12/13/2025
I lost my father at 59 to a sudden heart attack.
He was playing hockey, active, seemingly healthy. No significant warning signs. Just gone.
For years, I've wondered: Could this have been prevented? Would a CAC scan have shown the silent disease building in his arteries?
The answer is likely yes.
A CAC scan uses CT imaging to detect calcium deposits in coronary arteries. Calcium indicates atherosclerotic plaque—actual disease, not just risk factors.
Research shows CAC score is a better predictor of cardiovascular events than traditional risk factors, including cholesterol levels.
People with CAC scores of 0 have very low event rates over 10-15 years, even if their cholesterol is "high."
Conversely, people with significant CAC scores have increased risk even with "normal" cholesterol.
This is direct visualization of disease status, not statistical risk modeling.
My dad's cholesterol might have been normal. His blood pressure might have been fine. But if he'd gotten a CAC scan, we might have seen the plaque building and taken action—dietary changes, stress management, targeted supplementation, or yes, even medication if needed.
Instead, we had no idea until it was too late.
I'm sharing this because I don't want you to lose someone the way I lost my dad.
Action Step: If you're over 40, have a family history of heart disease, or have any metabolic risk factors (high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol), schedule a CAC scan.
Search "CAC scan near me" or ask your doctor to order one. Most imaging centers offer them for $99-150 without insurance.
This simple test could save your life.
Research:
● Budoff MJ, et al. Long-term prognosis associated with coronary calcification. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2007
● Blaha MJ, et al. Providing evidence for subclinical CVD in risk assessment. Glob Heart. 2016
