Coronary Calcium Score: What Your Results Mean for Your Heart Health

Calcium is a necessary mineral in the body that's essential for bone health – but did you know it affects your heart too? Read on to learn more about the effects of calcium on coronary health and how to decipher the results.

Heart health is important to every aspect of your life – but it's not just one thing. Many factors go into assessing heart health, including a coronary calcium score.

At Heart Clinic of Hammond, Dr. Ghiath Mikdadi and Dr. Farid Zayed are specialists in coronary intervention, stress testing, and cardiac ultrasounds to determine your heart health.

Our specialists are experienced cardiologists who discuss various tests, including coronary calcium scores, to help you keep your heart as healthy as possible.

What is a coronary calcium score?

A coronary calcium score is a test that measures the amount of calcium in the coronary arteries. We use this score to determine your risk for heart disease or a heart attack.

The coronary calcium score is a CT scan that assesses the heart's arteries. These arteries are essential for carrying oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body.

The goal of the coronary calcium score is to determine if there are excess calcium deposits in the coronary arteries. High levels of calcium in the arteries can indicate an increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and a heart attack.

It helps to determine the risk of heart disease long before you have any symptoms. You may need the test if you have a strong family history of coronary artery disease or if you have a moderate risk of a heart attack.

After assessing the results, we develop a customized treatment plan to improve heart health and reduce the risk of CAD.

Deciphering the results

The results of the coronary calcium score help us determine your risk of heart disease – but some calcium is good for you. However, too much calcium in the coronary arteries is a sign that you're at risk for heart problems.

A positive coronary calcium score indicates that the CT scan detected calcium in the coronary arteries. A computer generates the score that calculates your risk of CAD based on the amount of calcium in your arteries.

Any score above zero means you have some level of coronary artery disease. A high score means you're at risk for a heart attack.

If your score is less than 100, it means you have mild CAD. A score of 101 to 400 means moderate CAD, and any score over 400 is significant for CAD and a heart attack.

We use the coronary calcium score, along with other risk factors, to estimate your future risk of heart disease. Other factors include family history, lifestyle, and other medical conditions.

Next steps in heart health

A high coronary calcium score doesn't mean you'll have a heart attack tomorrow – but it does mean there are some steps to take to improve heart health.

The first step is making the necessary lifestyle changes for a healthy heart. These include moderate exercise, a heart-healthy diet, and managing stress. Limiting alcohol consumption and quitting smoking are also crucial.

We also need to manage related health conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. We do this through regular screenings, medications, and a healthy lifestyle.

If the results are significant, we may recommend cardiac intervention procedures to open the coronary arteries or cardiac catheterization to keep them open.

Contact the Heart Clinic of Hammond team in Hammond or Amite, Louisiana, today to discuss coronary calcium testing. You can also request an appointment with us online at your convenience.