Preventive Tests to Determine the Health of Your Heart and Aorta
Preventive care helps find and treat health issues early when treatment is often more effective. To help detect heart issues, Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute offers two non-invasive tests through our Preventive Cardiovascular Care Program:
- Coronary calcium scans: These can help you know your risk for coronary artery disease so you can take steps to prevent a heart attack.
- Abdominal ultrasounds: These can help detect swelling in the aorta, which can cause an abdominal aortic aneurysm. By detecting this type of swelling, your care team can offer options to treat the issue.
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Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Northwestern Memorial Hospital
675 N. Saint Clair St.
Galter Pavilion, Suite 19-100
Chicago, IL 60611
312.926.2514
Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at
Old Irving Park Outpatient Center
4445 Irving Park Road
Suite 200
Chicago, IL 60641
312.664.3278
Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Central DuPage Hospital
25 N. Winfield Road
Winfield, IL 60190
630.933.5000
BLUHM CARDIOVASCULAR INSTITUTE
Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Kishwaukee Hospital
1 Kish Hospital Drive
DeKalb, IL 60115
815.748.2975
Northwestern Memorial Hospital is ranked as a top ten program in the nation (No. 7) for cardiology, heart & vascular surgery by U.S. News & World Report, 2024 - 2025. Our impressive U.S. News & World Report achievements are a reflection of the expert care provided and why patients choose to get their heart and vascular seconds opinions from Northwestern Medicine.
- Highest ranked cardiology, heart & vascular surgery program in Illinois for 17 consecutive years
- Highest available cardiology, heart & vascular surgery patient survival score since the metric was introduced
- Rated “High Performing” (the highest rating possible) for abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, aortic valve surgery, heart attack, heart failure and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Delnor Hospital
300 Randall Road
Geneva, IL 60134
630.933.5000
Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Huntley Hospital
10400 Haligus Road
Huntley, IL 60142
815.334.5566
Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at McHenry Hospital
4201 Medical Center Drive
McHenry, IL 60050
815.334.5566
Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Glenview Outpatient Center
2701 Patriot Boulevard
Glenview, Illinois 60026
847.534.3278
Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Grayslake Outpatient Center
1475 East Belvidere Road
Pavilion C, Suite 185
Grayslake, Illinois 60030
847.535.8000
Northwestern Medicine
Gurnee
6155 W. Grand Ave.
Gurnee, IL 60031
847.535.8000
Northwestern Medicine
Vernon Hills
6870 North Milwaukee Avenue
Vernon Hills, IL 60061
847.535.8000
Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Valley West Hospital
1302 N. Main St.
Sandwich, IL 60548
815.748.2975
Northwestern Medicine Sycamore Gateway Drive
1850 Gateway Drive
Sycamore, IL 60178
815.748.2975
Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at
Palos Hospital
12251 South 80th Avenue, Suite 1520
Palos Heights, Illinois 60463
708.226.2500
What is an abdominal ultrasound?
What is a coronary calcium scan?
A coronary calcium scan measures how much calcium is in your coronary arteries, which supply blood to your heart. Calcium can tell your care team if plaque is building up in your arteries. Plaque buildup can narrow or block the blood flow in your arteries. This can increase your risk of a heart attack.
Your care team will use computed tomography (CT) to do this scan. They will use X-rays and computers to create detailed images of your heart. This scan is typically painless. It takes about 30 minutes.
You will get your test results as a calcium score within about 48 hours. The higher the score, the higher your risk of a heart attack.
At Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, a coronary calcium scan costs $60. We do not charge your health insurance for this cost so you must pay for the scan when you receive it.
You may qualify for a coronary calcium scan if all of the following are true:
- You are older than 35.
- You have not been diagnosed with heart disease.
- You are not currently on a statin therapy.
- You do not have a pacemaker.
- You have at least two of these risk factors:
- Male over age 45
- Female over age 55
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Family history
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Obesity
- Currently smoke
- Physically inactive
Am I eligible for a coronary calcium scan?
An abdominal ultrasound uses sound waves to detect an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The aorta is the largest blood vessel in your body. An AAA occurs when your aorta wall weakens and blood passing through puts pressure on the weak spot. This causes your aorta to bulge. Over time, AAA can get larger and burst (rupture).
This ultrasound helps find aneurysms early, before they rupture. It takes measurements to determine if you have an aneurysm or swelling. The ultrasound takes about 15 minutes. It does not expose you to radiation.
You will get your results within about 24 hours. Based on your results, your care team will determine how often you need follow-up care and who you should see. We may recommend you follow up with your primary care physician or get a vascular surgery consultation.
Check with your health insurance plan to learn if they cover abdominal ultrasounds.
You are eligible for an abdominal ultrasound if you are:
Male aged:
- 50 – 75 years old
- 50+ with both:
- A parent, sibling or child who has history of AAA
- A history of smoking
- 55+ with a parent, sibling or child who has history of AAA
- 65+ with smoking history
Female aged:
- 65 – 75 years old with a parent, sibling or child who has AAA history or smoking history
If you are a Northwestern Medicine patient
To schedule a coronary calcium scan at any of our NM locations:
- Log onto the MyNM website or the MyNM™ app (available from the App Store or Google Play)
- On the MyNM website, click Menu. On MyNM app, select Appointments.
- Click Schedule an Appointment.
- Click Preventive Care.
- Click Coronary Calcium Scan and then click Continue.
- Answer several questions and schedule your appointment.
Talk with your primary care physician before you schedule this scan. They can answer your questions.
To schedule a coronary calcium scan at any of our NM locations:
- Log onto the MyNM website or the MyNM™ app (available from the App Store or Google Play)
- On the MyNM website, click Menu. On MyNM app, select Appointments.
- Click Schedule an Appointment.
- Click Preventive Care.
- Click Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screen and then click Continue.
- Answer several questions and schedule your appointment.
Talk with your primary care physician before you schedule this scan. They can answer your questions.
If you are not a Northwestern Medicine patient
Please call one of the locations below to schedule a coronary calcium scan.
Please call one of the locations below to schedule an abdominal ultrasound.
If you are a Northwestern Medicine patient, follow the steps below to schedule one of these tests at a Northwestern Medicine location:
- Log onto the MyNM website or the MyNM™ app (available from the App Store or Google Play)
- On the MyNM website, click Menu. On MyNM app, select Appointments.
- Click Schedule an Appointment.
- Click Preventive Care.
- Click Coronary Calcium Scan or Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screen and then click Continue.
- Answer several questions and schedule your appointment.
Talk with your primary care physician before you schedule either of these tests. They can answer your questions. To schedule an abdominal ultrasound, you must have seen a Northwestern Medicine primary care physician within the past three years.
If you are not a Northwestern Medicine patient, please call one of the locations below to schedule one or both tests.
Scheduling a Coronary Calcium Scan or an Abdominal Ultrasound
Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Lake Forest Hospital
1000 North Westmoreland Road
Main Entrance
Lake Forest, IL 60045
847.535.8000
Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at
Oak Brook
1001 Commerce Drive
Suite 500
Oak Brook, IL 60045
630.232.0280
TTY for all locations: 711
If you are not a Northwestern Medicine patient
If you are a Northwestern Medicine patient
Am I eligible for an abdominal ultrasound?