New Calcium CT Scan Test May Help to Predict Heart Attack Risk

Doctors have found that the amount of calcium in the blood can be a pointer towards potential heart attack risk, even if compared to other positive health factors.

There are approximately 28 million Americans that may currently fall into the risk factor for a heart attack. Physicians use a variety of tests called the Framingham risk score. This involves considerations for the patient age, gender, blood pressure, cholesterol level and smoking status. However, there are people that would be considered healthy by all other standards that seem to fall through the cracks. The new calcium CT scan is showing promise to bring some of these patients to the forefront, so that they can make changes in their lifestyle or add a medication regiment to offset their heart attack risk factor.

Sources:
http://healthland.time.com/2012/08/22/predicting-heart-attack-risk-a-calcium-test-may-help/
http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/23/health/heart-attack-prediction/index.html

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.