The scans, in plain English
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.
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.
Coronary CT angiogram
A dye goes in through an IV so the scan can show soft and hard plaque and any narrowing.
Carotid 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.
Pulse 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.
Heart health in Portland, by the numbers
The rate of high blood pressure in Portland is lower than the national rate. In Portland, 30.3% of adults have high blood pressure, compared with 34.4% nationally. That adds up to roughly 600,000 adults across six counties.
By county
| County | High blood pressure | High cholesterol (of those checked) | Coronary heart disease |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multnomah | 28.5% | 32.9% | 5.2% |
| Washington | 29.9% | 33.6% | 5.0% |
| Clark | 31.1% | 33.5% | 5.6% |
| Clackamas | 32.1% | 33.2% | 6.1% |
| Yamhill | 33.2% | 32.8% | 6.4% |
| Columbia | 34.9% | 34.5% | 7.2% |
| Portland | 30.3% | 33.3% | 5.5% |
| United States | 34.4% | 36.4% | 6.3% |
Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 county estimates. Portland = Multnomah, Washington, Clark, Clackamas, Yamhill and Columbia 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.
