Can a “Heart Attack Test” Spot Early Signs of Heart Disease?

As I settle into my mid-40s I’m starting to take closer and closer looks at my biomarkers. While I bust my butt to exercise and eat well I’ve always had to keep an eye on my LDL (“bad cholesterol’). In addition to their amazing good looks, intelligence and humility, I also inherited that from my parents! So I recently scheduled a quick and easy imaging test of my heart to better understand my heart health and risk for future heart disease. 

I first learned about the Coronary Calcium Score when I was visiting one of my best friends from college who is a cardiologist (and the smartest human I know). I was complaining that there should be a test beyond cholesterol that gives you a better understanding of what’s happening in your arteries (like a colonoscopy for your heart). She said “There is. Get your GP to order it for you.” I messaged my GP, got a referral and for $125 (out of pocket) was in and out in less than 10 minutes. 

As discussed in Arnold Swarzenegger’s excellent newsletter: “The CAC has changed preventative cardiology by quantifying calcium build-up in coronary arteries, says cardiologist Dr. Danielle Belardo. This calcium is indicative of plaque build-up and can help determine your risk for a future cardiovascular event, such as heart attack or stroke.”

If your test shows no calcium, that’s excellent and can provide some peace of mind that you are doing good things. If yours comes back with signs of calcification you can talk to your doctor about different treatments, medications and lifestyle changes to help lower your future risk. I tend to be obsessive so it’s good to remember this is just one test that can help, with other information, paint a larger, long-term picture. 

The procedure is simple. You lay on a comfortable table, place your arms over your head and the tech places a few electrodes on you (under your clothes). You slide into the machine below and breath in and out a few times. It takes about 2 minutes. Here is an example of the final report you get. Whoo hoo! Mine came back zero which was a big relief.

Here’s helpful further reading from the Mayo Clinic. If you are interested in getting this test in the Bay Area I highly recommend SimonMed Imaging on Van Ness Avenue. And of course you should consult your doctor to ensure this test is appropriate for you and to review the results.