What causes calcification in the heart?

Calcium deposits in the arteries are not related to diet or to any supplements you are taking. They are produced because blood vessel cells don't work as they should. They may be a sign of heart disease or simply of getting older.

Coronary calcification

occurs when calcium builds up in plaque found in the walls of the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart muscle.

The presence of coronary calcification may be an early sign of coronary artery disease, which can cause a heart attack.

Intimate coronary artery calcification

occurs in the inner arterial layer, while medial coronary calcification occurs in the middle arterial layer. The amount of calcification in the body determines the intensity of atherosclerosis. The main problem caused by coronary calcification is the heart muscle's inability to pump enough blood.

This is because plaque creates a narrower path through which blood flows, making it difficult for oxygen-rich blood to reach the heart. In medical terminology, these deposits of calcium and fatty material in the arteries are called atherosclerosis. The buildup of calcium deposits in the arteries increases the risk of coronary artery disease. People with high levels of calcium in their blood are much more susceptible to heart attacks and strokes.

The TAXUS-IV trial (slow-release, polymer-based, paclitaxel-releasing stent) was a prospective, double-blind, randomized, multicenter study that examined the impact of calcified lesion on clinical and angiographic outcomes after the implantation of the paclitaxel-releasing stent. There are two recognized types of CAC calcification, intimate and medial, and each of them has specific risk factors. Coronary artery calcification was previously thought to be a benign process, and calcific injury increases with aging. Knowing if you have coronary artery calcification can help your healthcare provider make a plan for how to help you.

In addition, optical coherence tomography can be used to assess the thickness and volume of calcification, since light penetrates calcium. Coronary artery calcification is a build-up of calcium in the two main arteries of the heart, known as coronary arteries. There are a variety of tests your doctor may request to determine if you have coronary artery calcification. Subsequently, studies determined that medial calcification is associated with arterial stiffness, increasing the risk of adverse cardiovascular events.

This most recent procedure uses a catheter (tube) with a device on the end that sends pressure waves to cause the calcification to undo. Although healthcare providers don't have a standard treatment for coronary artery calcification, some use intravascular lithotripsy to treat serious cases. The revascularization rate of the target lesion caused by ischemia after one year fell by 56% in patients with calcified lesions (11.9%) compared to their healthcare provider will multiply the area of calcification by its density to obtain an Agatston score. Coronary artery calcification is an indicator of coronary artery disease and can provide information to your healthcare provider to help assess your cardiovascular risk.

Coronary artery calcification is a build-up of calcium in the two main arteries of the heart, also called coronary arteries.