Coronary Artery Calcium Score: One Test Women Should Order by 45

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Dr. Sara Gottfried says if women took away one action from her advice, it would be to get a coronary artery calcium (CAC) score by age 45 — or earlier if there is a personal or family history of premature heart disease. The CAC score is a CT scan of the chest that measures calcified plaque in the coronary arteries, giving a concrete read on cardiovascular risk. A score of zero is reassuring; a rising score signals the need to act on cardiometabolic health. Gottfried notes that most conventional doctors will not order this proactively, but patients can ask for it by name — or in many areas self-order it — and it can be a powerful motivator to change diet, exercise, and other habits before disease sets in.