Even as cases of sudden cardiac arrests and heart attacks are rising among youngsters, doctors are advising preventive check-ups for cardiovascular care.
Among the many tests that you can do to know all about your heart health is the coronary artery calcium, or CAC testing, which helps reveal your risk of heart disease, often before other warning signs appear.
Also known as a cardiac CT calcium score, it is one of the new and most accurate assessment tools that can help you make better decisions about treatments, medications, and even changes you need in your lifestyle.
What does a cardiac CT calcium scan do?
According to Harvard Health, the tests help provide images of your coronary arteries that show existing calcium deposits. Called calcifications, these deposits are an early sign of coronary artery disease. When you go for the test, the doctor will make you lie on the CT scanner for around ten minutes, where pictures of your heart will be taken.
A score of zero would indicate that you have a very low risk of having a heart attack within the next 10 years. However, if your score is between 100 and 300, it indicates moderate plaque deposits, which is a relatively high risk of heart attack or other heart diseases over the next three to five years. And if the score is above 300, it may indicate a more complex disease and a higher risk of heart attack.
For those who have several risk factors for heart disease, this test helps determine how aggressive treatment should be – whether different types of medications should be started or whether a person is at very low risk for heart events.
Who is the CT calcium score recommended for?
According to experts, a CT calcium score is typically recommended for patients who:
- Have a family history of coronary artery disease
- Have a moderate risk of heart attack, neither low nor high
- Have uncertain heart attack risk levels
- Have a history of diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension
- Have excess weight or obesity
- Lead a sedentary lifestyle
Experts say the CT calcium score procedure also determines whether certain therapies or medications like aspirin, statins, or others should be prescribed. The following groups might require this examination:
- Those who are reluctant to begin statin therapy and want to understand the risks and potential benefits more precisely.
- Who are concerned about restarting statin therapy after stopping due to the side effects?
- Men aged 55 to 80 years or women aged 60 to 80 years with few risk factors who question whether they would benefit from statin therapy.
- Individuals aged 40 to 55 years with a ten-year estimated risk of heart disease between 5 and 7.5 per cent and who have risk factors that could increase their likelihood of developing heart disease.