Testing for cardiovascular conditions, such as the calcium score, might be able to provide you with an estimate of the likelihood that you will develop heart disease. However, this does not imply that you are required to take every test that is currently available as frequently as it is practically possible to do so. It is essential to have a solid understanding of the different kinds of tests that can be taken as well as the best times to take them.
What Exactly Does A Cardio Calcium Score Scan Entail?
One of the procedures that can be performed to determine a person’s chance of getting a coronary disease is a calcium heart score scan. You can assess the level of calcium in your coronary arteries using a specialized scan. The heart receives blood from the coronary arteries, allowing it to beat vigorously and frequently for the duration of its life. In this region, calcium can accumulate and turn into a component of the plaque that develops inside the arteries. If there is a substantial amount of plaque, the blood may not flow as regularly. You can determine how severely the coronary arteries have been impacted by counting the quantity of calcium in the plaque.
Who Should Be Subjected To A Calcium Score Scan?
Cardiovascular screening does not require calcium levels to be present. Your doctor can opt against performing this test on you if you have a lower risk of developing heart disease and no symptoms. This might be a crucial part of your care, though, if you are more at risk owing to things like your age, your lifestyle, or the medical history of your family. The calcium score test results can be used to determine your risk of developing the following conditions:
- If you have a score of zero, you have no calcium deposits and a low chance of developing heart disease during the next five years.
- Scores up to 400 suggest some calcium build-up in the arteries, which may indicate that you need to change your lifestyle to prevent them from getting worse.
- A calcium score of 400 or higher indicates a significant chance of developing severe heart disease during the next ten years, such as angina or a heart attack.
- If your calcium score is 1000 or above since you have a one-in-four probability of developing it the following year. To prevent major heart disease, you do not require therapy if your calcium score is less than 1000.
What Time Of Day Is Best To Have A Calcium Score Scan Done?
When attempting to determine the condition of one’s coronary arteries and how well they are working, the calcium score can be helpful. It is a trustworthy process that doesn’t require any invasive procedures. Contrarily, pointless medical tests are ineffective since they add to the patient’s anxiety and waste their time.
The calcium heart score scan is often only done once, but it might need to be done more than once if your cardiologist thinks you have a higher risk of developing heart disease. Age, lifestyle, or family history could all contribute to this elevated risk. However, retaking the exam will likely be beneficial if you need to monitor your condition. If your calcium score is extremely low or extremely high, it is unlikely to alter.
Regardless of your calcium score, it may be wise to repeat the scan to see if anything has changed. To preserve your arteries, it is advised to arrange another scan between two and five years from now and to change specific aspects of your lifestyle.