CT scan plaque: What it is, why it matters, and how it affects your heart health

When doctors talk about CT scan plaque, a buildup of fatty deposits and calcium in the walls of coronary arteries, detected using a non-invasive imaging test. Also known as coronary calcium scan, it shows exactly how much plaque has accumulated in your heart’s arteries—before you feel any symptoms. This isn’t just a picture; it’s a countdown clock for heart attacks. Many people with no chest pain, no high cholesterol, and no family history still have dangerous levels of plaque—only visible through this scan.

Plaque isn’t just one thing. It’s a mix of fat, cholesterol, white blood cells, and calcium. The calcium part is what makes it show up clearly on a CT scan, a fast, low-radiation imaging test that captures cross-sectional images of the body. Also known as computed tomography, it’s the only routine test that can measure calcium in artery walls. That calcium score tells doctors how advanced your atherosclerosis, the hardening and narrowing of arteries due to plaque buildup. Also known as arterial plaque, it’s the root cause of most heart attacks and strokes. is. A score of zero means very low risk. A score over 400? That’s a red flag. You’re at high risk—even if you feel fine.

Why does this matter? Because most heart attacks happen in people who weren’t considered high risk by traditional checks. Blood pressure? Normal. Cholesterol? Just a little high. But under the skin, plaque is silently growing. A CT scan plaque test finds what those standard tests miss. It doesn’t just tell you if you have plaque—it tells you how much, and how fast it’s likely to grow. That’s power. Power to change your diet, start statins, increase activity, or catch a problem before it’s an emergency.

You won’t find this test in every doctor’s office. But if you’re over 40, have even one risk factor—smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, or a sedentary lifestyle—it’s worth asking for. It’s not a substitute for healthy habits. It’s the missing piece that tells you whether those habits are enough.

Below, you’ll find real-world guides on how to interpret your results, what to do if your score is high, how medications like statins interact with plaque progression, and how lifestyle changes actually shrink or stabilize it. No fluff. No theory. Just what works when your arteries are sending you a silent alarm.