Cardiac Scoring
What is hiding in your heart? Half of those who suffered heart attacks did not know they had heart disease prior to the attack. Over time, calcium can quietly build up in the coronary arteries. Calcification can lead to blockages that could cause a heart attack or other problems. Coronary artery calcium is a component of plaque, which is a marker for hardening of the arteries. Patients lie on a table that slides through a doughnut-shaped, ultra-fast CT scanner. The scanner records detailed images of the heart in approximately two minutes, and feeds the information into a computer. The entire process takes only 15 minutes. An MUSC faculty radiologist examines the images and evaluates areas of calcification in the arteries. The amount of calcification translates into a score. The score puts the patient into one of five risk categories, ranging from normal to extremely high risk. Your Executive Health physician reviews the results with you during your checkout at the end of the day. (More information on cardiac scoring) Chest X-ray - Two Views
A chest X-ray can reveal abnormalities of the lungs and the soft tissue inside the chest as well as the boney structure of the chest wall itself. (More information on X-rays) Electrocardiogram With Interpretation
Developed in 1901, the electrocardiogram (also known as an EKG or ECG) is one of the medical profession’s most important diagnostic tools. A resting EKG records the electrical activity of your heart. An EKG can detect serious heart problems before symptoms may ever appear. (More information on EKGs.) Comprehensive Blood Work Includes: - Complete blood count (CBC) with differential - A CBC evaluates the number and type of white blood cells circulating in your bloodstream, the amount of blood present in your body and the number of platelets currently circulating in your blood. The CBC can identify anemias, leukemias and other blood disorders before symptoms appear.
- Complete Blood Chemistry Profile - This comprehensive blood test evaluates your kidney and liver function and determines the amount of minerals and glucose (sugar) in your blood.
- Fasting Lipid Analysis - This test is performed on an empty-stomach and it determines the amount of "good" and "bad" cholesterol that circulates in your blood stream. Successful diet and lifestyle modifications can significantly decrease your chance of having a stroke or heart attack, however, many patients require medications to improve their cholesterol panels.
- Homocysteine level determination - Homocysteine is an amino acid (a building block of protein) that is produced in the human body. Homocysteine may irritate blood vessels than can lead to blockages in the arteries (atherosclerosis).
- Thyroid stimulating hormone screening - The thyroid gland produces hormones that control the body's metabolism. The thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test is a screening tool that determines how the thyroid gland is functioning. Additional tests may be indicated if abnormalities are found in your TSH.
- Urinalysis - Urinalysis can reveal diseases that have gone unnoticed because they do not produce striking signs or symptoms. Examples include diabetes mellitus, various forms of kidney disease, and chronic urinary tract infections.
- Occult Blood Testing - This test looks for hidden blood in the stool. Blood in the stool can be an indicator of cancers of the digestive tract. The American Cancer Society recommends yearly testing for men and women aged 50 and older. For patients that are at high risk for colorectal cancer, more frequent testing is advised. In addition to annual occult blood testing, a screening colonoscopy is recommended for all individuals age 50 and older and for younger patients who have risks factors for colon cancer. A screening colonoscopy is an optional add-on to the standard MUSC Executive Health examination.
- Dietary Assessment- A one on one consultation includes an assessment of your current diet and the latest nutrition advice tailored to your specific needs such as weight loss, cholesterol, control, etc.
Optional Gender Specific Testing included in the Executive Health Program Examination Pelvic Examination with Cervical Cytology
Pap smears are useful in detecting cancerous or pre-cancerous conditions of the uterine cervix. Early detection of abnormal conditions is made possible by microscopic examination of a specially treated sample of cervical cells. Every woman should have an annual Pap smear as part of a complete pelvic examination beginning when she becomes sexually active or reaches 18 years of age and continuing for the rest of her life.
(More Information on pelvic exams)
Breast Examination and Screening Mammography
Screening mammography is a low-dose x-ray examination of the breast that is performed on women with no complaints or symptoms of breast cancer. The goal of screening mammography is to detect breast cancer when it is still too small to be felt by a physician or the patient. (More information on mammography)
Additional Services Available Colonoscopy
This test evaluates your entire large intestine, from the lowest part, the rectum, all the way up through the colon to the lower end of the small intestine. A colonoscopy is used to diagnose the causes of unexplained changes in bowel habits. It is also used to look for early signs of cancer in the colon and rectum. Colonoscopy enables the physician to see inflamed tissue, abnormal growths, ulcers, bleeding, and muscle spasms. Due to the sedation and bowel preparation involved, most Executive Health patients have their optional colonoscopy on either the day before or after their day of standard testing. (More information on colonoscopy)
Physical Fitness Profile
An evaluation includes strength and flexibility testing, body fat determination and a consultation with an MUSC exercise physiologist who will help you determine the optimal fitness routine to add to your schedule of daily activities. Doppler Scanning of the Caroltid Arteries
This test uses ultrasound waves to look for blockages in the arteries of the neck that may lead to stroke. Doppler Scanning of the Abdominal Aorta
This test uses ultrasound waves to look for blockages and dilatation of the large artery in the abdomen that may develop into an aneurysm.
Physician Consultations
Additional consultations are also available with MUSC faculty physicians in numerous disciplines. Convenient evaluations and examinations by plastic surgeons, dermatologists, nutritionists, weight management experts, ophthalmologists and dentists can be arranged to take place on the same day as your Executive Health physical examination.  Back to Top
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