The Test That Sees What a Stress Test Might Miss: Understanding Heart CT Scans

Why a Heart CT Scan Is So Valuable

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S., and it often strikes without warning. Stress tests can miss early-stage disease because they rely on symptoms triggered by exertion. If you don’t have symptoms yet, a stress test might look “normal” even when dangerous plaque is already there.



A heart CT scan shows you what’s happening now—inside your coronary arteries—so you can act before a heart attack ever happens. At Life Guard Imaging of Tampa, our coronary calcium scoring evaluates the amount of calcified plaque in your arteries, giving you a score that directly reflects your risk of future cardiac events. Zero is ideal. Higher scores mean it’s time to make changes—possibly with your doctor’s guidance and treatment.

What to Expect With a Heart CT Scan: The Process

The idea of a scan can feel intimidating, but the procedure is simple, comfortable, and quick. Before the scan, you’ll:

• Remove any jewelry or metal objects.
• Review your medical history with the technologist.
• Electrodes are applied to your chest to monitor your heartbeat.

During the scan:

• You’ll lie on your back on a table that moves into a large, doughnut-shaped scanner.
• You’ll hold your breath briefly while the scanner captures high-resolution images.
• The scan itself typically takes just 5–8 minutes.

After the scan:

• You can return to your normal activities immediately.
• A board-certified radiologist analyzes the results, which you can share directly with your doctor.

Heart CT vs. Stress Test: What’s the Difference?

Most people think that a stress test offers a full picture of heart health. It doesn’t. CT scans are different.

• Stress tests show how your heart functions under physical exertion.Heart CT scans show why the heart might fail later by revealing hidden calcified plaque.
• Stress tests rely on symptoms to appear.Often, heart CT scans find disease before you feel a thing.
• Stress tests can miss early-stage disease.Looking at actual calcified plaque in your arteries during a heart CT scan is much more effective.
• Stress tests are performance-based snapshots.You get a precise, anatomical picture of your heart health with a CT scan.

If You’re Wondering Whether to Bother, Consider This

Not sure if a scan is “worth it?” Here’s what’s at stake:

• Over 40% of men and women who experience sudden cardiac arrest had no prior symptoms.
• A CT scan can detect risk years before a problem surfaces—giving you time to prevent it.
• It’s non-invasive, fast, and provides a definitive look at your heart health today.

Get Ahead of Heart Disease—We’re Your First Line of Defense

A stress test might show you how your heart performs under pressure. A heart CT scan shows you what’s silently happening beneath the surface. Both have value, but only one can reveal early risk when you still have time to change the outcome. Call Life Guard Imaging of Tampa at (813) 524-1010 to schedule your heart CT scan today. Your heart health deserves more than hoping for the best—it deserves clarity.