Heart Disease Is Still the #1 Killer — Why CAC Scans Matter More Than Cholesterol Alone

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, responsible for nearly 1 in every 5 deaths each year. According to national mortality data, that’s roughly 700,000 lives lost annually—more than cancer, accidents, or stroke. What makes this even more concerning is that many of these deaths occur in people who never knew they were at serious risk.

For decades, cholesterol testing has been the cornerstone of heart disease risk assessment. While cholesterol is an important piece of the puzzle, it does not tell the whole story. Increasingly, cardiology research shows that coronary artery calcium (CAC) scans provide clearer, more direct insight into actual heart disease risk—not hypothetical risk, but disease that already exists.

What Cholesterol Tests Miss

A standard lipid panel measures levels of LDL, HDL, and triglycerides circulating in the bloodstream. These numbers are useful for estimating population-level risk, but they have limitations when applied to individuals.

Consider this:
Studies have shown that up to 50% of people who suffer a heart attack have “normal” or only mildly elevated cholesterol levels at the time of the event. Cholesterol reflects one risk factor among many, but it does not measure whether plaque has already formed inside the arteries.

Cholesterol tests cannot show:

• The presence of coronary plaque

• The total plaque burden

• Whether the arteries are already narrowing or hardening

Relying on cholesterol alone can also contribute to a form of misdiagnosis—not in the sense of an incorrect test result, but in the misclassification of risk. When cholesterol appears “normal,” both patients and clinicians may be falsely reassured that heart disease is unlikely, even when atherosclerosis is already developing silently.

This type of risk misclassification helps explain why so many heart attacks occur in people who were previously told they were “low risk.” The underlying disease was present, but it was never directly visualized. Without coronary artery imaging, plaque can remain undetected for years, until it causes a sudden, catastrophic event.

In this context, CAC scanning reduces the risk of overlooking existing coronary disease by moving beyond indirect markers and directly assessing the arteries.

In contrast, a CAC scan looks directly at the coronary arteries and detects calcified plaque, which is a clear marker of atherosclerosis—the underlying disease process that causes heart attacks.

Why Plaque Matters More Than Numbers

A coronary artery calcium scan is a low-dose CT scan that quantifies calcium deposits in the coronary arteries. The result is a CAC score, which has been shown in large, peer-reviewed studies to be one of the strongest predictors of future cardiovascular events.

Research involving tens of thousands of patients has demonstrated that:

• People with a CAC score of 0 have an extremely low short-term risk of heart attack, often less than 1% over the next 5 years

• A CAC score over 100 is associated with a 7–10 times higher risk of a cardiac event compared to those with a score of 0

• CAC scoring improves risk prediction beyond cholesterol, blood pressure, smoking status, and family history combined

The American Heart Association recognizes CAC scoring as a valuable tool, particularly for individuals with borderline or intermediate risk, where treatment decisions are not always clear.

In simple terms, cholesterol estimates potential risk. CAC scans reveal actual disease.

Risk Clarity, Not Risk Creation

One concern people often have is whether imaging will increase anxiety. In reality, uncertainty is what fuels fear—not information. CAC scans don’t create disease; they identify whether it’s already present.

Knowing your CAC score allows for more precise decisions:

• A zero score may support delaying medication while focusing on lifestyle changes

• A higher score can justify earlier, more aggressive prevention strategies

Studies show that patients who know their CAC score are more likely to adhere to lifestyle changes and medical recommendations, not because they are frightened, but because the information feels concrete and personal.

This is risk clarity—not fear-based medicine.

Prevention Before the First Heart Attack

Perhaps the most important reason CAC scans matter is timing. About 50% of first heart attacks occur without prior warning symptoms. For many, the first sign of heart disease is a life-altering—or life-ending—event.

Atherosclerosis develops slowly, often over decades. By the time symptoms appear, plaque is usually advanced. CAC scanning shifts detection earlier, when prevention is most effective.

Early identification allows for:

• Targeted lifestyle intervention

• Personalized medical therapy

• Ongoing monitoring to prevent progression

Prevention works best before damage occurs. Once a heart attack happens, the opportunity for true prevention has passed.

Who Should Consider a CAC Scan?

CAC scans are not designed for everyone, but they are especially valuable for adults who:

• Are over age 40

• Have a family history of heart disease

• Have borderline cholesterol or blood pressure

• Want clearer insight before starting lifelong medication

For people researching a coronary artery calcium scan in Florida, the appeal is often peace of mind rather than alarm, knowing where they stand instead of guessing.

Real-World Screening Experience

Beyond clinical trials, real-world screening continues to reinforce the value of early detection. Internal, non-clinical data from Life Imaging indicates that over 100,000 individuals have undergone heart scans, with more than 2,600 lives impacted through early identification of significant coronary disease—often in people who felt completely healthy.

This helps explain why many Life Imaging reviews emphasize clarity and empowerment rather than fear. Seeing what’s happening inside the body changes how people approach their health.

The Bigger Picture

Heart disease remains the number one killer, not because we lack treatment, but because the disease often progresses silently. Cholesterol testing alone cannot reliably identify who already has coronary artery disease.

CAC scans fill that gap by showing plaque directly—turning uncertainty into actionable knowledge. They don’t replace traditional care; they enhance it.

In a healthcare system that often waits for symptoms, CAC scanning represents a proactive approach: detect early, intervene early, and prevent the first heart attack from ever happening.

When it comes to heart health, information isn’t fear.
It’s leverage.