Calcium and heart

Know how high calcium levels can harm heart & body

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EVERYONE IS WORRIED about cholesterol blocking arteries, but not many know that calcium deposits in arteries are also dangerous.

Dr Mukesh Goel, senior consultant, cardiothoracic and cardiovascular surgery, heart and lung transplant surgery, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, says: “Arterial calcification is a serious yet often under-recognised concern. While cholesterol deposits initiate plaque buildup, calcification makes these plaques hard and rigid, reducing the arteries’ elasticity and blood flow. This stiffness forces the heart to work harder, increasing the risk of hypertension, heart attack, and stroke. Calcified plaques are also less likely to rupture than soft plaques, but they still signify advanced atherosclerosis and longstanding vascular damage. Coronary artery calcium scoring, done through a CT scan, is an important tool to assess heart disease risk. A higher score indicates a greater burden of calcified plaque and a higher risk of cardiovascular events. Although calcium in bones is essential, calcium deposits in arteries are harmful. Managing contributing factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and chronic inflammation can help slow progression. Thus, arterial calcification warrants as much concern as cholesterol buildup itself.”

How does hypercalcemia affect the heart?