Have you ever wondered what the condition of the arteries inside your heart is like? Sometimes, even if we don't have any symptoms of any disease, we can develop problems inside the arteries of the heart. A special test that helps identify such things early is called the Calcium Score Test. Let's see what it is, who is it important for, and how it is done.
What is the Calcium Score Test?
Simply put, this is a special CT scan (Computed Tomography scan) that looks at how much calcium is deposited in the coronary arteries of your heart. Just as our water pipes get clogged over time, things like fat and cholesterol can build up in the arteries of the heart, forming a waxy layer (plaque) . When these deposits are combined with calcium, that's what this scan detects. This buildup of fat inside the arteries and narrowing them is called atherosclerosis . Some people also call it coronary artery disease . If this increases, the arteries become completely blocked and the risk of a heart attack increases.
Who is best suited to take this test?
Not everyone needs to have this test. But if your doctor thinks you have a certain level of risk for heart disease, but you don't have any obvious symptoms, this calcium score test can be a great help in determining what treatment you need.
Typically, this can be beneficial for people between the ages of 40 and 70 who are at high risk of developing heart disease but have no symptoms.
See if you also have these risk factors:
Now, see if these things apply to you. If you have them, it means you have a slightly higher risk of heart disease.
- If anyone in the family has heart disease (especially if the mother, father, or siblings developed it at a young age).
- If you use tobacco products (currently or have done so in the past).
- If you have a history of high cholesterol , diabetes mellitus , or high blood pressure .
- If your body mass index (BMI) is over 25 (meaning you are slightly overweight) or if your BMI is over 30 (meaning you are obese).
- If you don't have a very active lifestyle (meaning you don't exercise much and sit all day).
- If there are other non-traditional risk factors (your doctor will tell you about this).
Imagine, you are 38 years old, but your father had a heart attack at 45. You have also been told that your cholesterol is a little high. At a time like this, it is worth taking this calcium score test.
Also, even if you are under 40 years old, if your family has a genetic condition called familial hypercholesterolemia , you may want to consider this calcium score test.
But there's one thing to keep in mind. This scan can't detect certain types of heart disease, such as "soft plaque" atherosclerosis . So, it's not a 100 percent accurate test for predicting a heart attack or stroke . But it's just one more piece of information that doctors can use to help decide whether you should start taking medications like statins .
How often do I need to do this?
Research has shown that there is some benefit to getting this calcium score test every three to five years . However, it only makes sense to get it again if your score was normal (i.e. zero) the first time you took the test and you want to know if your risk is still low. If you had an abnormal result from a previous test, there is little benefit to getting this test again.
Who would benefit from not taking this test?
Pregnant women should not have this calcium score test, as a CT scan can harm the fetus .
Also, this test may not be very useful for people with the following conditions:
- If you have no risk factors for heart disease.
- If you are already at very high risk of developing heart disease (meaning your doctors have already told you about it, and you may have already started medication).
- If you have already been definitively diagnosed with coronary artery disease .
- If you already have symptoms that suggest you may have coronary artery disease (e.g. chest pain, shortness of breath).
- If you have previously had treatment for coronary artery disease (e.g. angioplasty , bypass surgery ).
- If you're thinking about taking this test to see if your heart disease treatment is working properly (there are other ways to do it).
In this case, talk to your doctor about what other tests are appropriate to diagnose and monitor your coronary artery disease.
How is this calcium score test done?
The calcium score test is done by scanning your heart using a CT machine . The scan clearly shows areas of calcium deposits (calcifications) inside your coronary arteries. The CT scan takes only a few minutes, but the entire process can take about 10 to 15 minutes . This is a noninvasive , meaning it is painless, test.
How should you prepare before the test?
Keep these things in mind before your calcium score test:
- Tell your doctor about any allergies you have, any medications you are taking, and whether you are pregnant or could become pregnant. This is very important.
- Avoid eating, drinking, consuming caffeine (tea, coffee), and using tobacco products for four hours before the test.
- You will need to remove any metal from your body, such as jewelry and glasses.
- You will need to wear a hospital gown.
- You will be made to lie face up on a special bed, and then you will be taken through a donut-shaped scanner .
- A healthcare worker will clean about three areas of your chest (and may even shave some of the hair in those areas) and apply small, sticky electrode patches .
- These electrodes are connected to an electrocardiogram (EKG) monitor . The EKG records the electrical activity of your heart during the test. It can take pictures of your heart rhythm.
What happens during the test?
Here are some things you can expect during the calcium score test:
- You will feel the bed you are in slowly move into the scanner.
