Coronary Artery Calcification

Your CT scan may show that you have some calcification (a build-up of calcium) in the blood vessels (arteries) supplying your heart.  

Calcification is common for people who smoke or have smoked. Calcification may be an early sign of fatty build-up in the blood vessels (atherosclerosis). 

When we see calcium, it tells us that you may benefit from making lifestyle changes to improve your heart health and blood vessels including:

• Not smoking. This is the best way to reduce your risk. If you have already stopped smoking, please do not start smoking again. If you are a current smoker, stopping smoking is made easier with treatment and support. To get free support to help you stop smoking, please contact your GP surgery or your local pharmacy.  
• Have a healthy and balanced diet
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Keep as active as you can
• Please continue to take any medications you have been prescribed. This is important if you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or kidney disease because these conditions can speed the build-up of calcium in arteries.

Find more information about lifestyle changes

Please continue having calcium in your diet and taking calcium tablets, if advised to do so. Calcification in the blood vessels is not caused by the calcium that you eat.

If you require routine follow up, you will be contacted in the next 4-6 weeks after receiving this letter to talk about your CT scan results and check any medication you are taking. Some people may be invited to have a blood test or a routine health check. Please be assured that you will be contacted if routine follow up is needed but patients are worked through in date order.