How Long Does a CT Scan Take? A Guide by Scan Type

A CT scan may sound like something that will take up most of your day. In reality, the imaging itself is often finished within minutes.
Should Former Smokers in Fellsmere Consider Lung Cancer Screening?

Quitting smoking is one of the most important things you can do for your health. But the day you stop smoking, the risk created by years of cigarette exposure does…
Can a Heart CT Scan Show Signs of Lung Cancer?

You have a heart CT scan to check for coronary calcium. The result arrives, and somewhere below the calcium score, the report mentions a lung nodule. Suddenly, a routine heart…
What Is a Normal Calcium Score for Your Age?

You receive your coronary calcium scan results and see a number on the report. It might be zero, 12, 85, or several hundred. The next question is almost automatic: Is…
Can You Drink Water Before an Abdomen CT Scan?

You know you have an abdominal CT in a few hours. The instructions say not to eat, but they are less clear about water. Does fasting mean no breakfast, or…
What Is the Prep for a CT Colonography?

The scan itself is usually quick. The preparation is the part that asks more of you.
Should Athletes Consider a Preventive Heart Screening?

If you run several times a week, train for endurance events, cycle long distances, or compete in a sport, heart disease can feel like someone else’s concern. Your resting heart…
CAT Scan vs CT Scan: Are They the Same Test?

Your doctor calls it a CT scan. A family member tells you about the CAT scan they had last year. Then your appointment confirmation arrives, and it uses one name…
Cardiac CT Scan vs. Angiogram: How Are They Different?

The names make these tests sound more alike than they really are. Both can provide information about the heart and coronary arteries. Both may involve X-rays. Depending on the examination,…
Can You Eat Before a CT Scan? Preparation by Scan Type

You wake up on the morning of your CT scan and realize the instructions are not as clear as you thought. Can you have breakfast? Is coffee allowed? What about…