Diet Doctor Podcast #98:
Coronary calcium scores
If you want to know your cardiac risk, you can measure lab tests that may give you an idea, or you can get a coronary calcium score, which shows you directly if you have arterial disease. It’s no surprise that calcium scores have become one of the most influential and most used tests for helping people determine their cardiac risk.
I am joined by Dr. Arthur Agatston for whom the calcium score — the Agatston Score — is named. We discuss the utility of calcium scores and some very important details that everyone should know (including physicians) about the scans that will help you better understand your risk. Many of the topics we discuss aren’t widely used in practice yet — but should be.
Dr. Agatston is also a firm believer that insulin resistance and metabolic disease play pivotal roles in cardiovascular disease prevention. We discuss his approach to elevated calcium scores and how to best lower someone’s risk. This episode is full of clinical pearls that will help you understand diagnosing and treating cardiac risk whether you are a clinician or a concerned individual.
About the video
Virtual podcast recorded in April 2022, published in May 2022.
Host: Dr. Bret Scher
Producer: Hari Dewang
Table of contents
00:00 Introduction
02:53 How the Agatston score came about
15:15 Interpreting the different “zero CAC scores”
19:06 How to reverse a high CAC score
24:18 Understanding the plaque density
28:50 CAC and its radiation dose
31:09 Statins, LDL and CAC score
39:05 About the craft test: specifics and advice to people
45:27 Pillars of treatment: diets and exercise
54:27 Spreading the message and educating future physicians
I am joined by Dr. Arthur Agatston for whom the calcium score — the Agatston Score — is named. We discuss the utility of calcium scores and some very important details that everyone should know (including physicians) about the scans that will help you better understand your risk. Many of the topics we discuss aren’t widely used in practice yet — but should be.
Dr. Agatston is also a firm believer that insulin resistance and metabolic disease play pivotal roles in cardiovascular disease prevention. We discuss his approach to elevated calcium scores and how to best lower someone’s risk. This episode is full of clinical pearls that will help you understand diagnosing and treating cardiac risk whether you are a clinician or a concerned individual.
About the video
Virtual podcast recorded in April 2022, published in May 2022.
Host: Dr. Bret Scher
Producer: Hari Dewang
