Published June 2021

Professor Cathy Shanahan says:

When your doctor tells you that you have calcified arteries, it is usually after you have had a coronary calcification scan. This is a type of X-ray that can show how much calcium has built up in the blood vessels of your heart.

This is important because how much calcium you have in your arteries is one of the strongest indicators for your risk of having a heart attack in the future. So knowing this helps doctors decide the best course of treatment for you.

Calcium is a sign of how much fatty build-up (plaque) is in your arteries, because this build-up contains calcium. Plaques in the arteries of your heart are the main cause of heart attacks.

If a piece of plaque breaks off a blood clot can form around it, blocking the flow of blood and the oxygen supply to your heart. This can damage the heart muscle, and can be life threatening.

You have probably heard of the term ‘hardening of the arteries’ – this is the same thing as calcification. The calcium forms hard crystals in the blood vessel wall.

Our studies in the laboratory have shown that the calcium deposits in arteries form because the muscle cells in the blood vessel wall start to change into bone-like cells when they are old or diseased.

The calcium deposits in your arteries are not related to your diet or any supplements you may be taking. They occur because the cells in your blood vessels are not working as they should. They can be a sign of heart disease, or simply of getting older.

So what can you do if you are told you have calcified arteries? Firstly, take any medications that you have been prescribed by your doctor. This is extra important if you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or kidney failure, as these conditions can accelerate the build-up of plaque and calcium in arteries. Taking exercise and eating a healthy diet will help to keep your arteries healthy.

Finally, don’t panic. Measuring calcium is a test that lets you know it’s time to look after your heart. Simple lifestyle changes can go a long way to slowing down the hardening of your arteries.