Coronary Calcium Score (CAC) Testing | Impact Health NY

A Clearer Look At Hidden Heart Risk Before Symptoms Appear

A coronary calcium score is a quick, non-invasive scan that helps detect calcified plaque in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. For many people, plaque can build quietly for years without causing symptoms. Coronary artery calcium scoring can show whether coronary artery disease is already developing, which can help guide more informed prevention decisions.

At Impact Health NY, we use the CAC testing as one of the procedures within our comprehensive cardiovascular screening. It is not a test that fits everybody; however, for some patients, it can provide information that other tests may miss.

Plaque can build silently

Coronary artery disease often develops gradually. Many people feel completely fine even while plaque is building in the arteries.

Earlier insight can change the plan

A coronary calcium score helps personalize your cardiovascular prevention plan by refining your risk and guiding decisions about lifestyle changes and medical therapy

Personalized risk matters more than guesswork

A coronary calcium score provides personalized insight into your cardiovascular health by identifying the presence of coronary artery calcification, allowing prevention and treatment strategies to be tailored to your individual risk

What Is a Coronary Calcium Score?

A coronary calcium score is a special CT scan of the heart designed to identify calcium deposits within coronary arteries. The presence of calcium deposits within coronary arteries indicates that you have atherosclerotic plaque. In general, higher amounts of calcium suggest a greater plaque burden and a higher risk of coronary artery disease.

It provides you with a score that helps determine how much calcified plaque is present in your coronary arteries. In general, a score of zero means that there is little or no detectable calcified plaque, whereas a high score means high plaque burden.

A coronary artery calcium score gives you a number that helps estimate how much calcified plaque is present in your coronary arteries. A score of 0 suggests little or no detectable calcified plaque, while a score of 400 or higher is considered high and may indicate a greater plaque burden and increased heart disease risk.

The score will not detect all heart diseases or all types of plaques, but it can provide useful information about your heart disease risk.

How Does a Coronary Calcium Score Work?

The test uses a quick CT scan to capture images of the heart. No needles or exercise are usually required, and the scan itself is typically completed within minutes.

The process includes:

A review of your medical history and cardiovascular risk factors
Positioning on the CT table for the scan
A short, non-invasive scan of the heart
Review of the images and calcium score
Discussion of what the score means in the context of your overall health

At Impact Health NY, calcium scoring is not viewed in isolation. It is interpreted alongside your cholesterol, blood pressure, metabolic health, family history, and other cardiovascular risk factors.

Who Should Consider a Coronary Calcium Score?

Coronary artery calcium scoring is not always necessary for every patient, and they are not usually the first choice for people with low risk or people who already have known coronary artery disease. The value of the test depends on the clinical context.

A coronary calcium score may be worth discussing if you:

✔ Have borderline or intermediate cardiovascular risk

✔Have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, or a history of smoking

✔Have a family history of early heart disease

✔Want a better sense of whether plaque is already present

✔Are trying to decide how aggressive your prevention plan should be

What Can a Coronary Calcium Score Help With?

A coronary calcium score can help with:

✔ Detecting calcified plaque before symptoms appear

✔ Better understanding of your personal risk for coronary artery disease

✔ Deciding whether more aggressive prevention may be appropriate

✔ Guiding discussions about cholesterol management and other risk reduction strategies

✔ Clarifying risk when standard testing does not give a complete picture

✔ Supporting a more personalized heart prevention plan

A calcium score is not a catch-all test, but it can be a very helpful one in the right situation.

Advanced Heart Screening at Impact Health

The advanced cardiac screening program at Impact Health in White Plains includes coronary calcium scoring as part of a broader approach that does not rely on one number alone. We incorporate the insights from imaging with risk factors, laboratory tests, and the patient’s medical history analysis.

Depending on what you need, the screening could include:

✔Blood pressure measurement and risk assessment

✔Cholesterol and metabolic testing

✔Coronary calcium scoring

✔Family history and lifestyle analysis

✔Risk-based follow-up plan

Such an approach allows patients to avoid any assumptions and take more educated steps regarding their heart health.

After Your Coronary Calcium Score

After your screening, you may receive:

A clear explanation of your calcium score
Guidance on what the result may mean for your heart disease risk
Recommendations for lifestyle changes, if needed
Discussion of whether medication or further testing should be considered
A follow-up plan based on your personal cardiovascular profile

This screening does more than provide a score. It is to put that information into context and use it to guide more meaningful next steps.

Why Choose Impact Health

We don’t use the same screening plan for every patient. Each recommendation is based on:

When appropriate, a coronary calcium score or other cardiovascular imaging may be added to provide more detail than routine screening alone.

We also connect your results with advanced laboratory testing, lifestyle guidance, ongoing monitoring, and preventive cardiology to create a broader plan for protecting your long-term heart health.

Impact Health NY uses advanced imaging as part of a physician-led evaluation, with each test selected based on its relevance to your individual health profile.

Ready to Take a Closer Look at Your Heart Health?

To gain a deeper insight into your risk of cardiovascular disease, coronary calcium scoring should be considered. Impact Health NY helps patients in White Plains and nearby communities take a more proactive approach to heart health through testing that is thoughtful, individualized, and clinically relevant.

Schedule an appointment today to find out whether CAC testing is right for you.

Reach out and call our office or use our convenient online booking form to get started.

Coronary Calcium Score FAQs

1. What is a normal coronary calcium score?

Zero is regarded as a healthy score, as this would mean there is no presence of calcified plaques. Higher scores are indicative of more plaque buildup and an increased risk of heart disease.

2. Will a coronary calcium score test detect all plaque?

No. A coronary calcium score measures calcified plaque, which is a marker of coronary atherosclerosis and an important predictor of future cardiovascular risk. However, it does not detect non-calcified (“soft”) plaque, which may also be clinically significant. For some patients, particularly those with symptoms or elevated cardiovascular risk, coronary CT angiography (CCTA) provides a more comprehensive evaluation by identifying both calcified and non-calcified plaque and assessing the degree of coronary artery narrowing. Our physicians will recommend the imaging study that is most appropriate for your individual clinical situation.

3. Is a coronary calcium score painful?

No. It is a non-invasive test that is often done in just a few minutes.

4. How long will it take to get a coronary calcium score?

A coronary calcium score examination is quick, comfortable, and completely noninvasive. The actual scan typically takes less than a minute, and most appointments are completed in approximately 15–30 minutes, including preparation and image acquisition. Your images are then carefully reviewed and your results are interpreted in the context of your overall cardiovascular risk to help guide personalized prevention and treatment recommendations.

5. Will insurance cover a coronary calcium score?

Coverage depends on your insurance policy and the specific situation.

6. Will a coronary calcium score benefit everyone?

A coronary calcium score is an excellent preventive screening tool for many adults, particularly those with cardiovascular risk factors or a family history of heart disease. While it may not be necessary for every individual, it can provide valuable information that helps refine cardiovascular risk, personalize prevention strategies, and guide decisions regarding lifestyle changes and medical therapy. Our physicians will determine whether coronary calcium scoring is appropriate based on your individual risk profile and health goals