Imagine your heart like a busy highway. Blood flows through it every second, keeping your body running strong. But over time, little bumps in the road can form—these are called plaques, made of fat, calcium, and cholesterol. These plaques can build up inside the arteries of your heart and lead to big problems, like heart attacks. The good news? There are ways to spot these plaques early, and tools to slow them down or stop them from getting worse.
One tool doctors use is called a coronary artery calcium score. This is a simple scan that checks how much calcium is sitting in the walls of your heart’s arteries. Calcium is a sign that plaque has already started to build up. The scan gives a score: zero means no calcium, and a higher score means more buildup. If your score is above zero but not too high, you might be at an “intermediate” risk for heart disease. That means you don’t have heart symptoms yet, but you’re not in the clear either. This is the perfect time to take action.
A recent study looked at people between 40 and 70 years old who were in this middle-risk group. None of them qualified for cholesterol medicine based on standard rules. But they all got the calcium scan. People with a score of zero were told they were low risk and didn’t need medicine. Those with a score over 400 were considered high risk and followed a different treatment path. But the people in the middle—the ones with a little calcium—were the main focus.
The study split these folks into two groups. One group got a statin medication called atorvastatin, which is used to lower “bad” cholesterol (called LDL). They also received regular help from a nurse who coached them on lifestyle changes like eating better, exercising, and taking their meds. Plus, they got to see pictures of their own heart scans. The second group didn’t get the statin, got only basic health tips, and didn’t see their scans.
Three years later, the results were clear. The people who got the statin and the health coaching had less new plaque in their arteries. Their cholesterol levels dropped. Their heart health got better. The group that didn’t get those things? Their plaque kept growing, and their cholesterol stayed about the same.
Why does this matter so much? Because once you can see the plaque in your own arteries, it’s a wake-up call. It’s not just a number on a piece of paper—it’s a real problem inside your body. And when someone helps you understand it and supports you along the way, you’re more likely to take action. That might mean remembering to take your medicine, walking more, eating smarter, or quitting smoking.
The statins played a big role, too. Some people worry about taking them, but they’ve been studied for many years and shown to be safe and effective. Statins lower the amount of LDL cholesterol in your blood. That means less raw material for new plaque. They also seem to help stabilize existing plaque, making it less likely to break open and cause a heart attack.
But it’s not just about pills. The coaching part made a huge difference. People had someone checking in on them, encouraging them, and explaining what was going on in their bodies. They were reminded that their choices mattered. That combination—seeing your own scan, taking medicine, and getting real help from a person—proved powerful.
Some people worry that calcium scores only show hard plaque and not soft plaque, which can also be dangerous. That’s true. But soft plaque is harder to detect without more advanced tests, which use more radiation and aren’t always covered by insurance. The calcium scan isn’t perfect, but it’s a safe, affordable way to catch heart disease early in many people. And it’s especially helpful for women, who sometimes get overlooked when it comes to heart health because their symptoms are different or less obvious.
In fact, using calcium scores may help close that gap. Even if the scan doesn’t catch soft plaque, seeing any plaque at all is a big deal—and can lead to the right care at the right time.
Another problem is that many people with early heart disease don’t feel sick. They might be fine walking around, going to work, living their lives. But inside, their arteries are slowly clogging. The calcium scan reveals that hidden danger before it turns into something serious. And that’s when treatment works best.
Some experts say we should use these scans more often. Right now, not all insurance plans cover them, and some people have to pay out of pocket. But they’re not expensive—some hospitals charge $75 or less—and they could save lives. If more doctors used calcium scoring to find early disease, more people could get help before it’s too late.
For people who do get a score that shows early disease, there’s a clear path forward. Take a statin if your doctor recommends it. Get support through coaching or follow-ups. Make simple but powerful changes—like walking 30 minutes a day, eating more fruits and vegetables, cutting back on processed foods, and getting better sleep. These changes aren’t just good for your heart—they help your brain, your energy, and your mood, too.
If you’re over 40 and wondering about your risk, talk to your doctor. Ask if a calcium scan makes sense for you. If your family has a history of heart disease, or if you have other risk factors like high blood pressure or smoking, it might be worth it. And if your doctor says you’re in that intermediate group, taking action now can change your future.
This isn’t about fear. It’s about knowledge. When you know what’s happening inside your body, you can do something about it. You can take charge of your health instead of waiting for a crisis. Your heart beats 100,000 times a day. It deserves a little attention.
So get the test if you need it. Take the medicine if it’s right for you. And don’t go it alone—find someone who will cheer you on and help you stick to your goals. That’s how you protect your heart for the long haul.