Calcium score screening is a non-invasive test that measures the amount of calcium in your coronary arteries. The test is used to help predict your risk of having a heart attack or other serious cardiovascular event.
What is calcium score screening?
Calcium score screening is a non-invasive test that uses a special X-ray machine to measure the amount of calcium in your coronary arteries. The test is used to help predict your risk of having a heart attack or other serious cardiovascular event.
How can calcium score screening help me?
Calcium score screening can help you and your doctor determine your risk of having a heart attack or other serious cardiovascular event. If your calcium score in West Orange, NJ is high, it may be a sign that you are at increased risk for a heart attack or other cardiovascular event.
What are the risks of calcium score screening?
Calcium score screening is a safe and painless test. However, as with any medical test, there are some risks. These risks include false positive results (meaning the test says you are at risk when you are not) and false negative results (meaning the test says you are not at risk when you are).
There are two types of calcium score screening:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)-Based Calcium Scoring
- Echo-Based Calcium Scoring
The calcium score is a measure of plaque build-up in your heart and the arteries that carry blood to your heart. The calcium score is often combined with a stress test. The stress test measures how well your heart and arteries work during exercise. A high calcium score can be an indicator that you have high risk for heart attack or stroke.
Calcium score screening is recommended for anyone over 40 who has risk factors for heart attack or stroke. Some people with a high risk of heart attack or stroke are not recommended for calcium score screening because they do not have any risk factors.
Risk factors for heart attack and stroke include:
- The risk of heart attack or stroke increases as you get older.
- Women have a higher risk of heart attack and stroke than men.
- Family history. Having a family history of heart attack or stroke increases your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
- African Americans and Native Americans have a higher risk of heart attack and stroke than other races.
- High blood pressure. Having high blood pressure increases your risk of heart attack and stroke.
Conclusion
Calcium score screening is a safe and painless test that can help you and your doctor determine your risk of having a heart attack or other serious cardiovascular event.