“If it is radiation doctors may not want to put one through that unless it seems warranted.”
Since plaque is not been predictable with any accuracy using the normal medical predictors, such as family health or EKG results or cholesterol counts, it is always warranted. There simply is not a current predictor of plaque. None.
Measurement by heart scan is currently the only means to measure arterial plaque.
I have had 240 Cholesterol since I was 18. According to medical predictors, I should have major blockages by now. I don’t. Clean as a whistle.
Another EXCELLENT BYPRODUCT of the heart scan is a discontinuation of statins. If a person has high cholesterol, they are usually prescribed statins. Statins have nasty side effects. If there are no blockages, statins may be doctor ordered to be discontinued.
I was never on statins, but at my age the doc thought maybe I should start, but not after the heart scan showed my arteries as clear. My doc recommend the scan for me every 5 years. For others, it might be a longer or shorter period time based on health and risk factors.
So is it like a CAT (radiation) or MRI (no radiation)?
Still say they will avoid radiation if they can. If they think you are a risk, they’ll do it anyway. But if it’s radiation and you don’t have signs pointing that way, docs will probably not bother.