If you’re an adult with early signs of heart artery damage but don’t smoke, you’re much less likely to die or have a heart attack or stroke compared to smokers—even if your heart is already showing damage. Quitting smoking might still help you live longer and healthier, even at this stage.

Even if you’re super fit and exercise a lot, having calcium buildup in your heart arteries still means you’re at higher risk for a heart attack or needing a stent.

If you have calcium in your heart arteries, you’re at higher risk for a heart attack—even if you’re a marathon runner. Exercise doesn’t make that calcium harmless.

If you have signs of heart artery buildup, living healthier and staying mentally well can lower your chance of dying or having a heart problem — and the more healthy habits you have, the better off you are, with each new habit cutting your risk by about 11%.

If you're an adult with early signs of heart disease but no symptoms yet, being very active can help you live longer and avoid heart problems — studies suggest it might delay death by over 30%.

Even if someone is a super-athlete, having calcium buildup in their heart arteries still means they’re at higher risk for a heart attack—exercise doesn’t cancel out this danger.