A coronary artery calcium (CAC) score measures calcified plaque in the coronary arteries, the heart’s blood vessels. This score is determined through a non-invasive computed tomography (CT) scan. The presence of calcified plaque indicates atherosclerosis, a condition where plaque builds up and narrows arteries. A CAC score provides insight into future cardiac events and helps predict heart attack risk.
What Your Calcium Score Reveals
The numerical value of a calcium score offers significant information about cardiovascular risk. A score of zero means no calcium, suggesting a very low future heart attack probability. Scores between 1 and 100 indicate mild plaque deposits and low risk.
Scores from 101 to 400 show moderate plaque, signaling a moderate to high heart attack risk. A score exceeding 400 signifies extensive plaque and a high risk of significant coronary artery disease.
Higher scores directly correlate with increased plaque burden and a greater risk of future cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes. The calcium score is a strong independent predictor, offering additional insight beyond traditional risk factors for heart health assessment.
The Reality of Lowering Your Calcium Score
The central question regarding calcium scores often revolves around whether they can be lowered. Generally, calcified plaque in the arteries is permanent; the score cannot be lowered or reversed non-invasively. Calcification results in stable, irreversible plaque within arterial walls. While the cholesterol-rich core of plaque might be modifiable, the calcified component tends to remain fixed.
Despite the inability to decrease the existing calcium score, plaque accumulation can be significantly slowed or even halted. The focus shifts from reversing the score to managing overall cardiovascular risk. Lifestyle changes and medical interventions aim to stabilize existing plaque and prevent further buildup, reducing future heart attack or stroke risk. Controlling risk factors is paramount, even if the numerical score remains unchanged.
Strategies for Heart Health
Once a calcium score is known, implementing evidence-based strategies becomes important to manage cardiovascular risk. Lifestyle modifications play a significant role in preventing further plaque buildup and stabilizing existing plaque. Adopting a heart-healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean or DASH eating plans, reduces inflammation and improves cholesterol. These diets emphasize fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats, while limiting saturated fats, trans fats, and added sugars.
Regular physical activity strengthens the heart and improves blood flow. Consistent moderate to vigorous exercise lowers blood pressure, improves cholesterol, and helps manage weight. Maintaining a healthy weight, quitting smoking, and managing stress also reduce cardiovascular risk. Smoking cessation, in particular, significantly lowers heart disease risk.
Beyond lifestyle changes, medical management is often necessary, especially for individuals with elevated calcium scores. Controlling blood pressure, managing cholesterol levels (particularly LDL-C), and regulating blood sugar for those with diabetes are important. Medications, such as statins, can stabilize existing plaque, reducing the risk of heart events. Regular discussions with a healthcare provider are important to tailor a personalized risk reduction plan based on individual calcium score results and overall health.