Heart Health Screenings

Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the U.S., accounting for 1 in every 4 deaths. Despite efforts to diagnose and treat heart disease early, many Americans are unaware of their risk. A number of screenings are available to detect early signs of cardiac and vascular disease and identify risk factors.

Learn Your Links

Learning the eight links that increase your risk for heart disease can help you better manage or reduce your risks to prevent heart disease. Start today.

Coronary Calcium Scan

Norton Audubon Hospital
1 Audubon Plaza Drive
Louisville, Kentucky

This computed tomography (CT) scan measures calcium deposits in coronary arteries — an early indicator of heart disease. This quick, painless screening is considered useful for people who have a moderate risk of heart disease and currently do not have cardiac symptoms. Those with the following risk factors may benefit from a coronary calcium scan:

Men age 45 and older; women age 55 and older
Family history of heart disease
Past or present smoker
Diabetes
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Obesity
Not physically active

Call (502) 485-4700 for an appointment.

Know Your Numbers

An important way to lower your risk and manage cardiovascular disease is through healthy lifestyle habits and managing your risk factors. The American Heart Association recommends the following tests.

Recommended screenings	How often?
Blood pressure	Each regular health care visit or at least once every two years if blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg
Cholesterol (“fasting lipoprotein profile” to measure total, HDL and LDL cholesterol)	Every four to six years for normal-risk people; more often if you have elevated risk for heart disease and stroke
Weight/body mass index (BMI)	During your regular health care visit
Waist circumference	As needed if your BMI is 25 kg/m² or higher
Blood glucose test	At least every three years (The American Diabetes Association recommends testing for prediabetes and risk for diabetes beginning at age 45. If tests are normal, repeat testing at three-year intervals.)
Discuss smoking, physical activity, diet	Each regular health care visit

About Norton Heart & Vascular Institute

Norton Heart & Vascular Institute offers advanced care at all of our adult-service hospitals to save hearts and lives.

Awards and Accreditations

All of Norton Healthcare’s adult-service hospitals in Louisville have received Chest Pain Center accreditation from the American College of Cardiology (ACC).
Norton Audubon Hospital has been named a HeartCare Center National Distinction of Excellence year after year by the American College of Cardiology. This is the only hospital in Louisville to be recognized for this distinction.
Norton Audubon Hospital, Norton Brownsboro Hospital and Norton Hospital all are recognized as having ACC Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI accreditation.
Norton Audubon Hospital earned ventricular assist device (VAD) accreditation from DNV and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Leading the Region in Advanced Care

First in Louisville to implant a dual-chamber leadless pacemaker
First in Louisville to use PASCAL and MitraClip to replace and repair heart valves
First health care system in Louisville to offer CathWorks FFRangio System in a minimally invasive procedure used to treat clogged arteries and advance heart disease
Highest survival rate in the nation for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) interventions treating heart failure
Among the highest survival rates in the nation for treatment of cardiogenic shock in heart failure
Over 100 transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) procedures performed for heart disease patients
System with the most facilities across the city of Louisville with the ability treat a life-threatening heart attack
More than 100 board-certified physicians and advanced practice providers with specialized heart and vascular training and experience at nearly 30 locations in Louisville and Southern Indiana

Comprehensive Heart Care for the Whole Person

Norton Heart & Vascular Institute offers patient resources to support you and your family, including free classes for people of all ages who want to improve cardiovascular health or are living with a heart condition.

Cardiac rehabilitation: Our cardiac rehabilitation providers are leaders in developing and applying innovative techniques that can help you recover and resume your life.
Connecting Hearts for Support group: The group provides education and support to individuals who have had a heart attack, are living with a heart condition or are at risk for cardiovascular disease.
Heart health screenings: Prevention is the best way to manage heart disease, and screenings are available to detect early signs of cardiac and vascular disease and identify risk factors.