Coronary health check
What is a heart CT scan?†
A Bupa coronary health check is suitable for men and women aged between 45 and 69.This health check looks for risk of heart disease, and identifies the main risk factors contributing to it, as well as offering practical advice about positive lifestyle changes.
It comprises several different tests, including a coronary heart CT scan, which can take up to two hours and may take place at another site or scanning centre on another day.
During your heart screening, we’ll use a number of tests to check your heart health. Your screening can help to identify any issues with your heart, like heart disease, at an early stage.
Talk to an adviser 0333 920 8977 ^
Why would you need a heart CT scan?
If fatty plaques develop around your heart’s arteries, they can lead to chest pain, heart disease and, in severe cases, heart attacks. These plaques don’t always cause immediate symptoms, so the earlier they’re identified, the sooner the chance of further heart problems can be reduced. A cardiac CT scan is a screening test that can help to spot calcium build-ups within your heart, which can lead to heart problems.
What's included?
Assessment
The Bupa coronary check includes a number of different tests, measures and checks, and can take up to two hours. The standalone Coronary Health product includes 30 minutes with the health adviser who carries out the following:
- Height, weight and waist
- Body fat percentage, BMR, EAR and BMI
- Dual arm blood pressure and Atrial Fibrillation screening
- Resting ECG
- Blood test (Cholesterol and HbA1C)
- Cardiovascular risk score
- Discuss results of the above along with lifestyle advice to improve these where required
- Then 30 minutes with the Doctor to screen for symptoms of heart disease and check medical history to confirm if the CT scan is suitable (if the Doctor deems the procedure unsuitable, then it won't go ahead, and you will be refunded the cost of the heart CT scan), plus advise about radiation dose.
- CT Calcium score scan
- A 15 minute follow-up telephone call with the Doctor to discuss the results of the scan.
Body composition measures
Body fat percentage: We work out how much of your body is made up of fat and how much is lean tissue, such as muscle and bone. Combined with a Body Mass Index (BMI) measurement, this can indicate your ideal healthy weight.
Height and weight measurement: We combine and compare these measurements with other tests.
Waist to height ratio: This is a measurement of fat stored around your middle, which can indicate whether you’re at a higher risk of developing heart disease and diabetes.
BMI: Stands for Body Mass Index. This is a ratio of your height to weight, which helps to indicate if you’re at a healthy weight. People with a BMI of 25 and over can have a higher-than-average risk of health problems like diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. Certain ethnic groups including people of Black African, African–Caribbean and Asian descent the risk of health problems such as type 2 diabetes is greater at a lower BMI. Your risk is classed as increased if you have a BMI of 23, and high if your BMI is 27.5.
Metabolic rate: This works out how many calories your body needs in a resting state. It can help you understand your daily calorie needs in order to manage your weight.
Heart screening tests
Blood pressure:
We check for higher-than-normal blood pressure (hypertension) as this means that the heart has to work harder to push blood around your body. Over the long-term, this is associated with an increased risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney disease.
Read more about blood pressure
Electrocardiogram (ECG): This measures the electrical activity of the heart while you are at rest. An ECG can help identify problems with the heart such as coronary artery disease, an enlarged heart or disturbances in the electrical control of the heart (arrhythmia).
Cardiovascular risk score: We estimate the risk of a heart attack within the next 10 years, taking into account your age, sex, total cholesterol, High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, blood pressure, presence of diabetes and other information whether or not you smoke.
Read about the cardiovascular system
Blood tests
Cholesterol profile blood test: High cholesterol affects your heart and blood vessels and increases your risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Diabetes blood test: We check for raised blood sugar levels which may indicate diabetes. This can usually be controlled with diet, exercise or medicines. If not controlled, it can increase the risk of problems such as heart disease and strokes, nerve damage, blindness and kidney disease.
What’s next?
Call us
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Bupa health and wellbeing plans are provided by Bupa Occupational Health Limited. Registered in England and Wales No. 631336. Registered office: 1 Angel Court, London, EC2R 7HJ.