The cardiac calcium score is a rapid and painless CT examination that examines the amount of calcified atherosclerotic plaque that is present along the patient’s heart. This score is derived from the quantity of calcified plaque that is present. You will be able to discover the condition of your cardiovascular health with the assistance of this cutting-edge screening check a very long time before you experience any symptoms associated with having a problem in this area. Because coronary heart disease affects one in every six people living in the United States, it is the leading cause of mortality in that country.
Screening for cardiovascular disease is the one strategy that has been shown to reduce the risk of developing the condition more effectively than any other. Your risk level, which can be determined with the use of the cardiac calcium scoring test, will play a significant role in determining the drug that is going to be most effective for you.
Expert radiologists will use cardiac computed tomography (CT) to measure the calcified atherosclerotic plaque that is present along the length of your heart. Based on this information, they will determine the level of risk that you are at.
What Are The Prerequisite Steps That Need To Be Completed?
During the operation, an electrocardiogram, also known as ECG leads, will be placed on your chest by a CT technologist to assist with exact image timing that is synchronized to your heart rate. This is done to ensure that the timing of the pictures is correct. The CT scan itself doesn’t take up much of your time and won’t make you uncomfortable in any way. The test takes around 15 minutes to complete when it is performed utilizing a multidetector CT scanner.
Who Might Receive Benefits From Cardiovascular Calcium Scoring?
It has been demonstrated that the CACS can be used to assist in determining the likelihood that a person will suffer a heart attack shortly. This screening is beneficial for both men and women who have a moderate risk of developing heart disease, and it can give these advantages frequently before the commencement of the symptoms that are associated with the condition. Before you go in for the checkup, your physician will determine the level of risk you pose to yourself based on their assessment of the situation. You might be considered to have an intermediate risk if you have more than one of the risk factors that are stated below:
- A blood pressure reading that is alarmingly high for the patient’s age.
- Diabetes
- Poor cholesterol management
- Smoking
- Obesity
- A monotonous daily routine with no exciting events.
- a history of cardiovascular illness in the family that has already been diagnosed
What Kind Of Interpretations Are Permissible In Light Of The Results Of The Test?
After the radiologist has done reviewing your exam, you will be given a numerical score that is referred to as a coronary artery calcium score or CACS for short. This score will indicate the likelihood that you may develop coronary artery disease in the future. If your calcium score is high, this may be an indication that there is a significant amount of atherosclerosis, also known as plaque, in the arteries that provide blood to your heart. As a direct result of this, the possibility of you having a heart attack has increased. You should take this seriously. This evaluation of the level of risk that you offer to others is necessary to determine the state of your health at this stage. Alterations to one’s diet and way of life, in conjunction with medical treatment, have the potential to not only delay the advancement of atherosclerosis but in some instances even reverse the disease itself.
