Frequently asked questions

Yes, subject to infection control restrictions you can bring a friend or relative to your Cardiac CT Health Check.However, for safety reasons, they won’t be able to accompany you into the CT Coronary Angiogram scanning unit unless there are exceptional circumstances.

We have a dedicated team of cardiac radiographers who will manage your appointment once we have received your request for a Cardiac CT Health Check. They will answer any questions you might have about the scan and your results before booking you in.

If the CT Cardiac Angiogram reveals a condition, our doctor may recommend you urgently consult your GP or we can refer you to a private cardiologist at Prime Health for further management of your heart condition. This of course depends on the severity of the condition they find.

Following your scan, you will be asked to wait at the centre for at least 30 minutes to make sure you feel well. We will monitor your blood pressure and heart rate. When your vital signs have returned to acceptable limits you will be free to leave.Your report will be available between 5 to 7 days after the scan. The scan images will be examined by our cardiology experts and analysed by AI technology. You will receive a comprehensive report and an online consultation to provide you with your personalised advice.

Please allow 2-3 hours for the appointment. The CT Coronary Angiogram scan will take 20 minutes.

The CT Coronary Angiogram is a diagnostic imaging procedure that uses a special X-ray called a Computed Tomography (CT) Scan to obtain detailed images of the blood vessels and tissues in your heart.It is a diagnostic imaging technique that can provide valuable information about the presence of heart artery diseases, blockages, or other abnormalities in the heart’s blood vessels and tissues.

Yes, you can eat and drink as normal after a Cardiac CT Health Check. If you have an injection of contrast during your examination, it is beneficial to drink plenty of water (2-3 extra glasses) after your examination to help flush out the contrast from your system.

After the Cardiac CT Health Check, the scan images will be examined by our cardiology experts and analysed by AI technology.You will receive a comprehensive report and an online consultation to provide you with your personalised roadmap to a healthier heart.

There are no side effects from the CT Coronary Angiogram itself, although it does use several times more radiation than a typical X-ray; equivalent to what you might be exposed to naturally over a three-to-four-year period.If you have an injection of contrast, you may have some side effects which might include a skin rash, dizziness, a headache and nausea. The diagnostics team will discuss this with you and will answer any questions you may have before the injection.A possible side effect of beta-blockers is that you may feel a slight headache or a little dizzy for a short time after it is administered.The diagnostics team will discuss this with you and answer any questions you may have before the injection or any medication is administered.

On arrival at our centre for a Cardiac CT Health Check, we will request your consent and go through safety checks with you. We will run some basic tests to check your vital signs, including your blood pressure and heart rate before we proceed.Prior to your scan, a dye called a contrast medium will be injected into your vein to help enhance the quality of the scan pictures. Potential side effects may include hot flushes, feeling like you are passing urine or have a metallic taste in your mouth. These are common, but temporary, side effects of the contrast medium we use during the scan and they should pass quickly.If necessary, you may be given additional medicine such as Glyceryl Trinitrate (GTN) spray under your tongue, to relax the blood vessels and a Beta-blocker injection via the cannula in your arm to slow your heart rate temporarily at a safe level, if it is beating fast. A possible side effect of the beta-blockers is that you may feel a slight headache or a little dizzy for a short time after it is administered.You may be asked to change into a gown. A small tube (cannula) will be inserted into a vein in your arm. For a CT Coronary Angiogram, you will be asked to lie down on the CT scanner table which will slide through a tunnel shaped scanning machine. Our team will monitor your heart rate throughout the scanning process using sensors.During the scan you will be asked to hold your breath for a few seconds while the images are obtained. These are all to help us get the clearest pictures possible of your heart.The scanner is not very noisy, and the procedure is normally quick and not painful. Our radiographers will monitor you through a connecting window and intercom, and you can speak to them at any time.After you have taken the medication, throughout the scan and your appointment you will be closely monitored by our experienced health care team.