These scans look at your arteries directly. A calcium score shows hardened plaque, and a CT angiogram shows softer plaque and narrowing. They help most when your risk is borderline and a scan could change your treatment. If your risk is clearly low or clearly high, they usually add little.
The scans, in plain English
Blood tests are like checking the weather forecast. A heart scan is like looking out the window: it shows what's actually there right now.
Calcium score
A quick CT scan of your heart with a low dose of radiation. You get a number: zero means no hardened plaque was found, and higher means more buildup.
For: People whose risk is borderline and a decision is closeCoronary CT angiogram
A dye goes in through an IV so the scan can show soft and hard plaque and any narrowing. Some clinics add software that measures the plaque.
For: Usually when a doctor thinks more detail would change the planCarotid ultrasound
Sound waves look at the arteries in your neck for plaque or thickening, with no radiation. Experts advise against using it to screen people who have no symptoms.
For: When a doctor has a specific reason to lookPulse wave velocity
Measures how fast your pulse travels along your arteries. Stiffer arteries carry it faster. Quick and painless, but it is mostly a research measure for now.
For: People curious about artery stiffnessHeart health in Greater Austin, by the numbers
The rate of high blood pressure in Greater Austin is lower than the national rate. About 1 in 4 adults in Greater Austin have high blood pressure, compared with about 1 in 3 nationally. That adds up to roughly 550,000 adults across five counties.
CDC estimates. PLACES figures are modelled from a national health survey, not counted from medical records, so read them as estimates.
See how the five counties compare
| County | High blood pressure | High cholesterol (of those checked) | Coronary heart disease |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travis | 26.6% | 32.5% | 4.1% |
| Williamson | 29.2% | 32.8% | 4.5% |
| Hays | 29.0% | 32.3% | 4.7% |
| Bastrop | 35.7% | 37.5% | 6.5% |
| Caldwell | 34.9% | 36.5% | 6.5% |
| Greater Austin | 28.1% | 32.8% | 4.4% |
| United States | 34.4% | 36.4% | 6.3% |
Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 county estimates. Greater Austin = Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop and Caldwell counties, weighted by adult population.
longevityclinicshub.comBlood pressure and cholesterol are part of an ordinary checkup, so your regular doctor is the place to start. The tests above add detail once you know those basics.
