Scores are standard in America.
We follow the scores in sports, submit our standardized test scores for admission to college and graduate schools, and regularly score our experiences in restaurants, hotels, retail stores, and professional offices.
The higher your score, the better.
But there is one test where the optimum number is zero: The Coronary Artery Calcium Score.
A coronary artery calcium score measures how much calcium is in your coronary arteries, which supply the blood to the heart. This score is calculated using a CT (computerized tomography) scan of the heart, which produces a series of images while you lie in a scanner for 10 minutes. This non-invasive diagnostic X-ray proactively identifies how much plaque buildup is in your arteries before you have any symptoms and can help diagnose your risk of early coronary artery disease (CAD).
Plaque is fatty deposits made up of calcium, fibrin, cholesterol, and cellular waste products, which can accumulate over time in the inner lining of your arteries, restrict blood flow, and cause blockages. Your calcium score tells you the amount of the buildup and is measured on a number scale from 0 to more than 1,000. The higher the score, the higher the risk. Zero is a perfect score, the most positive sign of excellent heart health. While one to 10 is evidence of a minimal plaque buildup, 101 to 400 indicates a greater risk for a heart attack, heart disease, or stroke over the next five years.
That’s why it is good to know your score.
While researchers have not been able to identify the exact cause of the calcium deposits in our arteries, there are many factors which can contribute to a high calcium score. Genetics and family history are front and center on the risk factor list, as is smoking, chronic heavy drinking, an elevated BMI, and a personal history of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes.
Here’s the good news. By implementing lifestyle changes, you can naturally reduce the amount of calcium in your arteries and lower your score. Eating a balanced diet, including green vegetables which are high in Vitamin K, such as broccoli and brussels sprouts, can block calcium buildup in your arteries. Exercise, as well as reducing your alcohol and sodium intake, has also proved to be beneficial.
A heart scan is not for everyone. And not everyone needs to know their calcium score.
Primarily, it is recommended for men and women between the ages of 40 and 70 who with a borderline risk for heart disease. The test is relatively new and often not covered by insurance plans, but it is an inexpensive and highly-effective way to identify the earliest signs of coronary artery disease and make better lifestyle decisions.
While your score in baseball or on your standardized exam provides critical feedback to improve your athletic or academic performance, your calcium score can be a lifesaver.
Leonard J. Pianko, MD, founder and medical director of the Aventura Cardiovascular Center, is board-certified in cardiology and internal medicine. As a private practitioner in South Florida for more than 30 years, Dr. Pianko strives to combine his expertise as a seasoned cardiologist with the personalized approach of a primary physician to provide the best practices of modern medicine with the caring approach of a concierge practitioner. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call (305) 384-4720
Facebook Comments