You may wonder how doctors can tell if you are at risk of a heart attack, even before any symptoms appear. There is one way you can do this, which is through a special scan known as the calcium score test. The test is performed in the presence of a heart specialist, it is quick, painless, and non-invasive. However, another question is, do you need a calcium score test? It depends on various factors, and you need to know the details about the score test. Thus, we are going to discuss what the calcium score test is, how it works, its benefits, risks, and many more.
What Is the Calcium Score Test?
The calcium score test is also known as coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring, and it is a non-invasive imaging test that helps to evaluate the amount of calcium deposits in the coronary arteries. This test, often referred to as a calcium score test definition, utilises computed tomography (CT) technology to take detailed images of the coronary arteries. It measures the presence and extent of calcified plaque. The calcified plaque can narrow or block arteries, potentially leading to heart attacks or other heart-related events.
The doctors recommend a test for individuals at moderate risk of heart disease. The test also helps to assess the risk of developing CAD and guides preventive or therapeutic measures.
What Do Calcium Score Results Mean?
If you are advised by the doctor to perform the test, it is important to understand your cardiac calcium score results. The scan will present you with a number, which is known as the Agatston score. The expert will get your results the same day of the test, but it can take longer.
A score of zero means the test did not find any calcium. A score between 1 to 10 means you have minimal plaque, low risk, but some presence of atherosclerosis. Further, if the score is from 11 to 100, it means you have a mild plaque and a moderate risk of CAD.
If the score is from 101 to 400, it means you have moderate plaque and a significant risk of CAD. If you have a score over 400, then you have extensive plaque and a high risk of a heart attack or other cardiovascular events.
A normal range is 0, and it indicates no detectable calcified plaque in the coronary arteries, and a score above 0 suggests varying degrees of risk and may necessitate lifestyle changes or medical interventions.
When Do You Need to Test the Calcium Score?
A calcium score test is useful when you want to know the risk of heart disease. It helps to check if there is any calcium build-up in your heart arteries – a sign of early heart problems. You may require this test if you are between 40 and 70 years old and have no symptoms. However, you may have risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, or a family history of heart disease.
The doctors may suggest a test if you are not sure about starting cholesterol medication. The entire process is simple, and painless which will help the doctor decide on the right steps to keep your heart healthy and prevent future heart issues.
Lastly, you may need to take a calcium score test if you are in the grey zone, which is not high risk but low risk. If the score is high, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes, medications, or further tests to protect your heart in the long run.
Who Should Consider Getting a Calcium Score Test?
The calcium score test is ideal for people who want clarity about their heart health, especially when traditional tests such as cholesterol levels or blood pressure don’t give complete information. It is not meant for everyone, but it can be valuable for those with intermediate risk, where the benefits of medication or treatment are not obvious.
People with borderline lab results, inactive lifestyles, or chronic stress may also benefit, and it is not recommended for those who already have known heart disease or symptoms like chest pain, as other tests may be more suitable.
People in the “intermediate risk” category, where doctors are not sure whether to start treatment, this test can benefit the most.
How Does The Calcium Score Test Work?
The calcium score test is a CT scan that takes detailed pictures of your heart. During the test, you lie down on a table that slides into a CT scanner. The doctor will place small, sticky patches known as electrodes on your chest to track your heart’s activity. Further, the experts will ask you to lie still and hold your breath for a few seconds while the machine takes images. The scan usually takes about 10-15 minutes and is completely painless.
The scanner searches for calcium deposits in the artery walls, and the calcium present is a sign of plaque buildup. It can block the arteries over time. The test offers you a score that is based on the amount and location of the calcium found.
The technician usually performs the test, and the doctor will check the results. The machines that are used in the process can vary. The hospital or clinic may use a high-speed CT machine called a multidetector CT (MDCT), or it may use electron beam computed tomography (EBCT). However, both quickly capture images that a computer can combine into detailed 3D pictures.
Benefits Of The Calcium Score Test
The test helps evaluate the heart arteries’ health intricately before any visible symptoms appear. Given below are its five benefits.
Early Detection of Heart Disease
Early-stage calcium deposits can be diagnosed through this test, many years before one starts feeling any discomfort. This enables doctors to take measures well in advance to head off heart disease. If your results show any concerns, then the doctor can work on your treatment options.
Helps Guide Treatment Plans
Your calcium test score indicates how healthy your heart is, which determines if medication, lifestyle change or further testing is needed. You get the treatment that best fits your heart’s condition and your risk factors.
Avoids Unnecessary Treatments
With a low calcium score, treating physicians may withhold prescribed heart medications such as statins, which tend to over-treat the patient by putting stress on the patient.
Motivates Lifestyle Changes
A lot of people change their attitude towards health when they see their calcium score being high. This raises the number of those who take actions like changing their diets, doing exercises, quitting smoking and following doctors’ prescriptions.
Quick, Simple, and Painless
The calcium score test usually takes just 10 to 15 minutes, and it does not require needles or special preparation. The patient can go home the same day, and it fast and easy way to learn important information about heart health without discomfort.
Conclusion
Heart disease majorly shows no warning signs until it’s too late, and that’s why a calcium score test is important, as it helps to detect early signs of heart problems before symptoms appear. It is painless, you get quick results and valuable information about your heart health by measuring calcium buildup in your arteries. If you have a moderate risk of heart disease, or have a family history of heart conditions or have risk factors, then you should consider this test. It is a small step that could lead to life-saving changes in your lifestyle or treatment plan.
The calcium score test can offer you peace of mind or a wake-up call to take better care of your heart. Book an appointment at a Cardiology and Vascular Care Centre in Port Charlotte today and find out if the calcium score test is right for you. Your heart health matters; don’t wait until it’s too late.
FAQs
Is the Calcium Score Test Painful or Invasive?
No, the calcium score test is not painful or invasive. Rather, it is quick, and the procedure is done using a CT scan. The doctor will ask you to lie on a table where the machine takes pictures of your heart, and there are no needles, dyes, or instruments inserted into your body. Overall procedure takes about 10-15 minutes, and it is completely safe and comfortable for most.
Can a Calcium Score Test Predict a Heart Attack?
A calcium score test will not predict exactly when a heart attack will occur. However, it helps to estimate your risk level, and a high score means more calcium buildup in the arteries. If you have higher calcium buildup, then you have higher chances of a future heart event. It is a helpful tool in preventing heart problems through early action.
Do I Need to Prepare Before the Test?
You will require very little preparation for the test, and the doctor may ask you to avoid caffeine and smoking for a few hours before the scan. It is better to wear comfortable clothes, and you might be asked to remove jewellery or metal objects. In most cases, you will not need to fast or stop any medications unless instructed by your doctor.
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