We’ve developed a comprehensive six-step process that acts as your personal health roadmap, to follow towards your health goals.
A CTCA test, CT coronary angiograms done with Computed Tomography, is a way of looking inside the heart without going in surgically. It takes detailed pictures of the coronary vessels, the small arteries that feed the heart muscle. Blockages, narrowings, calcium build-up, changes in blood flow, all of these can be picked up in a single scan. Patients don’t have to stay overnight, it’s an outpatient procedure, and for many it’s the clearest first step when chest pain or family history raises questions.
A CT scan like this is precise. The machine rotates around the chest collecting slices that will subsequently create a 3 dimensional image of the vessels. Physicians could then visualise the flow of blood and the areas where it moves freely and the surface where the flow is restricted. To the patient it is a very simple process, yet the technology involved is very sophisticated. And that is the price, no painful or dangerous images as with invasive coronary angiography.
The work of the clinic is to simplify this process. Patients arrive and the scan is done, results are discussed in simple language. The end result is clarity and not confusion..
People are referred for this scan when symptoms or risk factors point to a heart problem. Chest pain is the most common reason. Pain that comes on with effort, tightness that doesn’t settle, or pressure that makes daily life hard, these are red flags. Family history is another. If parents or siblings had early coronary artery disease, the chance is higher and doctors want to check before damage builds silently.
In other occasions numbers do matter and not symptoms. The calcium score can also be high indicating a cemented plaque in the arteries. That is not necessarily a sign of blockages but it causes concerns. In such instances CTCA is better. This test can also be induced by abnormal ECG results, when the rhythms or electrical variation point out a more serious problem.
It is not only for diagnosis. A large number of patients who have previously undergone bypass operations using grafts or have been implanted with coronary stents undergo scans to determine whether their grafts or stents are open. It is much faster and less risky than repeating an invasive coronary angiography.
Common reasons include:
Doctors want answers. CTCA gives them without sending the patient straight to a procedure that carries more risk.
The CTCA scan is not limited only to those who already have severe pain or known blockages. It is a tool for many groups of people who sit somewhere between concern and diagnosis. Doctors recommend it in places where risk is high but clarity is missing.
People who may need this scan include:
Illness is not the only reason that puts someone on this scan. Peace of mind is also a reason. Others are under the burden of risk due to family or lifestyle and a definite CTCA report is reassuring. The scan does not necessarily involve bad news, but in some cases it involves eliminating fears at an early stage and allowing time to focus on preventive treatment.
Preparation is not complex but it matters. Patients are often asked not to eat for a few hours before, though water is allowed. Staying hydrated makes the scan smoother. Certain medicines are paused, especially medication for erectile dysfunction, because they may react badly with drugs given during the scan.
The contrast agent is always tested in terms of allergy. It is this dye that makes the blood vessels visible to the scanner. In case of repetitive allergic reaction in a patient, personnel pre-plan or make substitutes.
Heart rate is another focus. When the heart is beating steadily, but not too fast, the scanner most readily captures images. Medication is sometimes administered to delay the rate. ECG leads are then attached on the chest and to a heart monitor. All of the beats are followed to allow the images to be matched with the rhythm.
Preparation may only take minutes, but it sets the stage. It ensures that once the CT scan begins, the pictures will be sharp and accurate, and the patient will stay safe through the process.
On the part of the patient, the test itself is simple. You come, are welcomed by our team and taken through the process. ECG leads are put on the chest. The contrast agent is injected into the arm by a thin line that penetrates it. Then you lie on the table of the CT scanner.
After the scan is taken, the CT scanner spins around the chest. It gathers specific images in slices. As the contrast runs in the coronary vessels, the arteries appear bright on the images. The blood flow, the presence of coronary calcium, pathogenic narrowing, or the presence of calcified plaque can then be clearly seen by the doctors.
The steps, though not perfectly even, usually run like this:
The actual scanning time is short, often just minutes once everything is ready. Most patients only notice the contrast injection, a warm rush through the body for a brief moment. The rest of the scan feels quiet, lying still while the machine moves.
