Heart Calcification
Understanding Heart Calcification
Heart calcification is also referred to as cardiac calcification or aortic calcification. They all refer to the condition in which calcium deposits build up in the heart.
Aortic valve calcification or sclerosis refers to the situation where the calcium deposits build up in the aortic valve in the heart. These large deposits can lead to a narrowing of the aortic valve, called also stenosis. This serves to reduce blood flow through the valve and can cause chest pain and/or a heart attack. So, these days doctors treat heart calcification as an early warning system in terms of potential for heart trouble. By and large, heart calcification is seen in people over the age of 65. There are cases of the condition showing up in younger patients and it is most often because of a congenital heart defect, side-effect of some other disease or high cholesterol.
Since this calcification of the heart can serve as a sign that all is not well with the heart, it is best if the condition is caught early. Usually, a doctor may hear something while examining the patient’s breathing with a stethoscope. The doctor is likely to recommend an echocardiogram at this point to make sure that the murmur is accurately assessed. There is also another available test called the coronary calcium scan that can measure the actual amount of heart calcification but this is used less often.
It is important to point out that heart calcification is not an immediate sign of dire heart problems. It is just an indication that the patient may need to make life style changes and monitor the condition of the heart on a regular basis. So, do not panic if you get a diagnosis of aortic valve sclerosis or mild aortic calcification. It is likely to be a mixture of age and life style choices that has led to it and some habit modifications and regular physical check-ups may be enough to manage the problem.
The recommended lifestyle changes are likely to include quitting smoking, avoiding fatty foods and avoiding high cholesterol foods. Eating well, as in eating balanced meals, and regular exercising are good for heart health in general and are also good ways to counter heart calcification. It also makes sense to monitor other indicators of health such as blood pressure and blood sugar and to keep them in the normal range. In cases where there is progressive calcification it may be necessary to start some course of medicines. In cases of increasing deposits an aortic valve replacement surgery may also be needed. People with kidney failure seem prone to accelerated calcium deposits in various parts of the body and so calcification can sometimes be a sign of other health issues.
There is research being conducted on this condition even now and this will help us gain a better understanding of the cause-effect relationship between the various health parameters. Doctors are also interested in studying the impact of drugs used to treat conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes to see if these trigger calcification. As we find out more about the causes of this problem, it may become easier to deal with it.
Those of a certain age or those with a family history of calcification should bring the issue up with a doctor and discuss it even if there are no overt signs of the problem. This will help the doctor and patient be prepared to deal with eventualities. Heart calcification is a fairly normal process of human aging but it is not to be ignored or dismissed. It is best to consult with your doctor and decide on the best course of action.