Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring: What the Numbers Mean and How to Get Tested

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Dr. Philip Snider, assistant professor and department chair at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, explains what a coronary artery calcium (CAC) score actually measures and what the ranges mean. The test uses a low-dose CT scan to detect calcified plaque buildup in the arteries feeding the heart. A score of zero means no calcified plaque; 1–99 is considered a mild burden (lifestyle changes recommended); 100–299 is moderate (LDL cholesterol target drops to 70 mg/dL); and 300 or above is severe (LDL target drops to 55, and low-dose aspirin is worth discussing with your doctor). The test costs roughly $50–$150, drops to about half price during February for Heart Month, and you do not need a doctor's order — you can walk into an imaging center and request it. A listener named George, 67, with excellent health markers including a BMI of 20.5 and no medications, got the test after hearing a previous episode and discovered a score of 525, prompting him and his physician to build a treatment plan. Dr. Snider emphasized the score should be interpreted in the context of family history, personal risk factors, and other blood markers rather than used alone to trigger aggressive treatment.