your Results
Using the test results, your Meritas Health cardiologist will work with you and your family to determine the most effective treatment plan. And just in case - we also have our Emergency Department and other acute cardiac services close by for additional support.