Is a coronary artery calcium (CAC) score good for you?

*Remember chest pain is considered an emergency, if you are ever having symptoms, you should not hesitate and go to your local emergency room right away. 

Heart health is something you should start thinking about early in life. This starts with the right diet. Ideally, it would be high in fiber (fruits and vegetables), low in saturated fat and low in sodium.  A regular exercise program would also help and, of course, managing your risk factors. Those additional risk factors can be tricky.  Some are easy to modify, for example managing your stress, but you can't really outrun your family history. A few ways to improve your risk is to manage and stabilize your blood pressure, lipids and pre-diabetes. 

Intricate arterial imaging of the heart

Specific cardiac screening

Coronary artery calcium scoring is a simple inexpensive test that is specific at identifying calcium deposits on your coronary arteries.  Early detection will allow you to make decisions about your medications.  Hopefully, it will motivate you to stay on that diet and help you understand how important that exercise plan really is.

Computed Tomography (CT) machine

What is a calcium score?

A coronary artery calcium score is done with a non-contrasted, low dose (minimal radiation exposure) computed tomography scan.  This is a very well-studied, safe, non-invasive test that has been around for over three decades.  The test will document the presence of atherosclerosis in your coronary (heart) arteries based on a score that places you in one of the following risk categories.

Low risk 1- 100 

Intermediate risk 101 - 400

High risk 401.

Dr. Puente providing patient care

Talk to your physician

Understanding your risk will also help determine what medications you need or do not need. The best predictor of a disease is the early manifestation of that disease. Coronary artery calcium score is the best predictor of who has silent coronary disease or who may develop coronary disease in the future. We can see you as a second opinion visit.

Please leave us a comment about questions or concerns involving heart health.

For more information about our services, give us a call at (850) 981-4459 or visit our website at azumayahealth.com

Jairo Puente, M.D.  Azumaya Health