Health reporter undergoes HeartSaver CT scan

Nicole Villalpando, health reporter for the Austin American-Statesman, is about to turn 50 years old. With a family history of heart disease and high blood pressure, she thought it would be a good idea to check on her own heart health as she approached this milestone. In early 2023, Nicole received a HeartSaver CT scan and spoke with Dr. Anne Mani, cardiologist at Heart Hospital of Austin, about her results. 

Using a standard CT machine, The HeartSaver CT is a painless test that looks for plaque buildup in major arteries of the heart to assess someone’s risk of a future heart attack. The scan only takes about two minutes and is an excellent way to prevent heart disease later in life. 

Nicole’s results were positive — she had absolutely no plaque in her arteries — and Dr. Mani had no concerns about her heart health. 

Watch Nicole go through the process at the Austin American-Statesman site.