News Taffy

As promised, I will begin publishing the results of the tests my cardiologist husband and I had done recently to determine just how healthy we are.  The results for the blood work should be in later this week but today we will discuss our calcium scores.

What is a calcium score you ask?  A calcium score is a test in which a CT scan measures the amount of calcium in your heart arteries.  The test only takes a few minutes and involves lying on a table, fully clothed, while the scanner takes pictures of your heart.  This useful screening test can help doctors determine if you have coronary heart disease or blockage.  It can predict a patient’s risk of having a heart attack.

Heart blockage is made of hard (calcium) and soft (fat and cholesterol) plaque buildup.  Over time, plaque narrows the artery, restricting blood flow or completely blocks the artery, cutting off blood flow.  This causes chest pain.  A heart attack occurs when the plaque ruptures and a clot forms, cutting off blood flow to the heart muscle.

You should consider having a calcium score if you have at least two of the risk factors mentioned in my last post; high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, family history or excess weight.  Also, calcium scores are recommended for men over 45 and women over 55.  

A normal score is 0, meaning you have a low risk for having a heart attack in the next five years.  A score over 400 means your risk of having a heart attack in five years is substantial and you should have more tests such as a stress test.  Your doctor will then be able to recommend a course of treatment to lower your risk.

My husband and I both had calcium scores of 0.  My husband is over 45 and does have a family history of heart disease.  My only risk factor that I know of is a family history of heart disease - the other tests will show if I have high cholesterol too. 

Check back next week for more heart health information and for more of our test results.  Even though I work out more regularly than my husband, he will probably

test more fit than me.  Isn’t that the way it always is?  However, my resting heart rate was 47.  The lab technician performing my calcium score said that was very good; it shows I am athletic.

If you are concerned, talk to your family physician about your risk factors.  He can refer you to a cardiologist if need be or you can call Cardiology Associates to schedule a calcium score test.  Locally a calcium score costs $75 but most insurance does not cover it.  Prevention works much better than intervention.

Thanks for reading,

Lisa Tedder