There’s a powerful new tool in modern medicine that many of us in the Black community—especially Africans—may not be hearing enough about. It’s called a coronary calcium scan, which could save your life or the life of someone you love.
Let me say this upfront: I am not a doctor. I have no formal medical training. But I am committed to sharing vital health information that could make a real difference in our community.
What Is a Coronary Calcium Scan?
A coronary calcium scan (a cardiac CT scan without contrast) is a quick, painless, noninvasive test that uses X-rays to check for calcium deposits in the heart’s arteries. These deposits are early signs of plaque buildup, often the first step toward heart disease and heart attacks.
Unlike other heart tests, this scan requires no contrast dye or injections. You lay on the table for a few minutes while the machine takes images of your heart. A coronary calcium scan is a unique computerized tomography (CT) scan of the heart. It looks for calcium deposits in the heart arteries. Calcium buildup can narrow the arteries and reduce blood flow to the heart. A coronary calcium scan may show coronary artery disease before you have symptoms.
Why It Matters for Us—Africans and People of African Descent
Western medicine often takes a “one-size-fits-all” approach. But we know better. As people of African heritage—especially those of us from West Africa—our bodies and genetics are not always the same as those of Europeans or Americans.
Africans naturally have higher cholesterol levels, and our bodies may process fats and sugars differently. Expecting a West African man or woman to have the same cholesterol profile as someone from Norway or Britain makes no sense. It’s like asking a Senegalese woman to match the same body mass index as someone from rural England—it ignores who we are.
That’s why we must advocate for ourselves and our families. This scan can reveal whether there’s actual dangerous plaque in our arteries, regardless of our cholesterol numbers. Sometimes, people with high cholesterol have clean arteries, while others with “normal” numbers may have hidden risks.
What to Do
Ask your doctor—especially if you’re over 40 or have a family history of heart disease—to order a coronary calcium scan. It’s safe, fast, and costs less than an emergency room visit after a heart attack.
If your doctor doesn’t mention it, you bring it up. Say:
“Doctor, I’ve heard about the coronary calcium scan. I’d like to know if it’s appropriate for me.”
Let’s Normalise Self-Care
We must take control of our health—not just for ourselves but also for our children, our communities, and the generations to come. Our genes, our lifestyles, and even our diets are unique, and that uniqueness must be considered when it comes to prevention and treatment.
Don’t wait until something happens. Be proactive. Be informed. Be empowered.
With love and good health,
— A concerned brother sharing knowledge
