Calcium Score Test | Baylor Scott & White Health

What is a calcium score test?

A calcium score test, or coronary calcium score, can provide valuable information about your heart health before you develop symptoms. It is a simple imaging test that can show if you have calcified plaque buildup on your artery walls and, if so, how much. Using this information, your healthcare provider can tell you whether you’re at risk of developing cardiovascular disease or having a heart attack.

Plaque develops without symptoms, and your score allows you and your provider to develop a treatment plan and other strategies to protect your heart.

patient receiving a CT scan to look for calcium deposits

Why a coronary calcium score is done

A coronary calcium score uses CT scans to look for calcium deposits, which show up as white spots on the images. The score can help determine whether you may benefit from treatments to address risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) and other heart conditions.

Plaque is made of calcium, cholesterol, fat and other substances. It can develop on the walls of your coronary arteries, the important blood vessels that bring oxygen-rich blood to your heart.

The score can help determine whether you may benefit from treatments to address risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD), which can develop over time from plaque buildup. Plaque in the coronary arteries can also break off to form blood clots, which, in turn, can cause heart attacks.

visual of an artery with coronary artery disease

Who needs a coronary calcium scan?

You can have a calcium score test without a referral if you are a man aged 40 to 65 or a woman aged 45 to 70 and you have one of the following risk factors:

High blood pressure, or hypertension
Diabetes
Family history of heart disease
Low-density lipoprotein, or “bad cholesterol,” higher than 160
Obesity
Smoking

You will need a referral from your healthcare provider if you’re outside the recommended age range.

Your doctor likely won’t recommend coronary calcium scoring if you have had a heart attack, coronary bypass surgery or a coronary stent. In these cases, measuring the amount of calcium in your coronary arteries won’t inform diagnosis or treatment for prior heart events.

patient having their blood pressure taken

How often should you have a calcium score test?

Multiple factors are involved when determining the frequency of calcium score testing, including pre-existing conditions, age and family history. Your healthcare provider will work with you to develop an overall health and management plan that outlines options for frequency of testing based on your needs.

What to expect during a coronary calcium score

Preparing for a calcium score test

You don’t need to take any special steps to prepare for a coronary calcium scan. However, you should not drink caffeine or smoke for four hours before your test.

Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes because you may need to wear a gown before your CT scan. It’s best to leave jewelry and other metal accessories at home. They can affect the results, so you will be asked to remove them.

Calcium score results

After your exam, a radiologist will review your images, and you’ll receive a score based on the amount of calcium and plaque found during the test.

A coronary calcium score of 0 means you have no calcified plaque, and your risk of having a heart attack due to plaque buildup is relatively low.

If you have CAD or plaque, you’ll receive a positive test.

A score between 1 and 100 indicates mild atherosclerosis, or plaque buildup.
A score of up to 400 indicates moderate atherosclerosis, or plaque buildup.
A score of higher than 400 indicates there is strong atherosclerosis, or plaque buildup. A higher score means there’s more plaque in the coronary arteries and your chance of having a heart attack is greater.

The radiologist will share these results with your healthcare provider.

Next steps

If your coronary calcium score is high, your primary care provider will likely want to address CAD risk factors to prevent a heart attack and protect your heart for the long term. Those lifestyle changes may include:

Better controlling diabetes through medications or diabetes management classes
Eating a heart-healthy diet that focuses on whole grains, lean protein, fruits and vegetables, and avoids sugar, saturated fat and salt
Increasing your physical activity levels
Stopping smoking
Taking medications to lower your blood pressure
Taking statins to lower your cholesterol
Your provider may also refer you to a cardiologist for additional testing or procedures to treat plaque buildup.

Find a location near you

You can have a coronary calcium score at many of our locations in Central and North Texas.

Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Abilene

1219 E South 11th St Ste B2, Abilene, TX, 79602

Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Abilene

1219 E South 11th St Ste B2, Abilene, TX, 79602

What is a calcium score test?

Why a coronary calcium score is done

Who needs a coronary calcium scan?

How often should you have a calcium score test?

What to expect during a coronary calcium score

Preparing for a calcium score test

During a calcium score test

After a calcium score test

Calcium score results

Next steps

Find a location near you

Frequently asked questions

Do you have to fast before a calcium score test?

How long does a calcium score test take?

Can you drink water before a calcium score test?

Does a calcium score test show blocked arteries?

What is a normal coronary calcium score?

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