When it comes to predict- ing 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 have zero calcium and some risk factors.
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