When reheating soups, skim the solid fat off the top first. However, an excess of calcium may be equally dangerous. Find out how to avoid the foods that can lead to plaque buildup and fill your plate with healthy alternatives instead. How severe is my coronary artery calcification? Coronary artery calcification makes your arteries stiff and less able to expand and contract. If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the Calcium helps keep your bones and teeth strong, but its also involved in heart function. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to remove the calcium deposits or widen the arteries. If this is the case for you, talk with a doctor as soon as possible. Research has shown that adding foods like cruciferous vegetables, fish, berries, olive oil, oats, onions, greens, and beans to your diet may be an effective way to prevent atherosclerosis. Coronary Artery Calcification: Causes, Symptoms - Cleveland Clinic Intravascular lithotripsy complications may include: Aneurysm, or a blood vessel thats stretched out. Vitamin K found in green vegetables is beneficial in blocking calcium buildup in the arteries. This is called a coronary artery calcium (CAC) test, which looks at: Your healthcare provider will multiply your calcification area by its density to get an Agatston score. Even if you dont have cardiovascular issues, you can eat less fat, exercise more and avoid tobacco products to help keep yourself healthy. This buildup can narrow the artery and restrict blood flow, which can lead to serious health problems. A primary source of saturated fat is animal products. Smoking It has been noted that smokers maintain a higher level of arterial calcium. Kidney patients who do not have clinical vascular disease are frequently found to have plaque buildup in their carotid and femoral arteries. One common treatment is to take calcium supplements. This can lead to heart disease, stroke, and other health problems. - Steroids. Youre more likely to get coronary artery calcification if you have: People who were assigned male at birth also have a higher risk for coronary artery calcification. Good fats are also called unsaturated fats. Treatment options for aortic stenosis include valve replacement surgery. This review of evidence on the role of protein fetuin-a in inhibition of human vascular smooth muscle cell calcification has been published in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Experimental Medicine. If you follow these lifestyle changes, your coronary arteries will become free of plaque and free of tartar. But there is one way calcium may actually harm your body when it gets collected in your arteries. Their effects include: Severe CAD with calcifications increases your risk of cardiovascular events, such as a heart attack. Stopping smoking and controlling blood sugar levels, cholesterol and blood pressure, can help you maintain optimum arterial health and help prevent, or slow the progression of, dangerous calcium buildup. But in some cases, thyroid disease can cause calcium build up in the blood, which then results in unhealthy calcium plaques forming in the coronary arteries. As a result, experts suggest trying to keep saturated fat to less than 7% of total daily calories. Although it may not be possible to eat a perfect diet all the time, the key is to make good choices most of the time.