Calcium Score vs. Cholesterol: A Critical Heart Health Guide for Women
While February is often the focus for heart health, at FemmePharma, we believe clinical literacy is a year-round commitment. As a pharmaceutical company serving women’s mind, body, and sexual health, we know that establishing scientific equity requires moving beyond “one-size-fits-all” screenings. To truly define female cardiovascular health, we must look at specific markers—starting with the Calcium Score for women.
One of the most powerful, yet underutilized, tools in our diagnostic arsenal is the Calcium Score.
At FemmePharma, we encourage every woman to be the CEO of their health. Understanding your Calcium Score is a critical step in closing the clinical research gap that often leaves women’s heart disease under-detected and under-treated.
What is a Calcium Score?
A Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) score is a non-invasive tool—think of it as a specialized CT scan—that measures the amount of calcified plaque in your heart’s arteries.
Unlike a standard cholesterol test, which measures the “potential” for heart disease in your blood, a Calcium Score shows us the “reality” of what is happening inside your vessels. It identifies the hardened plaque that has formed, giving your medical team a clear, pharmaceutical-grade picture of your risk level.
Why You Should Track Yours
The reason we advocate for this test is simple: traditional risk calculators often fail women. Many women with “normal” cholesterol levels can still have significant plaque buildup.
By tracking your Calcium Score, you stand to gain:
- Early Discovery: Identifying heart disease years before a “traditional” heart attack symptom might appear.
- Personalized Intervention: Moving away from “guessing” treatments to forming a plan with your doctor based on your biological data.
- Clinical Integrity: Having a baseline number means you can measure—and make necessary changes—the effectiveness of your lifestyle and pharmacological interventions over time.
Understanding Your Results
A Calcium Score is usually ranked on a scale:
- 0: No plaque detected (low risk).
- 1-99: Mild plaque buildup.
- 100-399: Moderate plaque buildup.
- 400+: Extensive plaque buildup (high risk).
If your score is anything above zero, don’t panic—but, plan! Remember that getting your medical data opens up the opportunity to work with your clinical team to make a plan that supports your needs.
And, alas…Your Heart
One of the most important insights we share with our community is the link between your annual breast cancer screening and your heart.
Make sure you ask if your mammogram shows evidence of Breast Arterial Calcifications (BAC). While BAC is not related to cancer, it is a marker for coronary artery disease. If you see this on your report, use that data to ask your provider for a Calcium Score test.
In other words, use one screening to inform another.