interesting article and everyone should listen to this.There is debate over where CAC test and score can be used.but for ages 40 to 65 ,it may be useful.Surprising fact is a person with normal stress test can have a high CAC score!!!!
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The stress test is like a dice roll and isn't really a very good predictor of heart attack risk. It will work if you have very clogged arteries over 70+% but a heart attack doesn't require very clogged arteries and has to do with plaque breaking off and blood clots forming. The cause of heart attacks is likely inflammation in the arteries causing unstable plaque and blood clots rather than merely high cholesterol blocking the artery over time because from what I've read some arteries can sort of compensate for the narrowing by creating new veins around the blockage given enough time.
I can attest to this. I have had excellent cholesterol levels my entire life. A small piece broke off in my LAD, affectionately known by doctors as the widow-maker and I went from 2 percent blockage to 99 percent blockage because of the blood clot. I had previously had stress tests and never had any issues. Interesting that they also mentioned PVCs as I started getting them years before my heart attack but an echocardiogram at the time said all was well.
I didn't know until after my heart attack that it is the blood clot that gets you and that very nearly was too late for me but I was extremely lucky. Half my heart stopped beating but that 1 percent of blood flow kept it alive until it was stented and then it restarted on its own.