home
RSS
January 15th, 2009
10:43 AM ET

How can cardiac calcification be treated?

As a new feature of CNNhealth.com, our team of expert doctors will answer readers’ questions. Here’s a question for Dr. Gupta.

Asked by Collin, Oak Park, Illinois

"I'm in my 40s and was told I have cardiac calcification. I'm curious about treatments for it and read that chelation therapy might work. Does that work?"

Answer:

Thanks, Collin, for writing in. Cardiac calcification is fairly common sign of early artery disease. It shows up on X-rays or CT scans in people of all ages. If developed during middle-age years, family history probably plays a role. I get tested regularly for heart disease and calcium buildup because I, myself, have a family history of the disease. There are often no symptoms of distress or pain so its important to keep up with annual exams.

Let me back up and explain exactly what cardiac calcification is. During the beginning stages of artery disease, the lining of aortic wall becomes inflamed, then plaque starts to build up and over time, calcium deposits begin to form in the artery wall. Those deposits are the calcification.

It's not reversible, but you can control the inflammation and prevent the calcium from progressing by controlling your risk factors. I ran this question by the American Heart Association, which confirmed that if you don't smoke, keep your weight down and your blood pressure/cholesterol at a normal range, you can prevent future damage.

Sounds like a simple solution, right? Well thats because it is simple. Many people search the Web for a magic drug, or a quick fix treatment when the solution is often as easy as working out, eating healthily.

Consuming healthy food will keep your numbers at a healthy range and your weight down. Limit or avoid transfat and saturated fats found in fried foods, cookies, eggs, palm oil. Look for sources of good fats in fish, flaxseed and olive oil. They'll help lower cholesterol levels and reduce your overall risk of heart disease.

You mention chelation therapy as a treatment option. Chelation therapy is typically used for treating mercury poisoning. Some people report using it to treat heart disease but there is no evidence that it works. In fact, the American Heart Association and National Institutes of Health do not recommend chelation therapy for heart patients, noting lack of evidence and also unpleasant side effects. The side effects include vomiting, headache, inability to create new blood cells and even kidney damage. The best treatment option is monitoring your vitals signs.

Collin, it's a positive thing that you've discovered these calcifications at a young age. Now, be empowered to take the steps necessary to stop the progression of the disease and you'll go on to live a long, healthy life. Best of luck!


Next entry »
soundoff (1,762 Responses)
  1. Chứng minh tài chính du lịch đài loan

    I simply couldn't go away your site prior to suggesting that I really loved
    the usual information an individual provide
    in your guests? Is gonna be back ceaselessly in order to check up on new posts

    March 23, 2021 at 16:09 | Report abuse | Reply
  2. Darla

    I really like what you guys are up too. This kind of
    clever work and coverage! Keep up the wonderful works guys I've included you guys to my own blogroll.

    March 23, 2021 at 21:26 | Report abuse | Reply
  3. Jarrod Palczynski

    I saw a lot of website but I conceive this one has got something extra in it in it

    http://www.froleprotrem.com/

    March 24, 2021 at 10:10 | Report abuse | Reply
  4. Myles Widowski

    Please let me know if you're looking for a author for your blog. You have some really good posts and I feel I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I'd absolutely love to write some material for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please send me an e-mail if interested. Thanks!

    http://www.froleprotrem.com/

    March 24, 2021 at 12:52 | Report abuse | Reply
  5. Willy Vanderwood

    Very interesting points you have mentioned, thankyou for putting up.

    http://www.froleprotrem.com/

    March 25, 2021 at 04:11 | Report abuse | Reply
  6. Jennette Witkus

    Thanks a bunch for sharing this with all of us you really know what you are talking about! Bookmarked. Kindly also visit my web site =). We could have a link exchange agreement between us!

    http://www.froleprotrem.com/

    March 25, 2021 at 06:51 | Report abuse | Reply
  7. Mari Mutherspaw

    As soon as I noticed this internet site I went on reddit to share some of the love with them.

    http://www.froleprotrem.com/

    March 25, 2021 at 07:14 | Report abuse | Reply
  8. https://www.songmanhits.com

    I have never seen this view !

    https://www.google.dm/url?q=https://www.songmanhits.com

    March 28, 2021 at 04:53 | Report abuse | Reply
  9. superslot

    วิธีเล่นสล็อตแบบย่อ
    คุณเลือกเส้น 1 เส้น 5 เส้น 10 หรือ 50 เส้นเพื่อให้ผู้เล่นลุ้นว่ารูปจะหมุนมาตรงเส้นหรือไม่ (ปริมาณเส้นจำนวนลูกจะแตกต่างกันไปแต่ละเกม) ซึ่งถ้ารูปหมุนมาตรงเส้น หรือรูปเช่นกันหมดคุณก็จะได้รับรางวัลหรือแจ็คพอตตามแต่ละเกม

    March 29, 2021 at 07:41 | Report abuse | Reply
  10. Monty Nolder

    There is certainly a lot to find out about this issue. I like all of the points you made.

    https://extraproxies.com/buy-proxies/500-proxy-pack/

    March 29, 2021 at 16:17 | Report abuse | Reply
  11. Felix Werking

    Everything is very open with a precise description of the challenges. It was truly informative. Your site is very useful. Thank you for sharing!

    https://extraproxies.com/bitmaximum-io-coin-mixer-of-the-new-generation-btcbchltceth/

    March 30, 2021 at 08:49 | Report abuse | Reply
  12. Raymon Eracleo

    I want to to thank you for this great read!! I absolutely loved every little bit of it. I have you book-marked to look at new things you post…

    https://extraproxies.com/tag/interning/

    March 30, 2021 at 15:37 | Report abuse | Reply
  13. superslot

    My brother suggested I might like this blog.
    He was totally right. This post actually made my day. You cann't imagine simply how
    much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!

