Coronary Calcium Scores Measure Your Heart Risks November 3
In a previous post, we featured high-tech screening procedures that people may want to think of having in order to lower the risk of heart disease. One of the tests mentioned was coronary calcium scores.
One of the components that lead to the narrowing of the arteries due to plaque buildup is calcium. Since the coronary arteries are essentially the main pipeline into the heart muscle, a narrowing of the coronary arteries due to plaque buildup will affect the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle.
The test involves having the patient lie inside a hollow CT scanner. From this device, x-ray beams will produce multiple images of the patient’s heart, and a computer will measure the amount and density of calcium deposits present in the artery walls. In addition, the computer will give a calcium score, which may range from 0 to 400; anyone with a calcium score of more than a hundred may also be facing an increased risk for heart disease.
A person’s coronary calcium score can reportedly predict such occurrences as heart attack, succumbing to coronary heart disease, or chest pain.
So, who among us should go ahead and ask for this test? Coronary calcium scores are recommended for those who may be at immediate risk of developing heart disease based on traditional risk factors. Included in this demographic are men over 50 with at least one added risk factor as well as women over 60 with at least two added risk factors, including high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels.
People who are at immediate risk for heart disease and get a high calcium score may need to make aggressive changes to their lifestyles and be placed in aspirin therapy or high-dose statin drugs to control cholesterol.
Tags: avoiding heart diseases, cardiac health, cardiac screening, heart health, heart tests