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Have you heard of a coronary calcium scan?
It's a simple test which could save your life by predicting your risk of a heart attack – and experts are pushing for more Australians to get tested.
Melbourne man Tony Hill, 72, says he owes his life to the scan.
He has a family history of heart disease but felt perfectly well and had no symptoms. A healthy coronary calcium score is zero.
Mr Hill's result was 1600 and he had to have a double bypass.
"Otherwise I could possibly have a stroke or heart attack at any time," he told 9News.
The test involves a 10-minute CT scan.
Doctors can see how much calcium is in a person's arteries, which is direct evidence of heart disease.
Those affected then undergo preventative treatments.
"Although we have good tools for prevention of this disease, the prevention doesn't seem to be getting to the people who need it most," Professor Tom Marwick from the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute said.
Prof. Marwick and his colleagues have had their study published in the Medical Journal of Australia.
They tested more than 1000 people aged between 40 and 70 who have a family history of premature heart disease.
After they underwent coronary calcium scans, around 40 per cent had their treatment plan changed.
"We were either able to reassure them, not put them on treatment or show them by showing them the picture that they have disease and needed to take those tablets," Prof. Marwick said.
If people have a family history of heart disease or have one or two other risk factors such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, being a smoker or overweight, they should talk to their GP about getting the test.