Individuals without calcium buildup in their arteries appear to have a significantly lower risk for heart attack and stroke. Researchers looked at CT scans of nearly 6,200 people and found that those whose arteries were free of calcium deposits had a less than a 3% chance for a heart attack or stroke over the next ten years. The findings held true even among those who had other cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or high levels of bad cholesterol.
Journal of the American College of Cardiology, August 2017