Someone dies from heart disease about every 34 seconds in the United States, which is why early detection and treatment are critical to optimizing heart health. Calcium score testing is a helpful diagnostic test that determines if you need interventional care to reduce the risk of a stroke or heart attack.
See Muthu Velusamy, MD, FACC, ABVM, and our team at Cardiovascular Institute of America in Tampa and Lutz, Florida, if you have heart disease risk factors and want to protect your cardiovascular health and long-term well-being proactively.
Here’s what a calcium score test actually measures, who may benefit from it, and how the results can guide conversations with Dr. Velusamy about protecting your heart as you age.
A calcium score test is a computed tomography (CT) scan that determines the amount of calcium in your coronary arteries. This allows Dr. Velusamy to learn if you have plaque buildup that may narrow or block the arteries, increasing your risk of a heart attack or stroke.
CT scans are safe, simple, and painless diagnostic tests that can help prevent life-threatening heart disease complications. This test often takes just 10-15 minutes to complete.
Dr. Velusamy determines if a calcium score test is appropriate for you based on your medical history, family history, lifestyle, and other factors. He might recommend you complete the test if you have one or more of the following risks:
Calcium score testing helps detect heart disease in people with certain risk factors before symptoms develop.
However, if you already have symptoms, an elevated risk of heart disease, or a coronary artery disease (CAD) diagnosis, Dr. Velusamy might suggest other tests. Furthermore, a calcium score test isn’t appropriate during pregnancy because it carries risks for developing fetuses.
After determining that a calcium score test is appropriate for you, it’s important to prepare for the test as directed. For example, avoid caffeine, foods, drinks, and tobacco products for several hours before your scheduled visit. Remove any metal, such as glasses and jewelry.
You’ll change into a hospital gown and lie on your back on a table. You’ll also receive sticky electrode patches on your chest, which attach to an electrocardiogram (EKG) monitor that records your heart’s electrical activity.
The table then slides into a doughnut-shaped scanner, which creates internal body images synced to your heartbeat. You might need to hold your breath for 10-20 seconds. The computer system analyzes images of your coronary arteries.
There’s no downtime after calcium score testing, so you can resume your usual daily routine immediately afterward.
Dr. Velusamy discusses the results of your calcium score test with you. A positive test means there is evidence of calcium in your coronary arteries and CAD. Your specific calcium score estimates the severity of CAD. Here’s what your numbers might mean:
Higher scores often indicate a greater severity of CAD and a higher risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Based on your personal risk factors, Dr. Velusamy may recommend a treatment plan that includes lifestyle changes, medication, further diagnostic testing, or interventional care.
How often to schedule a calcium score test depends on your medical history, lifestyle, risk factors, and results of any previous calcium score tests. Dr. Velusamy might recommend you complete calcium score testing every three to five years if your previous test was normal.
See Dr. Velusamy right away if you develop symptoms of a heart or blood vessel problem, and call 911 if you suspect you or a loved one is having a heart attack or stroke.
See Dr. Velusamy at one of our three Cardiovascular Institute of America Tampa-area locations to learn if calcium score testing is right for you. We have one location in Lutz and two in Tampa, Florida. Call your nearest office today, or request an appointment online at your convenience.
