Sometimes we need a heads up about danger that might be lurking ahead. When it comes to your heart, we can help. 

During February, you can schedule a screening for only $50 at Cardiology Associates of North Mississippi in Tupelo and North Mississippi Health Services hospitals in Amory, Iuka, Pontotoc and West Point, Mississippi, and Hamilton, Alabama.

Participants must be 35 years of age or older, and insurance will not be filed.

Heart screenings include three simple tests. Here’s what you can expect:

CT Calcium Score

For this simple test, you'll lie in the scanner machine for about five minutes while it takes pictures of your heart. 

A coronary calcium scan looks for specks of calcium in the walls of the heart arteries. One of our doctors will study the pictures to see if you are at risk for future heart problems. 

Because calcifications are an early sign of heart artery disease, a coronary calcium scan can show whether you are at risk of heart attack before other signs and symptoms occur. 

EKG (Electrocardiogram)

• An EKG is a quick and painless test that measures the electrical activity of your heart. It provides two useful types of information:
• By measuring intervals on the EKG, a doctor can determine if the electrical activity of your heart is too fast, too slow, normal or irregular.
• By measuring the amount of electrical activity passing through the heart muscle, a doctor can determine if parts of your heart might be too large, overworked or scarred. 

Lipid Profile

It is recommended that healthy adults with no other risk factors are tested with a fasting lipid panel once every five years. If you have other risk factors, or if you’ve been diagnosed with high cholesterol, more frequent testing is recommended. 

A lipid profile includes: 

•  Total cholesterol
• HDL (high density lipoprotein, the so-called "good cholesterol" believed to transport excess cholesterol out of the blood to the liver for disposal)
• LDL (low density lipoprotein, the so-called "bad cholesterol" that transports cholesterol from the liver to the tissues and organs)
• Triglycerides (sugar and fatty acids) 

Request a heart screening near you here or call 1-800-THE DESK (1-800-843-3375).