McLEOD CARDIOLOGIST
EXPLAINS CORONARY
CALCIUM SCORING
Alan Blaker, MD |
McLeod Interventional Cardiologist
Heart disease is the leading cause of death
in the United States and for 50 percent of
people the first symptom is having a heart
attack, according to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
A heart attack occurs when the flow of
blood is cut off by plaque and a blood clot
that has formed in the coronary arteries,
the arteries leading to the heart. Plaque, the
build-up of cholesterol and calcium, can cause
hardening of these arteries, which narrows
the arteries causing a decrease of blood flow.
Coronary artery disease (CAD), the most
common form of heart disease, occurs when
the coronary arteries that supply blood to
the heart become hardened and narrow
prohibiting blood flow.
To help detect heart disease in its early
stages, McLeod offers Coronary Calcium
Scoring, a heart attack prevention screening.
Coronary Calcium Scoring is a non-invasive
method of determining the presence of
coronary artery disease in someone without
symptoms, but at an increased risk for
coronary artery disease. It is a very quick,
painless test that only takes about five
minutes. The calcium score is obtained from
a CT scan. The score indicates the amount of
calcium in the arteries around the heart. After
the study, the score numbers are calculated
and reported to your doctor.
The screening is best for people who are at
an intermediate risk for heart disease.
Candidates for Coronary Calcium Scoring:
• Men over 45 years of age with one
additional risk factor
• Women over 55 years of age with one
additional risk factor
Risk Factors include:
• Family history of heart disease
• Smoki ng
• High Blood Pressure
• High Cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Sedentary Lifestyle
Generally, calcium scores are reported
based upon the amount of calcium build-up
around the heart. Zero is the lowest number
and that generally indicates there is no calcium
build-up. If the score is more than 400, a fairly
high number, it may indicate the need for
further non-invasive testing like a stress test.
If the score is between 0 and 400, those are
lower levels but still indicate the presence
of disease and the need for aggressive risk
factor modification.
Benefits of the Coronary Calcium Scoring
include: detection of coronary artery disease
at an early stage when there are no symptoms;
a determination of future risk of coronary
artery disease; prevention of a fatal heart
attack; and discussion of a treatment plan
if coronary artery blockages are present.
Although the test will not tell us the severity
of a blockage, it does indicate that there may
be some blockages present.
The information provided by the test can
be very useful in alerting people to modify
their risk factors for preventing heart disease
and to help guide doctors and patients in
their treatment approach. Modification of risk
factors is key. When a person is aware they
have heart disease, most will tend to be more
aggressive about their health and adjusting
their lifestyle or medication.
Risk Factors for
Coronary Artery Disease:
Factors You Can Control
• Smoking
• High Cholesterol
• High Blood Pressure
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Physical Inactivity
Factors You Cannot Control
• Family History
Father (before age 55)
Mother (before age 65)
Brother
Sister
• Sex, Race, Age
Through early detection, we are able
to help patients modify their risk factors,
receive earlier treatment and prevent the
disease from worsening or becoming a
life-threatening event. McLeod offers the
Coronary Calcium Score screening at a low
cost of $99. Unfortunately, screening
tests are generally not covered by
insurance. A physician referral is required.
Talk with your doctor or primary care
provider to determine if Coronary Calcium
Scoring is a screening test for you.
Coronary Calcium Screenings are
available at:
• McLeod Regional Medical Center
• McLeod Dillon
• McLeod Loris
• McLeod Seacoast
Dr. Alan Blaker serves as the Executive Medical Director of the McLeod Heart and Vascular Institute. He is an Interventional Cardiologist with McLeod
Cardiology Associates, and he is accepting new patients. Self-referrals are welcome. Appointments with Dr. Blaker can be made by calling 843-667-1891.
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AUGUST 2017
SHEMAGAZINE.COM