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Coronary Artery Calcium: Heart disease is a serious medical condition that affects people of all ages. Did you know that cardiovascular disease (CVD) was the leading cause of death worldwide in 2021, with four in five CVD deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
According to the World Heart Federation (WHF), deaths from CVD jumped globally from 12.1 million in 1990 to 20.5 million in 2021.
A heart attack occurs when the blood flow and oxygen to the heart muscles are reduced or blocked, usually due to the buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries. While we assume that heart disease strikes suddenly, research shows that our bodies start to show symptoms before an impending heart attack.
However, we often overlook signs leading to increased risks of heart disease. To tackle loss of life due to CVD, this is where Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) scan comes in as a lifesaver.
Mayo Clinic explains, "A coronary calcium scan is a special computerized tomography (CT) scan of the heart. It looks for calcium deposits in the heart arteries. A buildup of calcium can narrow the arteries and reduce blood flow to the heart."
A coronary calcium scan result can determine to show coronary artery disease before you have symptoms of heart attacks or strokes.
"A coronary calcium scan isn't for everyone, but it's the finest way for those who are uncertain about their heart disease risk to make better decisions about treatment and medications," says Michael Blaha, M.D., M.P.H., director of clinical research at the Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease at Johns Hopkins.
The Coronary Calcium scan results provide images of your arteries while you lie in a scanner for about 10 minutes. It is a simple and painless procedure that shows existing calcium deposits, which are called calcification, an early sign of coronary artery disease. According to research, a score of zero indicates a very low risk of impending heart attack within the next 10 years.
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