‘Plaque’ is made up of extra cholesterol, calcium, and other substances in the blood. Over time, plaque builds up in the walls of the arteries that supply blood to the heart

‘Plaque’ is made up of excess cholesterol, calcium, and other substances in the blood. Over time, plaque builds up in the walls of the arteries, causing the narrowing of the blood vessels. This may increase the risk of coronary artery disease, as well as related health conditions such as sudden heart attack.

Measuring the amount of calcified plaque in your coronary arteries is vital.

Calcium Scoring CT measures the amount of calcified plaque in your coronary arteries through a CT Scan, that provides scores ranging from 0 to over 400. The test helps doctors to calculate the risk of developing coronary artery disease, and provide recommendations for a suitable treatment plan.

CT scan scoring :

Score 0: Low risk of heart attack

Scores 1 – 10: Less than 10% chance of experiencing a heart attack

Scores 11 – 100: Moderate risk of heart attack; doctor may recommend lifestyle changes

Scores 101 – 400: Moderate to high risk of heart attack; doctor may recommend treatment through medication 

Scores > 400: High risk of heart attack; doctor may recommend beginning treatment right away

Remarks

*The score reflects the total area of calcium deposits within the coronary arteries.

** This test is not recommended for evaluating soft plaque deposits in the coronary arteries.