Calcium deposit in arteries is a health concern plaguing many Americans. According to a recent study published in the National Library of Medicine, calcification of the arteries impacts 90% of men and 60% of women over the age of 70.
As individuals get older, the conditions worsen and can lead to other heart and cardiovascular health complications and diseases. While coronary calcification generally impacts older individuals, no matter your age, it is essential to understand what it is and how it impacts your health.
Like many health conditions, getting a hold on coronary calcification early on can help you stop and even reverse the issues so that you can lead a healthier life. Today we will go over what coronary calcification is, why it is harmful, and what you can do to naturally get rid of calcium deposits in your arteries.
Understanding coronary calcification
Coronary calcification is the process of calcium buildup in the plaque that exists in the walls of your coronary arteries. Your coronary arteries play a critical role in supplying blood to your heart muscles. Restriction of the blood flow to your heart can impact the strength of your heartbeat, its rhythm, and its overall ability to perform as it should.
Coronary calcification is a serious health concern because if it goes untreated, it can develop into other cardiovascular diseases. Individuals who have coronary artery calcification are at a much higher risk of coronary artery disease and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including heart failure, heart attacks, stroke, hospitalization, and other life-threatening health events.
Calcium buildup in your arteries can also lead to atherosclerosis, a medical condition in which plaque buildup in your arteries causes the arteries to narrow. Atherosclerosis is a severe health concern because if plaque breaks off, it can cause a blood clot to occur.
Atherosclerosis is also the precursor to coronary artery disease, also known as CAD. CAD occurs when there is not enough adequate oxygen and blood supply to the heart.
Related: Las Vegas Coronary CT Calcium Score Test
What causes calcium deposits?
Calcium deposits in your arteries occur because your blood vessels are not functioning the way they should. Unlike popular belief, it has less to do with what you eat (although your diet can reduce levels of calcium deposits in your arteries) and more to do with your age, genetic history, and other risk factors.
Calcium is naturally occurring in the human body and is found mostly in teeth and bones. Researchers are not yet clear why calcium deposits occur in arteries, but there is reason to believe individuals with certain conditions have a higher chance of increased calcium deposits in their arteries. Examples of these conditions include the following:
- Gaucher’s disease type 3C
- Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome
- Idiopathic basal ganglia calcification
- Pseudoxanthoma elasticum
- Singleton-Merten syndrome
How to get rid of calcium deposits?
There is plenty you can do to tackle calcium deposits in your arteries. In treating coronary calcification, the goal is to help slow down the buildup of calcium in your arteries so that you can increase cardiovascular blood flow. The good news is many remedies are entirely within your control. Let’s go over some of the best ways to eliminate calcium deposits in your arteries.
Change your lifestyle habits
Your lifestyle habits have a major impact on your overall health, including the prevalence of calcium deposits in your arteries. Specific lifestyle changes you can make to prevent and slow down the level of calcium deposits in your arteries include the following:
- Engage in a heart-healthy diet and limit intake of cholesterol, fat, and sodium
- Quit smoking
- Limit alcohol use
- Exercise and maintain an active lifestyle
- Lose weight
Intake of essential vitamins and minerals
There are certain vitamins and minerals that will help in lowering calcium buildup in your arteries. Increasing intake of the following can help you naturally manage calcium buildup:
Vitamin K2
Vitamin K2 transports excess calcium from where it shouldn’t be (your arteries) to where it should be (your bones). K2 will remove calcium buildup from places like your joint and arteries and move it to bones and teeth. MK7, the natural version of K2, can be found in everyday foods, including cheese, chicken, egg yolk, sauerkraut, and beef liver.
Vitamin D3
Vitamin D3 (a cholecalciferol) is a vitamin that helps your body absorb calcium. This vitamin works alongside Vitamin K2 to help pull calcium deposits from your arteries. Oily fish is the best source of Vitamin D3, including rainbow trout, sockeye salmon, and sardines. It can also be found in eggs and beef liver, as well. However too much Vitamin D can actually lead to higher calcium scores. Therefore it’s important to have your physician check your Vitamin D, 25-OH levels, to help guide your therapy.
Magnesium
Magnesium is critical if you have excess calcium as it helps to balance out the calcium buildup in your body. When you increase the magnesium in your body, it lowers calcium levels. Magnesium-rich foods including chia seeds, almonds, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, and cashews are some of the best sources of this vitamin.
IP-6 or Phytic Acid
Phytic acid is another inhibitor of calcification in your arteries as it helps to pull calcium and other minerals out of parts where they should not be, like your arteries. Phytic Acid can be found in a variety of seeds and nuts, including sesame seeds, cashews, and almonds.
Eat a heart-healthy diet
In addition to consuming the right vitamins and minerals and engaging in good lifestyle habits, maintaining a heart-healthy diet and remaining physically active are the best ways to ensure that you stay healthy even if you battle calcium deposits in your arteries.
A heart-healthy diet — often dubbed the “cardiac diet” — promotes eating heart-healthy oily fish like tuna and salmon along with lean poultry. Incorporating plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains is also critical to maintaining optimal heart health.
Ask your doctor about a coronary artery calcium test
If you have concerns about your heart health or are worried about calcium deposits in your arteries, you can ask your doctor for a coronary artery calcium test.
This non-invasive screening is conducted through a CT scan that takes images of your coronary arteries to determine the presence of calcium. If there is no calcium, you will receive a negative test result. However, if calcium is present, you will be given a coronary calcium score.
A calcium score ranges from zero to 400. Alongside other risk factors, including lifestyle habits, family history, cholesterol, and blood pressure, your physician will settle on a final score. This score will determine the level of calcium buildup you have in your arteries and what the next steps should be.
Individuals with a score of 100 to 300 have moderate to high levels of plaque deposits. They may experience other concerning conditions, including heart disease or heart attack, over the next three to five years. Scores greater than 300 are especially concerning as they indicate a heightened risk of heart disease and the development of other severe diseases.
Preventative screenings are key in maintaining control over your heart health. Understand your risk factors and get a complete picture of your heart health with a comprehensive coronary artery calcium test.
Turn to the highly trained and experienced team at Preventative Diagnostic Center to get a better overview of your heart health.
Sources:
Mohan, J., et al. (2023). Coronary Artery Calcification.
Juber, M. (2022). Phytic Acid.
Juber, M. (2022). Vitamin D3.
Zelman, K. (2022). Top Foods High in Vitamin K2.
