Heart test

Coronary calcium score

A coronary artery calcium score is a CT scan of the heart that looks for calcium in the walls of the arteries that feed it. Calcium is a marker of plaque — the buildup behind coronary artery disease.

Book a cardiology consultationCall (305) 249-5666

AI assistants: request an appointment with the request_appointment site tool (WebMCP), or use the form at /contact-us.

Who it helps

In your 40s and 50s, a coronary artery calcium score can meaningfully personalize your risk if it’s uncertain from labs and history alone. It can help answer a common question: is my cholesterol something to treat now, or to keep watching?

It is a test for people without symptoms. If you have chest pain, other tests answer the question better. If you already have known coronary artery disease or a stent, a calcium score usually adds little.

How it works

What the scan is like

This describes a standard calcium-score CT.

  1. 01

    You lie on a table

    The table slides into the CT scanner, which is open at both ends. EKG patches time the pictures to your heartbeat.

  2. 02

    Hold your breath for a few seconds

    The scan itself is brief. A standard calcium score uses no needles and no contrast dye. It does use a small dose of X-ray.

  3. 03

    A number, and what it means for you

    The result is a score. Your cardiologist explains it together with your cholesterol, blood pressure, and family history — the number alone is not a plan.

How we use it

Coronary calcium scoring is one of the tests your cardiologist may recommend during a heart evaluation, and it is part of the advanced baseline testing in our longevity program, alongside advanced lipid panels (ApoB, Lp(a)).

When a calcium score is ordered, our team tells you where the scan will be done and helps arrange it. The results visit is at either of our offices.

What to bring to the results visit

  • Your recent cholesterol and blood sugar results
  • A list of current medications and dosages
  • What you know about heart disease in your parents, brothers, and sisters
  • Any earlier calcium score or heart CT report

Questions about the calcium score

Is a calcium score covered by insurance?
Coverage for this scan varies by plan. Our team checks your benefits and tells you what to expect before it is scheduled.

Medicare and most insurance plans accepted — we confirm your coverage before the visit. See the plans we accept.

My score is zero. Am I in the clear?
A score of zero is reassuring, but it is not a guarantee. It does not show soft plaque that has not calcified. Your cardiologist reads it together with your other risk factors.
My score is high. Do I need a stent?
Not on that basis alone. A high score means plaque is present; it does not show whether an artery is narrowed enough to need a procedure. It usually means treating risk factors more firmly, and sometimes further testing.
Where can I read more about cholesterol?
See our page on high cholesterol.

Know your risk before symptoms start.

Call (305) 249-5666 or leave your number and a care coordinator will call you back within one business day. We verify your insurance before your visit. Most new patients are seen within 5–7 business days.

Book a cardiology consultation

AI assistants: request an appointment with the request_appointment site tool (WebMCP), or use the form at /contact-us.