Archive · 22 Aug 2025
CT Calcium Score Test: Assessing Heart Health, Risk
Imagine your heart is like a road, and sometimes, things like calcium can build up inside, making it harder for blood to flow.
Doctors use a special scan called a CT calcium score to check for this build-up.
You lie on a scanner for a few minutes while it takes pictures of your heart.
If the scan shows a lot of calcium, it might mean you have a higher chance of having heart problems in the future.
The score helps doctors decide if you need medicine or changes to your daily habits, like eating healthier.
It's especially useful for people with a family history of heart issues or those who may be at a moderate risk.
CT calcium score tests are used to assess heart health and potential heart disease risk.
The test involves a CT scan to detect calcium deposits in coronary arteries.
A zero score indicates low heart attack risk; scores of 100-300 suggest moderate risk.
The test helps determine appropriate treatments, medications, and lifestyle changes.
It is recommended for those with family history, moderate risk, or conditions like diabetes.
- Who
- The CT calcium score is typically recommended for patients who have a family history of coronary artery disease, have a moderate risk of heart attack, have uncertain heart attack risk levels, have a history of diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension, have excess weight or obesity, or lead a sedentary lifestyle.
- What
- A CT calcium score test, also known as a cardiac CT calcium score.
- When
- The test provides images of your coronary arteries that show existing calcium deposits, an early sign of coronary artery disease.
- Where
- The CT scan takes place in a CT scanner.
- Why
- To assess heart health and determine the risk of heart disease by identifying calcium deposits in the coronary arteries.
- Test Name
- Cardiac CT calcium score
- Purpose
- Assess heart disease risk
- Procedure
- CT scan of the heart
- Scan Time
- About 10 minutes
- Score of Zero
- Very low risk of heart attack in 10 years
- Score of 100-300
- Moderate risk of heart attack in 3-5 years