A coronary calcium scan happens to be a special computerized tomography (CT) scan of one’s heart. It looks for calcium deposits in one’s heart arteries.
A buildup of calcium can rather narrow the arteries and also reduce blood flow to the heart. A coronary calcium scan can show coronary artery disease before symptoms.
Coronary calcium scan results can indeed help determine the risk of heart attacks or even strokes. Results from the scan can be used to plan or change treatment for coronary artery disease.
A coronary calcium scan is thus a type of CT scan of the heart. It does measure calcium in the walls of the coronary arteries and can also detect the early signs of heart disease. A score of zero is indeed typical. A higher score may rather indicate heart disease.
Other names for this sort of test are:
- Coronary artery calcium (CAC) test.
- Heart CT calcium scan.
- Coronary calcium CT scan.
Why Coronary Calcium Scan done?
A coronary calcium scan is performed to check for calcium in the arteries that do supply the heart. It can also help diagnose early coronary artery disease.
Coronary artery disease is indeed a common heart condition. A buildup of calcium, fats as well as other substances in one’s heart arteries are often the cause. This buildup is known as plaque. Plaque does collect slowly over time, much before there are any symptoms of coronary artery disease.
A coronary calcium scan makes use of a series of X-rays to take pictures that can see if there is plaque that does contain calcium.
This test might be done if:
- He person has a strong family history of early coronary artery disease.
- Has the risk for heart attacks intermediate, not low or even high.
- One’s level of risk of heart attacks is uncertain.
A coronary calcium scan can help:
- Understand one’s risk of heart disease.
- Plan treatment if the person has a low to moderate risk of heart disease or if one’s heart disease risk is not clear.
A coronary calcium scan is not recommended as a general screening test for those who happen to be known to be at high risk for heart attacks. It also is not suggested if the person has had a heart attack, a heart stent or even coronary bypass surgery as other tests or procedures that are done for those events do show the heart arteries. Approaching one’s health care team if a coronary calcium scan is right for oneself is a good idea.
Calcium does happen to be a natural part of the human body, but it can at times appear in places where it is unwanted. If a waxy substance known as plaque builds up in the arteries, it can calcify over time.
When it does calcify, the plaque hardens and also begins to block the blood flow via a person’s arteries. This does create inflammation and can also cause a heart attack. A other times, pieces of plaque can a times break off and also cause a clot, which can result in blood flow stopping, leading to a heart attack.
A coronary calcium scan is considered to be a low dose CT scan of the heart. It produces images that doctors do use to measure how much calcium-containing plaque is in a person’s arteries. This does help them determine if a person is indeed likely to develop heart disease or have a heart attacks.
Determining this does imply healthcare professionals can put together a plan of action to rather minimize the risks.
Other names that people can make use of to refer to a coronary calcium scan include:
- coronary artery calcium scan
- cardiac CT for calcium scoring
- calcium scan procedure
Who needs Coronary Calcium Scan?
- family history of heart disease
- obesity
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol
- smoking
- high levels of stress
Conclusion:
Coronary calcium is useful in treating heart disease.