Regular readers of my column know I have been very bullish about the Coronary Calcium Scan, also known as a calcium score test or coronary calcium score, as a test for heart disease risk. I take my lead from a cardiologist, Dr. Henry Sadlo, who has been championing this cause for several years.
CCS has been instrumental in saving many lives and yet another reader wrote in recently to tell me about their experience with the test.
“I was sitting at home watching TV with my wife when I felt a sharp pain in my chest. A short time later the pain also ran down my left arm at which point my wife told me I needed to get to the hospital,” this reader wrote. “I did and they ran tests on me multiple times through the night, but couldn’t find anything wrong. Their conclusion was it must have been heartburn or gas.”
“The information was plugged into my chart online and my personal [doctor] of many years saw it and called me, insisting that he see me immediately. When we met the next day, he told me he wasn’t convinced there was nothing going on and that he had already arranged for me to take a CCS test,” the reader continues. “I shrugged and agreed to keep the appointment, and thankfully I did. My CCS score was over 800, alarmingly high, and worse, there was an issue with the so-called ‘widow-maker‘ artery. An appointment was made for the next day with a cardiologist. Two days later I had heart surgery with two stents.”
You may likeIs menopause weight gain real? 4 things women need to know about getting older
The reader continued: “Had I not had a personal [doctor] who cared so much about my wellbeing and who knew the benefits of the CCS, there is a good chance I soon would have had a massive heart attack and not be writing this. I am deeply indebted to my doctor, and I thank you and Dr. Sadlo for beating the drum on this non-invasive procedure that saved my life.”
How much does a Coronary Calcium Scan cost and is it covered by insurance?
Let me clear up some confusion, and concerns, about why the CCS is not covered by most health insurance.
It’s typical for new tests to take quite a while before they are adopted for insurance payment. There are lots of reasons for this, including that new tests often mean additional expense, and it’s a natural business decision to resist new expenses as long as possible until the evidence is overwhelming that certain tests should be covered as part of “basic” healthcare.
Out-of-pocket cost for the CCS varies but is approximately $100. The letter above, plus many testimonies from Sadlo’s patients, make it quite clear, in my opinion, that it’s money well spent.
Another obstacle is that the CCS measures calcified plaque in the heart arteries. Plaque is first deposited in the arteries as a “mushy mass” of cholesterol and other debris. Over the years, calcium invades these mushy plaques, cementing them in place, thus the term “hardening of the arteries.” The problem when considering results from a CCS is you could have substantial clogging in your arteries that is still in the mushy stage and would not be detected with a CCS.
In turn, this could provide a false sense of heart health with a CCS score of zero.
You may likeIs red meat bad for you? Here are 4 things to know about how much red meat is healthy
But even with this limitation, the CCS test is still an extremely valuable tool. What’s more, virtually all tests have some limitations. For example, the blood pressure in my arm may be far different from the blood pressure in my ankle. If so, it could indicate severe vascular problems. So, does this mean it’s not worthwhile to measure the blood pressure in my arm since it tells nothing about what is going on in my ankle? Or, does it mean this limitation is noted and additional steps should be taken? The answer is obvious.
Does resistance and strength training help reduce heart disease?
Throughout my 50-plus-year career, cardio exercise has been the emphasis when it comes to promoting cardiovascular health…
Read More: What is a coronary calcium scan and is it worth it?