Do you recognize your risk of coronary artery disease, the commonest type of heart disease?
Dr. Regis Fernandes, a Mayo Clinic heart specialist, says a straightforward and environment friendly take a look at known as a coronary calcium scan might help decide your risk earlier than you present signs.
Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (1:04) is within the downloads on the finish of this put up. Please courtesy: “Mayo Clinic News Network.” Read the script.
What a coronary calcium scan measures
A coronary calcium scan is a CT scan of the heart. It’s a software to assist estimate risk extra precisely.
“The objective is to measure the amount of calcifications in the arteries that feed your heart, the coronary arteries,” Dr. Fernandes says.
The scan, he says, can see if there may be plaque that comprises calcium.
“It’s not harmful. But the more calcium you have in there, the more plaque you have — and the more plaque, the higher the risk,” says Dr. Fernandes.
You cannot decrease your rating, however you’ll be able to decrease your risk by making way of life adjustments.
“But by lowering your cholesterol level through diet and medications, etc., the cholesterol gets removed, the plaque stabilizes,” says Dr. Fernandes.
And the scan might help decide if drugs are best for you.
“A calcium score is a risk assessment tool. That’s the key is to help people to decide if they go on a medication or not, and how much of it and what’s the more accurate way to measure that risk,” Dr. Fernandes.
Dr. Fernandes says new expertise permits calculating coronary calcium scores from scans used for different functions, resembling most cancers screening.
Talk together with your healthcare crew to seek out out in the event you’re a candidate for a coronary calcium scan.