The important thing is reassurance. Staff are present and what is happening is explained thus keeping the patients calm. The technical labour is done by the machine but all emphasis is laid on ensuring that the experience is as comfortable as possible and safe. The objective is not to provide only pictures, but provide answers to the patient and his doctor which are clear and reliable.
When patients come in for a CTCA, one of the first things we do is explain the safety steps. The scan uses a radiation dose, but the CT scanner in our clinic is set up to keep ionising radiation as low as possible while still showing the coronary vessels in clear detail. It’s carefully adjusted for every patient. You’re not put through unnecessary exposure, the settings are designed around your needs, and the team monitors it all.
A contrast agent is also used. With that colour, the blood vessels will be visible in the CT scan. We make sure that we check allergy, previous reactions, kidney function before we begin. Others have a warm feeling in that direction, others have a metallic flavour, and in unusual occasions there is allergy. That is why personnel remain near during the scan. The patient will never be left alone.
CTCA has far fewer risks than invasive coronary angiography, in which a catheter must be guided via an artery. None of the injuries, no hospital bed, no waiting long. We offer an outpatient service where individuals can walk in, undergo the scan and walk out on the same day. That is one of the reasons it is now the more secure initial action.
Heart disease is still the leading cause of serious illness, and in many cases, the first sign is an event like a heart attack. Preventive cardiology tries to shift this picture, catching problems before they cause damage. The CT coronary angiogram sits strongly in this approach.
CTCA demonstrates plaque and calcium within the arteries at an early stage, thus, making prevention a reality. When physicians identify that arteries are starting to constrict or that the plaque is weak and unstable, they can initiate treatment prior to the symptoms becoming life threatening. That cure can be as straightforward as a change in cholesterol medication, blood pressure support, or changing diet and exercise under the doctor prescribed recommendations.
It is too long to wait until you feel like it. When chest pain occurs, the arteries might have constricted a lot. Then invasive angiography is considered, but that is risky and it takes time. CTCA enables physicians to visualise the same arteries at an earlier stage when there is still time left to avert danger.
Preventive medicine is not only about numbers on a blood test. It is about imaging that shows exactly where trouble may begin. CTCA provides that image. For many patients, this scan becomes the turning point between “I feel fine so I must be fine” and “now I see what’s happening inside, and I can act.”
At Longevity Clinic, the test is used both for diagnosis and for prevention. Consultants explain not only what the arteries look like today but what can be done so that in five years or ten years, the patient stays out of crisis. This is where CTCA carries value far beyond the scan room — it places people into the long view of their health.
The point of this test is not just to run a machine, but to provide answers. Our scanners show the coronary vessels in high detail, so patients and their doctors can see what is happening inside the arteries right now. We can identify calcified plaque, soft plaque, and areas where narrowing is already reducing blood flow.
What we provide in every report:
The calcium score is explained in detail in the report, not just as a number but what that number means for your health. Our imaging team studies every artery captured by the CT scan, highlighting where plaque sits and whether it’s blocking the artery. This is not just about saying “high risk” or “low risk”, it’s about pointing to exact sites that may cause a problem.
In patients that have undergone previous procedures, like grafts or stents, we scan them on a long-term basis. You do not even need to wait until the symptoms become worse. We indicate the stability of the blood flow and the stability of the preceding interventions. That is why the CT coronary angiograms can be not only diagnostic but also predictive and help make decisions before an emergency.
The CTCA pathway is designed to be smooth, but patients want to know what actually happens from start to finish. The steps are simple, and staff support runs through all of them.
The process is not only technical; it is directed. Fear is the order of the day when the heart health is being examined. Employees maintain consistent communication, and therefore, patients are aware of what is going on, and why. When results are explained, people have the feeling that they have not only undergone a test but a route where every step made sense. That is why the CTCA service is appreciated – it is fast, transparent, and backed by the first contact to the final suggestions.
