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Coronary artery calcification is a condition in which calcium deposits build up in the arteries. This often happens when you’ve had plaque build up in your coronary arteries for a few years. If left untreated, coronary calcification can lead to severe medical complications, including heart attacks and failures.
A coronary artery calcification can be identified and diagnosed through a CT scan, commonly known as coronary artery calcium test. A CAC test can help determine the amount of deposits you have, as well as its size and intensity.
FAQ
- Can you remove the calcium from the arteries?
- No it is not feasible and not safe to physically remove these calcified plaques from the artery. There is also no descaling agent to melt the calcium away either! The treatment of choice is to take aspirin and cholesterol lowering drugs long term. Aspirin lower the risk of blood clot forming on the calcified plaque while drugs like statin slow down the process of atherosclerosis.
- If my heart arteries have a lot of calcium, should I stop taking my calcium supplement given by my GP to protect my bones?
- You do not need to stop the calcium supplement as they protect you against osteoporosis. While both the bones and the arteries involve calcium the disease process is entirely different.
