When it comes to predicting heart trouble, doctors essentially play a guessing game. So among all the factors they consider--such as a person's age, weight, family medical history and cholesterol levels--it turns out that one of the most reliable indicators may also be a bit unexpected: calcium.
According to the latest research, led by scientists from Baptist Health South Florida medical center in Miami, at least 35% of people who have calcium buildup in their blood vessels but no other heart-disease risk factors are almost four times as likely to have a heart event in seven years, compared with those who...