Now you know what a calcium score test is, how it’s done, and what the results can be.

As noted, a zero score is the most desired score. If your score is above zero, it means there’s an accumulation of plaque in your coronary arteries. Here, we will look at what you can do to maintain your score or improve your overall heart health, depending on your score. 

Maintaining a Score of Zero

A zero score is excellent. It means there are no detectable calcium deposits or plaque in the coronary arteries. This score does indicate that you have good heart health, although it is only one indicator for overall cardiovascular well-being.

The focus with this score is maintenance. Now that you know you have no visible signs of plaque collecting in your coronary arteries, you want to keep it that way.

Focus on finding ways to maintain this level, keeping in mind that the risk of a score above zero increases as you get older. As you age, it’s crucial to ensure you remain active and eat a balanced, healthy diet. This can help to keep your calcium score down, along with other overall health benefits.

Lifestyle Changes For Scores Above Zero

Any score above zero means you have calcium buildup present in your coronary arteries. As the score increases, it indicates more detectable buildup.

The actions you take to maintain your calcium score largely depend on the actual test result. For instance, if it’s above 100, you will need a more intense program to help improve your cardiovascular health. With a score of 1 - 10, there are still actions to take to maintain your current score and cardiovascular health, but the intervention won’t likely be as extensive.

The two significant lifestyle changes to make involve your diet and exercise routine. Often, one cause for a higher calcium score is your current lifestyle. The goal is to improve your diet and increase the amount of exercise or activity you get.

A good starting point is to reduce the amount of unhealthy fats in your diet. Instead, eat healthy fat sources like nuts, seeds, olive oil, avocado, and fatty fish. This can help raise your HDL cholesterol levels, which can go a long way in balancing out your cholesterol and improving your cardiovascular health.

It is essential to get a good amount of exercise to keep your heart healthy. Studies show that exercise helps to lower LDL cholesterol levels. It is always a great way to maintain your score and improve your overall cardiovascular health.

A sedentary lifestyle, where you are very inactive, raises your risk of heart disease. Even low-intensity exercises, like walking, can be a great starting point for someone who hasn’t been active regularly.

Being overweight increases the risk of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and other health issues. Taking the necessary steps to lose any excess weight or increase your activity level will improve your overall health. Studies have shown that overweight individuals can also have a higher risk of coronary artery calcification, which can show up in these scans. 

Should You Take Statins?

A common question is whether or not to begin statins if a calcium score is above zero. Statins are prescription medications that block HMG-CoA reductase, a type of enzyme used to produce cholesterol in your liver. With this enzyme blocked the amount of LDL cholesterol you have in your body is reduced.

While cholesterol often gets a bad reputation, there are good and bad types. LDL is the bad type of cholesterol that clogs up your arteries and blood vessels. A score above zero indicates there is already plaque building up in your coronary arteries. This is why statins are sometimes used to lower LDL cholesterol, along with other lifestyle changes, to combat the plaque accumulation in these arteries.

While expert opinions differ, one study, published in the European Heart Journal, suggests that statins should not be used when the score is zero, but should be considered for any score above zero depending on other factors. For instance, if the score is between one and 99, they suggest a person should start with statins if they are over the age of 55. Additionally, they note that the higher the score, the more advisable statins would become.

A coronary calcium test is always only one of the tests used to determine the necessity of statins and your overall heart health. You should always consult with your primary care physician to discuss other tests that can help provide a more complete picture of your health.

References

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10299489/ 

https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/41/Supplement_2/ehaa946.2923/6004698