Mammograms can do more than detect breast cancer – they also offer important clues on heart health

Calcium deposits on arteries, observed on a mammogram, can provide a useful nudge to check up on cardiovascular health.

By: Matthew Nudy, Penn State, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: November 5, 2026

Words: 1,312

Last Updated: 10 hours, 52 minutes ago

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By Matthew Nudy, Penn State

If you’re a woman over 40, you have no doubt heard your doctor tell you to get a mammogram as part of routine screening for breast cancer. But there’s another reason, too.

A mammogram can show no sign of breast cancer and still reveal something worth discussing with a doctor: calcium deposits in the medium-sized arteries that carry blood to the breast. These calcium deposits may offer a clue …

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