United States: Heart disease proves itself as the foremost cause of mortality since it accounts for 32 percent of all deaths worldwide, according to medical experts. Heart disease risks can be reduced by the public, although elimination is not possible.
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According to health experts, coronary artery calcium (CAC) score tests show early signs of heart disease, and people should improve their daily habits at the same time.
Dr. Robert Segal leads Manhattan Cardiology as the board-certified cardiologist who describes CT scan technology for CAC score assessments and detects calcium development in heart artery walls.
Know more about the CAC score
“This calcium points to the accumulation of plaque that can cause heart disease,” Segal stated.
The higher the score, the more calcium in the arteries, thus a greater likelihood of a heart attack, stroke, or other cardiac issue, as Fox News reported.
With no detected coronary calcium, a person reveals an extremely low susceptibility to heart disease through a zero calcium score.
Dr. Bradley Serwer explains that heart disease risks increase when a person exceeds a calcium score of 400 while serving as chief medical officer for VitalSolution-an, an Ingenovis Health firm providing hospital-based cardiovascular services.
“The CAC score is obtained with a rapid, low-dose CT scan,” Maryland-based Serwer mentioned.
“This computer algorithm evaluates how much calcium is present and calculates a number or score,” Serwer maintained.
People remain less familiar with CAC score as a “non-traditional risk factor” compared to standard tests such as cholesterol check-ups and blood pressure measurements, according to Segal.
“Still, awareness is rising as more research shows how valuable it is in forecasting cardiac disease,” he added.
Patients with zero CAC scores should maintain good behaviors and keep observing their risk variables, according to Segal, as Fox News reported.
Importance of CAC score
Organizations agree that the diagnostic results of the scan allow individuals to assume better control of their cardiac health conditions.
“It’s helpful because it helps identify heart disease early, even if you have no symptoms,” as Segal noted.
“This allows for preventive steps, like lifestyle changes or medications, to lower your risk,” he added.
If the CAC score is zero, Segal recommends keeping up good practices and continuing to track risk variables.
“A low score indicates mild plaque; therefore, lifestyle changes such as improving diet, exercising, and lowering cholesterol will help,” he mentioned.
“A high score indicates that you should work with your doctor to reduce your risk, maybe with statins,” he continued.