Question 32 of 433
What is a coronary calcium score, and do I need one?
The short answer
It is a quick, low-radiation CT scan that shows whether plaque has already formed in your heart arteries. It is most useful when you and your doctor are unsure whether to start medication.
The scan takes ten minutes, needs no needle, and often costs between $75 and $200. A score of zero is reassuring: your risk over the next ten years is low. Any score above zero means plaque is there and treatment should get serious.
The 2026 guideline recommends it for men 40 and older and women 45 and older who are at borderline or intermediate risk. Two warnings. A zero in a young person does not mean no plaque, because young plaque is soft and has not calcified yet. And once you are on a statin, do not keep repeating the scan; statins can raise the score by hardening plaque, which is a good thing.
“This book is for education. It is not medical advice, and reading it does not make you my patient or create a doctor-patient relationship.” From the book’s medical disclaimer. Full disclaimer
ROBUST PROGNOSTIC / GUIDELINE — Selected adults: CAC reclassifies risk; it does not visualize all plaque.Evidence grade (draft mapping)CObservationalPart 3, Q32 · Sources: R4
Sources cited
- R4 Blumenthal RS et al. 2026 ACC/AHA multisociety Guideline on the Management of Dyslipidemia. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2026. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2025.11.016. Link pending verification
From Longevity Unmasked by Afshine Ash Emrani, MD, FACC. Medical disclaimer. This book is for education. It is not medical advice, and reading it does not make you my patient or create a doctor-patient relationship. Nothing here is meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Medicine is personal: a test, drug, supplement, or exercise plan that helps one person can harm another. Do not start, stop, or change any medication or treatment because of something you read in these pages. Talk with a licensed clinician who knows your history first. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911. The author disclaims responsibility for any loss or harm arising from use of the information in this book.