    April 2, 2021 at 00:29 | Report abuse | Reply
  14. 27546Hagwell@gmail.com

    I have said before and Let me say it again.

    https://thedolive.vn/

    April 2, 2021 at 07:43 | Report abuse | Reply
  15. plumber haberfield

    287384 558468As I web site possessor I feel the articles here is quite fantastic, regards for your efforts. 936976

    April 2, 2021 at 18:09 | Report abuse | Reply
  16. vardenafil levitra

    vardenafil 10 mg https://vegavardenafil.com/ vardenafil vs sildenafil

    April 4, 2021 at 11:37 | Report abuse | Reply
  17. https://www.shinsen-mart.com

    Best view i have ever seen !

    https://lcu.hlcommission.org/lcu/pages/auth/forgotPassword.aspx?Returnurl=https://www.shinsen-mart.com

    April 4, 2021 at 18:18 | Report abuse | Reply
  18. vardenafil 10 mg

    vardenafil 20 mg tablets https://vegavardenafil.com/ vardenafil teva pharmaceutical

    April 4, 2021 at 23:51 | Report abuse | Reply
  19. Elisha Kochkodin

    Mining crypto is hard. Investing in crypto is risky. Too many of us are left out of the cryptocurrency revolution. Pi makes crypto mining easy, our Breakthrough tech allows you to mine on your phone without draining your battery.

    https://snip.ly/e714q6

    April 5, 2021 at 04:37 | Report abuse | Reply
  20. 마사지가격

    Hi, I think your web site might be having internet browser compatibility issues.
    When I take a look at your site in Safari, it looks fine but when opening in IE, it has
    some overlapping issues. I simply wanted to give you a
    quick heads up! Apart from that, fantastic website!

    April 5, 2021 at 04:39 | Report abuse | Reply
  21. caverject suppository

    alprostadil use after heart surgery https://alprostadildrugs.com/ alprostadil vs bimix vs trimix

    April 5, 2021 at 05:13 | Report abuse | Reply
  22. best female escort in Gottigere

    Thanks again for sharing a wonderful list. I was wondering u did not mention the most sought after terminology used in all the blog commenting articles.

    https://shikasharma.com

    April 5, 2021 at 23:03 | Report abuse | Reply
  23. escorts in Vidyaranyapura

    Thanks again for sharing a wonderful list. I was wondering u did not mention the most sought after terminology used in all the blog commenting articles.

    https://independentmodeldaisy.com

    April 5, 2021 at 23:04 | Report abuse | Reply
  24. Bangalore Escort Services

    Thanks again for sharing a wonderful list. I was wondering u did not mention the most sought after terminology used in all the blog commenting articles.

    https://shikasharma.com

    April 5, 2021 at 23:05 | Report abuse | Reply
  25. alprostadil drug guide nursing implication

    alprostadil side https://alprostadildrugs.com/ alprostadil use after heart surgery

    April 6, 2021 at 08:19 | Report abuse | Reply
  26. sildenafil 12.5 mg

    sildenafil 50mg brand name https://eunicesildenafilcitrate.com/ sildenafil soft tabs generic

    April 6, 2021 at 14:49 | Report abuse | Reply
  27. sildenafil prescription cost

    sildenafil 5 mg tablet https://eunicesildenafilcitrate.com/ sildenafil generic cost

    April 6, 2021 at 16:37 | Report abuse | Reply
  28. cheapest online sildenafil

    sildenafil tablets 100mg price https://eunicesildenafilcitrate.com/ cheap sildenafil canada

    April 6, 2021 at 19:30 | Report abuse | Reply
  29. side effects for vardenafil

    how long do the effects of vardenafil last https://vegavardenafil.com/ vardenafil 20 mg tablets

    April 7, 2021 at 07:35 | Report abuse | Reply
  30. alprostadil mexico

    alprostadil covered by blue cross https://alprostadildrugs.com/ alprostadil penile injection

    April 8, 2021 at 02:06 | Report abuse | Reply
  31. generic tadalafil united states

    order tadalafil https://elitadalafill.com/ tadalafil 40

    April 8, 2021 at 05:45 | Report abuse | Reply
  32. Buy Proxies

    Hey this is kinda of off topic but I was wanting to know if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML. I'm starting a blog soon but have no coding know-how so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience. Any help would be enormously appreciated!

