Agatston Score: What It Is and How It Predicts Heart Disease Risk

When doctors want to see how much plaque has built up in your heart arteries, they often turn to the Agatston score, a numerical measure of calcium deposits in coronary arteries, used to assess heart disease risk. Also known as the coronary calcium score, it’s calculated from a non-invasive CT scan that detects tiny spots of calcium—early warning signs of blocked arteries. Unlike cholesterol tests that guess your risk, the Agatston score shows you what’s actually happening inside your arteries right now.

This score isn’t for everyone. It’s most useful for people with moderate risk—those with high blood pressure, diabetes, or a family history of heart disease, but no symptoms yet. If you’re young and healthy, or already have heart disease, this test usually doesn’t add much. But if you’re in that gray zone—where doctors aren’t sure if you need statins or lifestyle changes—the Agatston score gives a clear picture. A score of zero means almost no calcium, and your risk is low. A score over 100 means moderate buildup. Over 400? That’s a strong signal your arteries are clogged, and you’re at high risk for a heart attack in the next few years.

The test doesn’t require needles, fasting, or special prep. You lie on a table, hold your breath for 10 seconds, and that’s it. The machine counts calcium spots and turns them into a number. It’s not perfect—some soft plaque won’t show up—but it’s one of the most reliable tools we have to catch heart disease before it hits you hard. People who get this test often change their habits: they start walking daily, cut back on sugar, or finally take their blood pressure meds. And that’s the point. The Agatston score doesn’t just measure risk—it motivates action.

Below, you’ll find real-world guides on how this score connects to your daily health choices—from managing medications that affect your arteries, to understanding how diet and exercise influence calcium buildup. Whether you’re trying to interpret your own score or help someone else make sense of it, these articles give you the tools to act—not just worry.