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Heart Attack Risk: Why a Zero Calcium Score Isn't Enough
18 Sep
Summary
- A zero calcium score does not guarantee freedom from heart disease.
- Soft plaque rupture causes most heart attacks, not hardened plaque.
- Traditional risk factors remain crucial regardless of calcium score.
A CT calcium score, a test detecting hardened calcium in coronary arteries, can be misleading regarding heart attack risk. While a score of zero might suggest low risk, it doesn't account for soft, non-calcified plaque. Dr. Jeremy London, a cardiothoracic surgeon, clarifies that this soft plaque is responsible for a majority of heart attacks when it ruptures.
He emphasizes that calcium scans primarily measure hardened plaque, which develops from softer deposits. Since 60 to 75 percent of heart attacks originate from unstable soft plaque ruptures, a zero score offers incomplete information. Traditional risk factors, including smoking, diabetes, and high blood pressure, remain critical in assessing overall cardiovascular health and should be managed proactively, irrespective of calcium scan results.