    https://dreamproxies.com/buy-proxies/400-private-proxies

    April 8, 2021 at 08:29 | Report abuse | Reply
  33. Ezproxies

    I've been surfing on-line more than three hours as of late, yet I never discovered any attention-grabbing article like yours. It’s beautiful price enough for me. Personally, if all site owners and bloggers made excellent content as you probably did, the internet can be much more helpful than ever before.

    https://dreamproxies.com/resellers

    April 8, 2021 at 08:30 | Report abuse | Reply
  34. Gaylord Kopke

    I found your weblog site on google and verify a number of of your early posts. Proceed to maintain up the excellent operate. I simply additional up your RSS feed to my MSN Information Reader. Looking for forward to reading more from you later on!… Here is how to earn FREE Bitcoin https://medium.com/@InfoStar/how-to-earn-free-bitcoin-in-2020-960acfc34fec

    https://medium.com/@InfoStar/how-to-earn-free-bitcoin-in-2020-960acfc34fec

    April 10, 2021 at 20:23 | Report abuse | Reply
  35. purchase zithromax

    zithr https://zithromaxes.com/ zirthomax

    April 12, 2021 at 19:14 | Report abuse | Reply
  36. best erectile dysfunction pills

    how erectile dysfunction affects reproduction https://canadaerectiledysfunctionpills.com/ best erectile pump

    April 12, 2021 at 19:59 | Report abuse | Reply
  37. Olin Fulwood

    I’ve been exploring for a bit for any high-quality articles or blog posts on this sort of area . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this web site. Reading this info So i am happy to convey that I have a very good uncanny feeling I discovered exactly what I needed. I most certainly will make certain to do not forget this web site and give it a glance on a constant basis.

    https://extraproxies.com/tag/windshield/

    April 12, 2021 at 22:15 | Report abuse | Reply
  38. do you need a prescription for viagra in canada

    cheap viagra from canada https://canadaviagrastore.com/ viagra sin receta en farmacias de canada

    April 13, 2021 at 03:28 | Report abuse | Reply
  39. canadian generic pills

    average perscription pills taken by 65 year old canadian? https://canadapillstorex.com/ canadian pills pharmacy

    April 13, 2021 at 20:43 | Report abuse | Reply
  40. sildenafil cost usa

    sildenafil 100mg price online https://eunicesildenafilcitrate.com/ sildenafil 90mg

    April 14, 2021 at 00:35 | Report abuse | Reply
  41. alprostadil generic prices

    alprostadil prices in canada https://alprostadildrugs.com/ alprostadil use after heart surgery

    April 14, 2021 at 03:26 | Report abuse | Reply
  42. injectable erectile dysfunction medicine

    iilegal sales of alprostadil https://alprostadildrugs.com/ alprostadil injection online

    April 14, 2021 at 12:34 | Report abuse | Reply
  43. Josephina Carnegia

    Hello this is kind of of off topic but I was wanting to know if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML. I'm starting a blog soon but have no coding know-how so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience. Any help would be enormously appreciated!

    https://extraproxies.com/how-to-traverse-bitcoin-addresses-in-hd-wallet/

    April 14, 2021 at 16:45 | Report abuse | Reply
  44. canadian pharmacies ed pills

    canadian pills pharmacy https://canadapillstorex.com/ best canadian mail order pharmacies for diet pills

    April 14, 2021 at 20:38 | Report abuse | Reply
  45. canadian pills pharmacy

    canadian diet pills https://canadapillstorex.com/ best canadian mail order pharmacies for diet pills

    April 15, 2021 at 03:28 | Report abuse | Reply
  46. tadalafil max dose

    tadalafil pills https://elitadalafill.com/ tadalafil dosage

    April 16, 2021 at 04:07 | Report abuse | Reply
  47. cialis on line purches canadian pharmacy

    counterfeit canadian drugs cialis https://canadacialisstore.com/ canadian pharmacy for cialis

    April 16, 2021 at 05:15 | Report abuse | Reply
  48. vardenafil vs viagra vs cialis

    how long do the effects of vardenafil last https://vegavardenafil.com/ buy vardenafil

    April 16, 2021 at 13:51 | Report abuse | Reply
  49. viagra sale canada

    is it legal to bring viagra back to canada from mexico https://canadaviagrastore.com/ buy viagra online from canada

    April 16, 2021 at 16:25 | Report abuse | Reply
  50. cialis at canadian pharmacy

    cialis through canadian pharmacies https://canadacialisstore.com/ canadian pharmacy no perscription generic cialis

    April 16, 2021 at 17:16 | Report abuse | Reply
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

Leave a Reply to Internet Marketing Firm Near Me


 

CNN welcomes a lively and courteous discussion as long as you follow the Rules of Conduct set forth in our Terms of Service. Comments are not pre-screened before they post. You agree that anything you post may be used, along with your name and profile picture, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and the license you have granted pursuant to our Terms of Service.

Next entry »
Advertisement
About this blog

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest stories from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and the CNN Medical Unit producers. They'll share news and views on health and medical trends - info that will help you take better care of yourself and the people you love.