When we think about a cardiac arrest, we usually imagine dramatic scenes – chest pain, ambulances, and emergency surgeries. However, the truth is, for most people, heart disease is quietly brewing long before any symptoms actually show up. That’s exactly where a test called the Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) scan comes in. It’s quick, non-invasive, and surprisingly underused, especially considering how much life-saving information it can provide.
“Yes, traditional blood tests and stress tests are useful, but they don’t actually show the disease. CAC scanning does,” says Dr. Dinesh Narang, a senior interventional cardiologist at the Lilavati Hospital. “It’s one of the few tools we have that can spot a heart attack risk that’s otherwise invisible.”
It is a CT scan with a very specific goal: checking for calcium deposits in the arteries that feed our heart. These deposits are early warning signs of plaque build-up (known as atherosclerosis) which can eventually lead to cardiac arrest. The test gives you a “calcium score” which speaks volumes about your heart health and whether you need to heed warning signs.
A score of 0 translates to Zero Plaque, which means you’re in the clear. No visible heart disease. Similarly, a calcium score between 1–100 is Mild Plaque, which shows some build-up, but it is usually manageable with lifestyle changes. A score on the scan that reads between 101–400 is Moderate Plaque. That means it is time to get proactive. Medications like statins may be recommended for such patients.
A score of 401+ is known as Extensive Plaque. This simply means you’re at high risk; immediate action is non-negotiable for these patients.
Dr. Aakruti Mehta, a preventive cardiologist and faculty member, believes, “a CAC score of zero is the most powerful negative predictor we have in cardiology. It’s like getting a clean bill of health for your arteries.” And 401 plus is also an assurance that your heart is at risk.
There’s a caveat here that experts want you to be mindful of. The CAC isn’t a scan for everyone. It is for those patients who fall somewhere “in-between” — when you’re not low-risk, but not high-risk either.
Nice read, I just passed this onto a friend who was doing some research on that. And he just bought me lunch as I found it for him smile Thus let me rephrase that: Thank you for lunch!
I?¦ve learn a few just right stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how a lot attempt you set to create one of these fantastic informative site.
Wow! Thank you! I continuously needed to write on my site something like that. Can I implement a portion of your post to my blog?
I’ve been browsing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. In my view, if all webmasters and bloggers made good content as you did, the internet will be a lot more useful than ever before.
Very good written article. It will be useful to anybody who utilizes it, as well as yours truly :). Keep doing what you are doing – looking forward to more posts.
I have been exploring for a bit for any high quality articles or blog posts in this kind of house . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this site. Reading this info So i am happy to convey that I’ve a very good uncanny feeling I discovered just what I needed. I most indubitably will make certain to do not put out of your mind this site and give it a glance regularly.
Hey there are using WordPress for your blog platform? I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and set up my own. Do you need any coding knowledge to make your own blog? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
The next time I learn a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as a lot as this one. I mean, I know it was my choice to read, but I truly thought youd have something fascinating to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you could fix should you werent too busy looking for attention.
Some genuinely great information, Sword lily I observed this. “It’s not what you are that holds you back, it’s what you think you are not.” by Denis Watley.
The following time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as a lot as this one. I imply, I do know it was my choice to learn, but I truly thought youd have one thing interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about one thing that you possibly can fix in case you werent too busy in search of attention.
I¦ll right away grasp your rss feed as I can not in finding your e-mail subscription link or e-newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please let me recognise so that I could subscribe. Thanks.
Lovely just what I was searching for.Thanks to the author for taking his clock time on this one.
I do like the manner in which you have framed this difficulty and it does indeed present us a lot of fodder for consideration. However, from what I have experienced, I really trust when other reviews stack on that individuals remain on issue and don’t start upon a soap box of the news du jour. Yet, thank you for this outstanding piece and though I can not really concur with it in totality, I respect your perspective.
Some truly howling work on behalf of the owner of this internet site, dead outstanding subject material.
Wonderful work! This is the type of information that should be shared around the internet. Shame on Google for not positioning this post higher! Come on over and visit my site . Thanks =)
Thank you for the good writeup. It actually was a leisure account it. Glance complex to more added agreeable from you! However, how can we be in contact?
Hi, I think your site might be having browser compatibility issues. When I look at your blog site in Firefox, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, amazing blog!
Hello there! I know this is kinda off topic nevertheless I’d figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in trading links or maybe guest writing a blog post or vice-versa? My blog covers a lot of the same subjects as yours and I feel we could greatly benefit from each other. If you’re interested feel free to shoot me an email. I look forward to hearing from you! Wonderful blog by the way!
Great tremendous things here. I?¦m very happy to peer your article. Thanks a lot and i am looking forward to touch you. Will you kindly drop me a mail?
I do not even know how I finished up here, however I assumed this publish was once good. I do not realize who you’re but certainly you’re going to a famous blogger in case you are not already ;) Cheers!
Hi there! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for some other informative site. Where else may just I get that kind of info written in such a perfect manner? I have a undertaking that I’m just now working on, and I have been at the look out for such information.
Nice read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a little research on that. And he just bought me lunch because I found it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch!
Thanks , I’ve just been searching for information about this topic for a long time and yours is the greatest I have discovered till now. But, what about the bottom line? Are you sure in regards to the supply?
I’d perpetually want to be update on new articles on this site, saved to my bookmarks! .
You are a very bright individual!
Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to more added agreeable from you! However, how could we communicate?
Hi there, I discovered your blog by way of Google at the same time as searching for a comparable matter, your website came up, it seems to be great. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
I really enjoy reading through on this web site, it has fantastic articles.
Hey! Someone in my Facebook group shared this site with us so I came to take a look. I’m definitely loving the information. I’m bookmarking and will be tweeting this to my followers! Fantastic blog and fantastic design and style.
I am always searching online for tips that can help me. Thanks!
Thank you for another informative site. Where else could I get that type of info written in such a perfect way? I have a project that I am just now working on, and I’ve been on the look out for such info.