Maybe you’ve heard how important calcium is for the teeth and bones. Then, you are wondering if this is all about the mineral. Well, calcium does more than strengthen your teeth and bones. It helps to determine your heart health.

In the hospital, the doctors use a technology called Coronary Calcium Scoring or CT Scanning that checks for the levels of calcium in the arteries. The absence of calcium means that you are okay. Nonetheless, any level indicates the presence of Coronary Artery Diseases (CAD). CAD levels are what expose you to the likelihood of heart attacks.

How is the Test Done?

To determine your coronary calcium score, a special x-ray scanner (the CT-Scan) is employed to take images of your arteries. The images are reformatted in 3D and multi-plane formats and then viewed on a monitor by a radiologist. From the images, the radiologist is able to tell your calcium score and determine the presence or absence of CAD. The evaluation is as follows:

• An absence of CAD: Score is Zero

• Minimal CAD: Score is 1 to 10

• Mild CAD: Score is 11 to 100

• Moderate CAD: Score is 101 to 400

• Severe CAD: Score is above 400

Follow-up examinations may sometimes be necessary but your doctor will explain to you the reason why you should go for another test/examination. Follow-up examination is sometimes the best way to ascertain whether or not the treatment is working or if the initial finding has changed or stable.

The Interpretation

A positive score means that you are likely to suffer a heart attack sooner or later depending on the extent. The CT-Scan looks for something called calcium plaque. The plaque builds up in the coronary artery and is normally a result of fat accumulation. This deposit narrows the diameter of the arteries thus limiting blood flow. Inthe long run, oxygen supply is also cut off periodically and this result in frequent chest pains, an indicator of a probable heart attack. If the coronary calcium score is positive, the doctor will advise you on what to do to prevent a heart attack. You’ll be directed on:

• What medicine to take

• What diet to use

• What exercises to do

The Right Candidates

Anybody can take the tests frequently with or without the symptoms of heart attack. Nonetheless, the following are the most recommended:

• Diabetic individuals

• Hypertensive individuals

• Individuals with high cholesterol

• Obese and physically inactive individuals

It’s generally advisable to do CT Scanning to determine if you are in perfect heart health or not. The test should be done routinely by an experienced radiologist to prevent the probability of suffering a heart attack in the future.