BEWARE OF NON-CALCIFIED SOFT PLAQUES AND CONSIDER A CT ANGIOGRAM

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Cardiovascular diseases are among the most common causes of death, as Dr. Peter Attia, a Stanford-educated longevity researcher and author, explains. CT Scans are common diagnostic tools to evaluate your heart health.

Many of us have heard of or undergone a CT Calcium scan, but fewer may know that the more specific CT Angiogram can detect abnormalities in blood vessels, such as dangerous early-stage non-calcified plaques which precede calcification. As Peter Attia warns:

“The damaged plaques may ultimately cause the formation of a clot, which can narrow and ultimately clog the lumen of the blood vessel – or worse, can break free and cause a heart attack or stroke. This is why we worry more about the non-calcified plaques than the calcified ones” (Attia & Gifford, Outlive, 2023, p. 124ff).

“Approximately 15% of people who have a normal Calcium Score (0) are found to have soft plaques or even small calcifications on CT Angiograms, and as many as 2-3% of people with a zero Calcium Score are found on CT Angiogram to have high-risk plaques” (Attia & Gifford, Outlive, 2023, p. 124).

Though CT Angiograms require IV dye and expose the patient to slightly more radiation, Attia strongly recommends them. Therefore, you may want to consult your doctor for a CT Angiogram, not just the more common Calcium scan, at your next check-up.