What if there was a way to predict your risk of a heart attack? Would you be more willing to make changes to your lifestyle if you had better insight on your current heart condition? Fortunately, if you have certain health issues that could put you at risk of a future heart problem, there is a way.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. The main cause of heart disease is calcium plaque that builds up in the arteries of your heart. Plaque buildup can be the result of:
- Poor diet
- Lack of exercise
- Being overweight
- Smoking
- A family history of heart disease
- Stress
- High cholesterol or blood pressure
- Diabetes
Rating Your Heart Health
According to Karthikeyan Ananth, M.D., a cardiologist for Henry Ford Health, a specialized test called a coronary calcium scan can be used to check your heart for possible blockages.
“A coronary calcium scan is a quick CT scan of the heart,” says Dr. Ananth. “It is an outpatient procedure to detect plaque in the heart that is done without any dyes or contrast solutions. The test is designed to evaluate risk in people who have no heart symptoms but may be at increased risk for heart disease.”
Based on the results of this scan, your doctor can further advise you on your risk of heart disease. If a scan comes back normal, that means your risk for future heart disease is usually low. In most cases, you can continue to live a healthy lifestyle. However, it is important to keep in mind that even if calcium scans are normal, Dr. Ananth notes that some patients may have plaque buildup which cannot be seen by the scan.
If a scan is positive, it will be assigned a number – depending on how serious the calcium buildup. The higher the number, the more serious your risk. For example, a score above 100 puts you at increased risk of a heart attack. If your score is above 400, it is likely you may have significant blockages. Your doctor will recommend further procedures to identify or treat any possible blockages if indicated. In most patients with abnormal calcium score, doctors will discuss options for modifying lifestyle and preventative therapies as needed.
“By measuring the calcium scan we are able to actually impact patients’ lifestyle decisions,” says Dr. Ananth. “When patients see that calcium building up in their heart, it motivates them to make the right choices in life and adhere to more doctor recommendations.”
Managing Your Heart Risk
After getting your score, talk with your doctor and cardiologist to figure out what are the best next steps for you. No matter how high your score is, your doctor will likely recommend you change your lifestyle habits, lower your cholesterol and blood pressure, or take medication such as low dose aspirin or statins depending on individual risk.
“Learn about your risk, particularly if you have a family history of early heart disease, or you’re a smoker,” reminds Dr. Ananth. “Be aware of the factors that can lead to a heart disease diagnosis.”
Coronary calcium scans are the most useful way to estimate your heart risk beyond a routine appointment with your doctor. Scans are inexpensive and take less than 15 minutes to get results. Talk to your doctor to see if you qualify to have this scan done.
Reviewed by Dr. Karthikeyan Ananth, a cardiologist who specializes in general cardiology, valve disease, cardiac risk assessment and adult congenial heart disease. He sees patients at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital.