- The person operating the machine will talk to you from another part of the room. You can see them through a glass, and they can see you. There's nothing to be afraid of.
- This high-speed CT scan takes many images synchronized to your heartbeat.
- You will be asked to hold your breath for about 10 to 20 seconds . This is done to get a clear picture.
- These images are then analyzed by a sophisticated computer program to see if there is calcium buildup inside your coronary arteries.
After the test?
After your calcium scoring test is complete, you can resume all your normal activities and eat and drink as usual .
Are there any risks to this? Any side effects?
The calcium score test does not involve the injection of any contrast dye , which is a colored liquid used for some scans. Therefore, there are no side effects associated with it.
However, because this is a CT scan, you are exposed to a very small amount of radiation . If you have multiple CT scans, especially if you are under 40, there is a very small risk of developing cancer. The amount of radiation you are exposed to from this calcium score test is about the same as the amount of radiation we are naturally exposed to from the environment in an average year. So there is nothing to worry about.
Most importantly, doctors do not recommend CT scans for pregnant women, as they can harm the fetus.
How do these results come about? What does it mean?
If the test comes back positive , it means the scan has found evidence of calcium in your coronary arteries. This means you have coronary artery disease (CAD) . You will also be given a number, or score , that tells you how much calcium was found.
Your calcium test score tells you how much calcium is in your coronary arteries. If there is calcium in the arteries of your heart, a computer creates a calcium score, which gives an idea of the extent of coronary artery disease. Your calcium test score can range from zero to over 1,000.
Your score is read like this:
Any value greater than zero indicates that there is some evidence of coronary artery disease (CAD).
The higher the score, the higher your risk of having a heart attack. The score is usually divided as follows:
- 100 or less: (mild evidence of coronary artery disease)
- Up to 400 (101-400): (moderate amount of evidence of CAD)
- More than 400: (strong proof of CAD)
Your doctor will compare these results with your other risk factors to determine your risk of developing coronary artery disease in the future. Other risk factors include your family history, lifestyle habits, and other medical conditions you have.
What is a normal calcium score?
The normal calcium test score is zero . Doctors also call this a negative scan because it means that no calcium deposits have been found in your heart's arteries. If you have a score like this, you have a very low risk of having a heart attack in the next two to five years . But remember, your doctor will also consider your other heart disease risk factors.
How long does it take to get results?
Some hospitals can give you results the same day . Others can take two days or more. A radiologist will review the results of this calcium scoring test and report them to your doctor.
What to do next if the results are not normal?
Depending on the results of the scan, your primary care provider may refer you to a cardiologist . Based on your calcium scoring test results and other factors, your doctor may decide to do the following:
- Start taking a medication like a statin to control your cholesterol level .
- Exercise more .
- Make changes to your diet .
- Do some more tests .
- See your doctor regularly for follow-up visits to monitor your condition.
When should I see the doctor again?
If you haven't received your results after a week, be sure to call your doctor. Also, if you have any other questions about your calcium scoring test, talk to your doctor to clarify them.
Does this test accurately show whether a vein is blocked?
Not exactly. There are other tests that show how well blood is flowing through the veins, and they can tell if the arteries are blocked . The calcium score test only shows the presence of plaque and calcium deposits (calcification) in the coronary arteries.
A calcium score is a quick, non-invasive test that helps your doctor make decisions about the health of your heart and blood vessels. It's just one more source of information your doctor can gather. It's just one piece of information your doctor will look at when assessing your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. When your doctor talks about your results, be sure to ask questions if anything is unclear.
So, what is the message we want to take home from this?
Okay, so I hope you now have a good idea about the Calcium Score Test we talked about.
Remember, this is an important test that can help identify your risk of heart disease early, especially if you have risk factors and are between the ages of 40-70.
This test shows whether calcium is deposited in the arteries of your heart. It can give you a rough idea of whether you have coronary artery disease (CAD), its severity, and therefore your risk of heart attack.
- If the score is zero, that's very good. That means the risk is low.
- The higher the score, the higher the risk. Then the doctor will give you appropriate advice and treatment.
- This is not a test that everyone should have. Your doctor is the best person to decide whether you need this or not.
- There is a little preparation before the test, but the test is quick and painless.
- This is not suitable for pregnant women.
The most important thing is to talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about heart disease. A healthy heart means a healthy life!
` Calcium Score Test, Calcium Score Test, Heart Disease, Coronary Artery Disease, Heart Attack, CT Scan, Heart Health, Atherosclerosis
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