I have to share two incredible life-saving stories.

I recently asked a patient to get a calcium heart score because I didn’t like her cholesterol levels and I like to see if there is already significant plaque in the vessels.  She agreed to get one and convinced her husband to get one also.  She had a Zero plaque score and her husband ended up with open heart surgery!  He had no idea he had an issue.  Side-bar:  you can make a difference on your loved one’s health!

Then, literally a week later, I was talking to someone outside of the office who knew I was a doctor.  He asked me if I knew anything about calcium heart scores because he had had one a few months prior and was just curious of what to do about this information.  I asked what his score was and when he told me he had a score above 400 I told him to call his cardiologist and get seen right away.  Two days later he had an angiogram which showed a significant narrowing of one of the vessels and had an angioplasty (where they use a balloon to open a blockage).

While calcium heart scores don’t always lead to these type of dramatic results, both of these gentleman literally saved themselves from having a serious life-changing event by doing them.

I think this is a great test to have checked every 4-5 years so READ ON to learn more about this test and what the information means….

Calcium heart score is called many different names by different centers.  Other names for a calcium heart score include:

  • Coronary artery calcium test
  • Coronary calcium CT scan
  • Heart CT calcium scan
  • Cardiac calcium heart score

Calcium plus fats and other substances all combine to create plaque formation in the arteries.  A buildup of the calcium causes narrowing of the arteries decreasing blood flow.  When the vessel is no longer open then the blood flow is cut off and this leads to a heart attack.

The calcium heart score can give you information on how much plaque you have and which arteries of the heart are involved.  You can find this long before you have symptoms just like the two stories I already shared with you.

The procedure requires you to lie down on a table for a CT scan (computed tomography or cat scan).  There is no dye and because this is so quick there is minimal radiation.  Most centers around Oklahoma City charge $50 and you call and schedule it yourself without a referral needed.

Recent Newsletters:  Tired? You need to check this lab....

The results are reported very quickly and you will be given a printout that provides key information.

  • If you have the presence of plaque in the coronary (heart) arteries.
  • What is your plaque burden. The higher the calcium score the more plaque you have.
  • Which heart vessels have the plaque and the individual burden in that artery.

Your test result is reported as a number which is the additive of all of your vessels.  Your goal of this test is a big, fat ZERO!!  Any number at all above zero means you have plaque formation.  The higher the number, the more plaque.

Guidelines indicate:

  • 1-100: mild evidence of plaque
  • 101-299: moderate amount of plaque
  • 300 or higher: significant about of plaque and increased risk of vascular events

If you have a high score in any vessel this is very significant as it may indicate severe blockage so cardiologists do further testing to verify exactly where and to what extent it is blocked.  If they find a constricted area depending on where it is and how constricted then a decision is made to do an angioplasty, place a stent or do bypass surgery.

When I am looking at the test results, if I see any number above a zero it gets my attention.  Even though the number may be in the mild range, this test is telling you that you are making plaque with your level of cholesterol and something needs to be done about it.  Add in other conditions like inflammation, diabetes, smoking and being overweight the problem becomes exponential.  Studies show that plaque can go from not being detected to having significant issues in only six months!

Keep in mind, plaque formation can be found all over the body.  Plaque can be found in the heart arteries leading to heart attack, the neck arteries leading to strokes, in the brain leading to dementia or in the legs leading to leg pain and trouble walking.  This is why if someone has high cholesterol and a calcium heart score of zero, I still pay attention.

This test is not a perfect test as it can miss plaque in certain instances.  Other factors also contribute to heart attacks so if you are having any chest pain at all have a thorough workup by a cardiologist first.

To your health,

 

Laura