Calcium can build up in our bodies, and when it does in the vital vessels bringing blood to our hearts, it can lead to heart attack – or worse.
A clinical test called coronary calcium scoring can help you see how your arteries are doing, and help doctors treat or reverse the problems that come with these buildups.
“The coronary arteries supply blood to heart muscle, and we use the test as a marker for potential plaque in these arteries,” said physician John Wagener, MD, FACC, FSCAI, a structural and interventional cardiology specialist with North Central Heart. “It can determine who is at increased risk for having a myocardial infarction or heart attack.”
Wagener also serves as Medical Director at Avera Heart Hospital of South Dakota and as Medical Director of Cardiovascular Disease at Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center.
What Is a Calcium Score?
Calcium is the most common mineral in the human body. We need it for strong bones and teeth, and many other vital functions.
Yet too much calcium, especially when we get it from meat, eggs and dairy, can clog the veins that supply oxygen to the heart. An exam called the coronary artery calcium (CAC) test, also called the coronary calcium or heart CT calcium scan, looks for calcium deposits in arteries that can reduce blood flow.
This scan can find coronary artery disease before other signs appear. The scan takes pictures of the arteries, looking for plaque buildup. Calcium can cause these obstacles that narrow the vessels carrying blood.
Cardiovascular Screenings and Calcium Tests Can Help Prevent Heart Problems
People between the ages of 40–70 without any symptoms and who are borderline risk for heart disease can benefit from a coronary calcium score.
“We also look at your history,” he said. The things heart experts look for include:
- A family history of heart disease
- Use of tobacco products now or in the past
- Being overweight or having a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or more
- High cholesterol levels
- Inactive lifestyle
“The results of a coronary calcium score can tell your cardiologist or provider if you are at higher risk for heart disease,” Wagener said. “That’s why it’s important to get the exam. It could potentially result in changing or adding medications to prevent heart disease.”
Heart disease can affect people of any age, even those who are not yet 40 years old.
How the Calcium/Plaque Test Works
The exam uses a CT scan that looks specifically at coronary arteries. The CT focuses on your chest. Cardiovascular screenings, like Avera’s Planet Heart, include this noninvasive procedure and usually takes less than a half-hour.
Since Avera’s exam uses advanced technology and cardiovascular experts review it, it’s a way to get information on heart health while learning how to reduce risk factors. The test is not always covered by health insurance so you should check your plan benefits. Some providers, including many Avera Health Plans options do cover a heart screening depending on your age.
The score of the test can run from zero to more than 1,000. Coronary artery disease (CAD) evidence is present when the score shows any amount above zero, but the scores usually fall in these ranges:
- 100 or less, mild proof of CAD
- 100 to 400, moderate proof
- More than 400, strong proof
“The normal score is zero, and that’s sometimes called a negative scan – and that’s good news,” Wagener said. “Yet calcium scores are just one risk factor for heart disease.” The exam can be a lifesaver.
What if My Calcium Score Is High?
If your test shows an elevated coronary calcium score, you can take steps.
“Some people may seem to be in good health, but their score is high,” said Wagener. The high score shows that your risk is higher for having heart disease in the future.
“Addressing potential risk factors with either lifestyle changes or medications with your provider or cardiologist would be important,” he added. “Timing is important. When this condition is undetected, the buildup continues and heart health can diminish. Delaying the test could potentially delay starting medications that could help.”
Wagener said some people need not get the test, including:
- People who already are diagnosed with CAD
- People who have low risk of heart disease
- People who are pregnant
“Patients who already have had treatment for CAD or who are at high risk of heart disease will not likely benefit from the exam,” Wagener said. He said there are additional tests that can help check on your cardiovascular health.
Medication and Lifestyle Changes Can Reduce Your Risk of Heart Disease
If your coronary calcium score is low, cardiologists would recommend continued healthy lifestyle, with appropriate exercise and diet, along with regular appointments with a primary care provider.
“If your coronary calcium score is elevated, we recommend taking a low-dose, 81-milligram aspirin in addition to changes in lifestyle,” Wagener said. In addition, patients with higher scores can:
- Get a prescribed a high-intensity statin medication. It can help manage cholesterol levels.
- Exercise more often, especially to get your heart rate up, a few times each week.
- Make changes to your diet, including more whole foods, less salt and fewer processed foods.
- Get additional tests your provider recommends.
- Plan for follow-up appointments to keep a close eye on what you face.
“Calcium scoring tests can help with your health,” said Wagener. “Talk to your provider about it.”
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