JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in the United States. It affects all ages, races, and genders. In fact, one person every 33 seconds dies from coronary artery disease. Now that you know these statistics, do you want to know your risk of having a heart attack? coronary calcium score
From monitoring blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes to undergoing mammograms, PSA screenings, pap tests, HIV tests and skin cancer examinations … as we age, the roster of recommended medical tests keeps getting longer and longer. And now, there’s one more to add to the list.
Pamela Rama, MD, FACC, Preventative Cardiologist at Baptist Health – Jacksonville, FL explains, “The Coronary Calcium Score is actually a cat scan. It takes two minutes to acquire the images and very little radiation is involved. And what it does is, it looks at your coronary arteries to see if there’s any calcium in your coronary arteries. And if we find calcium, it’s equivalent to having coronary artery disease.”
The cat scan is then used to create a scale from zero to 400. A score of zero means there’s no plaque present. The higher the score, the more plaque present. But Baptist Health Cardiologist Pamela Rama says even a low score doesn’t mean you’re in the clear.
Doctor Rama says, “Even a score of one means that you have coronary artery disease. What draws the calcium into the coronary arteries is cholesterol plaque. So, for me, it’s the best predictor of cardiac events that we have so far.”
Not only can it determine your risk, but Doctor Rama also uses it to determine if her patients need cholesterol medications, such as statins.
“When I have patients who have high cholesterol levels and their coronary calcium score is zero, I actually stop their statin therapy and they love it,” says Doctor Rama.
The only people who don’t need the test … anyone who has already been diagnosed with coronary artery disease.
Doctor Rama says it’s not a test that needs to be repeated every year. But she does suggest repeating it in five years if you score zero. She recommends it for people over 45, or younger if heart disease runs in the family. It’s usually covered by insurance, but if not, the test runs about a hundred dollars.
Contributors to this news report include: Marsha Lewis, Producer; Roque Correa, Editor and Videographer.
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm
HEART ATTACK ALERT: KNOW YOUR CORONARY CALCIUM SCORE
REPORT #3095
BACKGROUND: A coronary calcium score (CAC) is a test that uses intricate imaging to gauge the health of the arteries bringing blood to your heart. This test specifically measures how much calcified plaque is in those arteries. The buildup of plaque in the central arteries is the main cause for heart attacks and strokes; therefore, being in the know of your CAC score is a crucial practice in preventing Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) events. It’s especially of benefit to the individuals living with one or more cardiovascular conditions (high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, or obesity). The test is not recommended for people under 40 because it is uncommon for them to have coronary artery calcium this early, or for anyone who has had a serious cardiovascular event, heart attack or stroke, or for pregnant women who need to avoid radiation and anyone who recently ha a CAC test.
DIAGNOSIS: The test results are given in the form of a number called the Agatston score. This score reflects the total amount of calcium found in the heart and the density of it. If you score a zero, that means no calcium was found in the heart. The probability of that individual having a heart attack in the future would be low. If your score ranges between 100-300, this is considered a moderate amount of plaque. An individual with this score is considered moderately high risk of having a heart attack, or contracting a form of heart disease, in 3-5 years. An individual with a score greater than 300 has a very high chance of having a heart attack or experiencing heart disease in the future. The test may also be given a percentage and scores around 75% have been linked to higher risk of heart attacks.
NEW REGULATIONS: The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association has teamed up with the National Lipid Association to produce evidence-based guidelines on the treatment of cholesterol in the blood and how one can reduce the risk for ASCVD. The guidelines place an emphasis on CAC, detailing it as an effective decision marker for those in the 10-year risk group. CAC scoring allows individuals to be properly categorized based on their level of risk. This in turn supports the role of statin therapy mentioned in the guidelines.
* For More Information, Contact:
Emily Sharp, PR
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