Heart attacks are preventable.

A Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) scan is a specialized CT scan that detects calcium buildup in the arteries supplying blood to the heart. It helps assess your risk of heart disease and heart attack before symptoms appear.

A CAC scan is non-invasive, painless, and takes only a few minutes. It uses low-dose radiation, similar to a mammogram or dental X-ray. No contrast dye or injections are needed.

Traditional heart disease risk assessments rely on factors like cholesterol levels, blood pressure, family history, and lifestyle habits to estimate your risk. However, these methods have limitations:

• They Predict Risk, Not Detect Disease: Traditional methods estimate your likelihood of developing heart disease but don’t show if plaque is actually present in your arteries.

• "Normal" Cholesterol Can Be Misleading: Some people with "normal" cholesterol still develop heart disease, while others with high cholesterol never experience heart problems.

• Many Heart Attacks Occur in Low-to-Moderate Risk Groups: A significant number of heart attacks happen in individuals who were not classified as "high risk" by traditional screening.

• No Direct Measurement of Arterial Plaque: Traditional screening does not assess actual plaque buildup, which is the root cause of heart attacks.

A Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) Scan provides a direct measurement of plaque buildup in the arteries, making it a more precise tool for heart disease risk assessment.

✔ Measures Actual Disease Presence: Unlike cholesterol tests, a CAC scan visualizes cholesterol plaques in your coronary arteries, giving a more accurate picture of your risk.

✔ Identifies "Hidden Risk": It helps detect risk in people who might otherwise appear low or moderate risk based on traditional factors.

✔ Guides Personalized Treatment: If plaque is present, doctors can recommend earlier lifestyle changes, medications, or other interventions to prevent a heart attack.

✔ Helps Avoid Unnecessary Medications: A CAC score of 0 means no plaque, allowing some individuals to delay or avoid statins if they don’t need them.

This test is recommended for individuals who:

• Are 40-75 years old with moderate risk factors for heart disease

• Have a family history of heart disease or early heart attacks

• Have borderline or slightly high cholesterol levels

• Have conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, or obesity

• Are unsure whether they need cholesterol-lowering medication

A CAC scan can help you:

• Assess presence of calcified plaques and future risk of heart attacks

• Assess need for statins or benefits of taking a statin

• Assess need for aspirin for those > 65 years of age

You may not need a CAC scan or should avoid one if you:

• Already Have Diagnosed Heart Disease – If you have a history of heart attack, stents, bypass surgery, or significant coronary artery disease, a CAC scan is unnecessary because treatment is already in place.

• Have Symptoms of Heart Disease – If you experience chest pain, shortness of breath, or other heart attack warning signs, a stress test or more advanced imaging (like a coronary angiogram) is more appropriate than a CAC scan.

• Are Pregnant – The scan uses low-dose radiation, which is generally safe but not recommended during pregnancy unless absolutely necessary.

For low-risk individuals (CAC score of 0), a repeat scan isn’t needed for 3-5 years. If your score is higher, your doctor may recommend follow-up scans every 1-3 years depending on your risk level.

The CAC scan will provide something called a CAC Score, which represents total burden of calcium present in calcified plaques in your coronary arteries.

• Score of 0: No detectable plaque, low risk of heart disease.

• Score 1-99: Mild plaque, moderate risk—lifestyle improvements recommended.

• Score 100-399: Moderate plaque, higher risk—closer medical monitoring needed.

• Score 400+: Significant plaque buildup, high risk—immediate action required.

No, you do not need a referral with Flow. Flow will work with blood testing centers and imaging centers to ensure the tests are ordered and scheduled appropriately.

Flow offers three main advantages to the traditional healthcare experience: convenience, quality, and cost.

First, we make it easy for you. As a Flow customer, you don’t need a referral; we will order and schedule your blood and imaging tests for you. You also don’t have to provide insurance cards or payment at the time of testing.

Second, your blood biomarker tests and imaging scan are analyzed by specialists who are carefully vetted. You will also receive a comprehensive risk assessment report along with personalized recommendations.

Third, Flow customers pay a lower price for the entire package. We identify imaging centers with competitive rates — and pass those savings on to you.

At this time, Flow is offered directly to consumers, and you can use Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) dollars to pay for your Flow test.

CAC testing is significantly better than traditional risk assessment methods in accurately predicting future risk of heart attacks. However, despite significant evidence of the predictive power of CAC scans, insurance coverage is quite variable. Some insurance plans cover the test, while others may require out-of-pocket payment.