We make it clear to patients why CTCA is often recommended. Invasive coronary angiography is still used when direct intervention is likely, but it comes with greater risks and recovery. A CTCA gives most of the same answers without going inside the body. That’s what we offer here, a safer, faster, outpatient test with detail strong enough for most decisions.
We also describe the comparison of CTCA with other imaging. Blood vessels are not seen clearly on a general CT scan of the chest. A CT of the heart will reveal the anatomy of the heart but will not be able to map the coronary arteries in detail as is the case with this scan. Our specialisation is that of offering a CT coronary angiogram, which is constructed to specifically test blood vessels, blood flow, calcium, and plaque. This is the reason why it can be used as a prime investigation.
When patients pose why they require this and not another CT, we demonstrate to them the difference in scope. Chest pain due to a narrowing of the coronary arteries cannot be explained by a CT of the chest. A CT of the heart cannot tell you whether a stent is open. But CTCA does. That is what this test fills in and that is the service we provide..
We do not put you into the scanner and walk off. After a CT scan you take a short rest as the line containing the contrast agent is pulled out. It is no long convalescence, no one-night lodging. You can go home the same day as an outpatient procedure and typically within an hour.
The processing of the images is done instantly. We have a medical imaging team that reads each slice, each vessel, both automatically during reconstruction and by a human. There are reports on coronary vessels, calcium score, stents, grafts, and general blood flow. Nothing is left vague.
Your doctor gets results in a short time. That is to say that the next steps may be made immediately. It may be lifestyle tips, may be new medicine, and in certain cases will be a doctor referral to a heart specialist. The worth of the CT coronary angiograms that we carry out is not only in the images that are produced but how these images help in the treatment.
We explain to patients that what happens after the scan is just as important as the scan itself. There is no point in detailed medical imaging if the results aren’t clear and actionable. That’s why our service is built around a complete pathway, preparation, scan, reporting, follow-up. It keeps everything seamless.
The CT scanners used today are not what they were ten years ago. The machines have advanced so that images are sharper, the time inside is shorter, and radiation is lower. This is important, because patients want detail without unnecessary risk.
Modern scanners capture high-resolution 3D images of the arteries, showing not only the outline but the layers of plaque and calcium inside. They have motion correction built in, which means even though the heart is beating, the pictures are steady and clear. This allows doctors to see narrowing that might have been blurred in older systems.
Radiation dose has been an issue previously. The new CT technology reduces that dose by a very wide margin yet maintains detail. The protocols balance between safety and clarity, meaning that patients remain safe and doctors see the entire picture. The contrast dyes also are easier to handle, and their volumes are reduced since scanners are more sensitive.
A combination of these innovations makes CTCA a gold standard in non-invasive coronary imaging. It is the first-line option most doctors and patients prefer when answers need to be obtained without resorting to invasive angiography. In Longevity Clinic, the technology and the interpretation are complementary as the scanners are paired with skilled imaging experts.
This translates to a fast, accurate, and safe scan to the patient. To physicians, it means that they are sure that the arteries are being displayed as they are and not based on guesses. The field is still developing, although what has already been achieved is sufficient to alter the way heart disease is being investigated.
Booking a CT coronary angiogram with us is kept simple. It isn’t a long process and there’s always a team to guide you through. Patients don’t have to guess at what to do next; we handle the steps.
That is how the process works. Straightforward, guided at every step, with staff ensuring patients are ready, safe, and confident.
The scanning part is only minutes. With preparation and checks, allow about an hour.
No pain. Some feel warmth when the contrast agent is injected, but that passes quickly.
Yes, the dye highlights coronary vessels so the CT scan shows narrowing clearly.
The scan can check them, confirming they’re still open and blood flow is steady.
There is a radiation dose, but it’s low and carefully controlled with modern equipment.
We check allergy history in advance. Alternatives or precautions are used if needed.
It shows narrowing, calcified plaque, and blood flow patterns that confirm the presence and severity of coronary artery disease.
Yes. It’s an outpatient procedure. Most people go home straight after.
Specialists trained in cardiac CT review every image before a report is shared with your doctor.
