High blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States.

“Cholesterol screenings can be used to detect a person’s cardiac risk. This involves a blood test that measures your cholesterol and your risk of heart disease.”

A cholesterol screening called a coronary calcium. test can give you more information about your risk of cardiac problems. It is also known as:

  • The coronary arteries calcium. test.
  • A cholesterol test.
  • The scans look at the heart.
  • The score of calcium..

The test works when it is needed and who should get one.

Blood is brought to the heart by the arteries. The smooth inner lining of healthy coronary arteries allows for unimpeded blood flow.

But fatty deposits called plaque can accumulate in the arteries and reduce blood flow. This can lead to heart disease.

The plaque is made of:

  • cholesterol
  • There are substances that are fat.
  • The human body has a substance called fibrin.
  • Waste products.
  • calcium.

Since plaque contains both calcium. and cholesterol, the presence of calcium. in coronary arteries can indicate if there’s cholesterol present.

A computed tomography (CT) scan is used to perform a coronary calcium. test. The test specifically measures the calcium. in arterial plaque. It can help your doctor determine your risk of developing heart disease.

A coronary calcium. test is a noninvasive test, meaning it’s a low risk screening.

The scan captures images of your coronary arteries, and the amount of calcium. in each artery is measured. When the measurements are combined, the result is a total calcium. “score.”

Your doctor will compare this score with other people in your age group. A higher score may indicate a higher risk for heart disease.

A CT technologist performs the coronary calcium. test, and a radiologist reviews and analyzes the results.

Steps involved in a coronary calcium. test

  1. You will be asked to change into a gown when you arrive. You will need to remove jewelry made of metal.
  2. You will lie on your back.
  3. The technologist will put a device on your chest to measure your heart rate.
  4. The machine will take pictures of your arteries. You will be asked to stay still.
  5. The technologist might ask you to hold your breath.
  6. The procedure will take about 15 minutes.

A doctor will get an analysis after the procedure is over. You will get the results in a few days.

A coronary calcium. test isn’t recommended for everyone.

It’s best for people who are age 40 years or older who have a borderline to moderate risk of heart disease, according to the American College of Cardiology. Specifically, it’s recommended for those who are unsure if they will benefit from taking statins, a type of cholesterol-lowering drugs.

The test is ideal for people who stopped taking samaritans and want to know if they should restart.

A coronary artery calcium. test is not recommended for people who:

  • They are younger than 40 years old.
  • Have a low risk of heart disease.
  • Have a heart disease.

“The test is not part of standard cholesterol screening. You won’t get the test as part of your physical exam. If you think you could benefit from this test, you should speak with your doctor.”

Coronary calcium. test results indicate the amount of calcium. in your arteries. It will involve a number known as a “score.”

The number is compared to the scores of people of the same age and gender. The higher the score, the higher the risk of heart disease.

Your doctor can decide on the best course of treatment based on your score.

What does your score mean?

  • Zero: No plaque. A score of zero means there’s no plaque, meaning you have a low risk of heart attack.
  • 1–10: Small amount of plaque. This score indicates a heart disease risk of less than 10 percent.
  • 11–100: Some plaque. You have mild heart disease and are at a moderate risk for a heart attack. You’ll likely need to make some lifestyle changes, like quitting tobacco smoking if you smoke, eating nutrient-rich foods, and increasing physical activity.
  • 101–400: Moderate amount of plaque. You have a moderate to high risk of a heart attack. You’ll likely need to take statin therapy in addition to adopting lifestyle changes.
  • 401 or higher: Large amount of plaque. Your risk of having a heart attack is above 90%. You’ll need to take a statin.

It’s important to know that you can have a “zero” score and high blood cholesterol. That’s because the score simply indicates that there’s no calcified plaque buildup in your arteries. However, you can still have high cholesterol, which can eventually lead to plaque buildup.

Your doctor may suggest lifestyle modifications to help reduce high blood cholesterol and plaque build up.

If you have high cholesterol, you need to be tested. If you have other heart disease risks, regular cholesterol screenings are important.

A standard cholesterol test is called a lipid panel. It involves a blood draw. This test does not measure your levels of coronary calcium., but it’s a good indicator of cardiac risk. It checks your levels of:

  • HDL (good) cholesterol: high-density lipoproteins that help transport and eliminate “bad” cholesterol
  • LDL (bad) cholesterol: low-density lipoproteins that build up and block blood vessels
  • triglycerides: a type of fat that stores unused calories
  • total cholesterol: the sum of HDL and LDL cholesterol plus 20% of triglycerides in the bloodstream

A coronary calcium. test is a type of indirect cholesterol screening. It measures the amount of calcium. in your arteries, which indicates the presence of cholesterol and plaque. It’s also known as a A cholesterol test., The scans look at the heart., and coronary artery calcium. scoring.

If you are over 40 years old and have a borderline to moderate risk of heart disease, you might be a good candidate for the test. It can help determine if prescription samaritans would be beneficial in lowering cholesterol levels.

A higher calcium. test score indicates a higher risk of heart disease. Your doctor can determine if you need the test and depending on the results, the best course of treatment.