Many people already know that coronary artery disease is one of the causes of sudden death among Thais and continues to increase steadily. When we talk about coronary artery stenosis or blockage, the first cause that comes to mind is the buildup of fatty plaques in the blood vessels. However, in reality, coronary artery blockage is not caused solely by fatty plaques but can also result from calcium deposits, which we call “calcification”.
What causes calcification in blood vessels?
Calcification is calcium in our body that accumulates and hardens into solid lumps. It can result from various causes, including the natural degeneration of calcium or inflammation at a certain spot. The body’s mechanism then deposits calcium to protect the inflamed area. Calcification can also be embedded with fatty plaques that stick to the blood vessels, causing the vessels to harden and narrow. Studies have found that even a small amount of calcium or calcification on the walls of coronary arteries increases the risk of coronary artery disease and can lead to sudden heart attacks in the future.
Stay ahead… by screening for coronary artery calcification
We can never know when these calcifications start to form inside our blood vessels. Most of the time, they are detected only when clear symptoms of coronary artery disease appear, or worse, after a heart attack has occurred. Screening for calcified plaques in the coronary artery walls is the best way to stay ahead and prepare for potential risks.
Coronary Calcium Score screening measures the amount of calcium deposited in the walls of the coronary arteries using a high-speed computed tomography (CT Scan) with high resolution. This test accurately indicates the amount of calcification in the coronary artery walls and assesses your risk of sudden coronary artery blockage. If no calcification is detected, the calcium score will be 0, meaning you have a low risk of coronary artery stenosis or acute myocardial ischemia in the future. However, if the calcium score is high, especially above 400, you are at increased risk of coronary artery disease within 2-5 years, even if you have no symptoms.
Benefits you should know
Because silent diseases are always dangerous, screening for coronary artery calcification helps doctors assess the situation and plan appropriate treatment to reduce the risk of death from coronary artery disease in the future.
- The test takes about 10 minutes
- No contrast dye injection required
- No hospitalization needed
- No special preparation required before the test
Who should get tested?
- Those with a family history of coronary artery disease
- Men and women aged 45 and above, especially postmenopausal women
- Those with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes
- Smokers
- Those who are overweight
Can calcification in blood vessels be prevented?
It is probably difficult to control the formation of calcification in the body, but what we can and should do consistently is to maintain good health by eating nutritious food, exercising regularly, getting enough rest, managing stress, and having a health check-up at least once a year.
“Calcification in coronary arteries is not as easy to remove as from teeth.
Get screened to stay informed and prevent heart attacks.”
