they cause heart attack. My dad had two heart attacks and triple bypass surgery at 49 years old.

I learned about cardiac calcium scans about 13 years ago and have one done every few years. It is basically a CAT scan of your chest area. Takes about 15 minutes total for the appointment. The scan can detect the calcium that is in the plaque and identify buildups and blockages. The scans are reviewed by cardiologists. If something questionable shows up, they will follow up with you to get any needed treatment.

I am fortunate that my score has always been Zero. No plaque at all. But I have high cholesterol and my doctor is willing to let me go without statin medication, partially due to having no plaque buildup identified during the scans.