Watch Calcium, Not Just Cholesterol

Watch Calcium, Not Just Cholesterol

A test for cholesterol levels is a routine part of most physical exams, but coronary calcium levels can be just as significant when gauging heart health.

Atherosclerosis, the most common form of heart disease, results when plaque accumulates in the walls of the coronary arteries, restricting blood flow.

Calcium is a marker for plaque. A study published in 2003 found a high correlation between coronary calcium and mortality risk.

"The problem with cholesterol is that it indirectly measures health risks - you're looking at someone's blood to see what their arteries are doing," Dr. Shelton Thomas of Virginia Cardiovascular Specialists told Fortune magazine.

"But if you have normal cholesterol and a high calcium score, then we know that you're putting plaque in your arteries."

A heart scan - a quick, painless procedure - can indicate calcium levels.

NewsMax.com

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