Should I worry about a high Calcium score

I like many others here got my test results today 1218 CAC score with my Left anterior descending artery the highest at 451. I have a few questions I hope others could answer. I’ve read nearly every post here and know there has been some discussions around these topics. First, I’m 57 y/o male, total cholesterol 164 HDL 49 LDL< 70.

1. I have been on lipitor (Atorvastatin) for nearly 25 years most of it at 20 mg and the past 10 years at 40 mg. Will this cause the CAC scores to be inflated or when they score do they take statin use into consideration.

2. There’s some discussion around CAC’s that are around 200-40 as being potentially worse than a CAC of >1000 due to the stability or density of plaque - could someone verify if they have heard this as well.

3. I think this is pretty common but now I feel like I could have a heart attack at any moment because of this result, but my reading indicates most feel like that but many people have had theses scores for 10+ years and still doing fine after life modification changes, etc.

Thank you - any help would be appreciated.

Don't panic. See cardiologist and get nuclear stress test, echocardiogram along with doppler artery tests.
Can you walk/jog/run without losing breath - turning purple? Those are signs for immediate concern.

wagbert1,

Lots of us out there!

So, for you to have been on atorvastatin for so long, you must have had other heart issues?

And, my understanding (not a medical professional) is that statins will cause CAC scores to be higher - because the statin is doing exactly what the medical scientists want it to do - reduce LDL and calcify the softer plaques to prevent then from breaking off.

You could get your LDL lower, and your total cholesterol lower - it all might help, but your numbers are pretty good, I think.

You don't mention taking meds for hypertension - do you?

You don't mention having stress tests - you should have had a few, by now. Please post your stress test numbers if you have them.

Consider getting an advanced cholesterol test - one lab calls is "Cardio IQ" - this will provide more info on your types of cholesterol and other factors.

I feel your pain. I have a score of 396. Although my score of 396 seems low, as the book I am reading says (“How to beat the heart attack gene) any plaque is bad as it can break off and cause undesirable results. I started a statin and I am not liking the side effects. I strongly recommend you read the book. It has certainly opened my eyes. As they say in the book having a little plaque is like being a little bit pregnant.
The statin paradox is baffling to me. How can one type of pill have so much controversy. Is it good, is it bad, is it helpful for everyone?

What is the title of the book you mention? I’m new here with almost exact history as Paul63, except I am female with a slightly lower score.

Since the post you referred to is kind of old and I know the book swilkins1974 referred to, it's "Beat the Heart Attack Gene: The Revolutionary Plan to Prevent Heart Disease, Stroke, and Diabetes" by Bradley Bale , Amy Doneen, et al.

I have a story like many here -- unexpected crazy high CAC score despite good lifestyle and normal LDL over my entire life. The only red flag was a family history. I read the book swilkins1974 mentioned and it was very informative. I wish I had read it decades earlier. I also wish I hadn't bought into the seemingly implicit message that if you maintain a healthy lifestyle and have normal LDL you won't get atherosclerosis. I did nothing and my doctor did nothing until I had a CAC score in the 98th percentile at 60 years old. I did so much to protect my health and that book made me realize that I should not have, and frankly my doctor should not have, ignored the family history. In my worst moments, I am a little bit bitter about it.

Thank you for responding. It’s very much appreciated. So here is my back story. I’m an Engineer so I read and think in terms of preventative rather than reactive. I have never really had heart problems. In 2017 started having palpitations and just overall felt sensations, had a holter 48 hr holter, no problems, echo Cardiogram, no big issues, normal thickening but nothing of concern, regular stress test every year for past 5 years, no issues, echocardiogram 2 weeks ago before my calcium test, just because it was my 5 year echo, no significant difference from baseline. I am on blood pressure medication and it’s controlled (115-125 / 70-80) most days. So really no past significant heart issues. Just a history of high cholesterol that’s been under control for 20 years. I did the CT calcium simply as preventative thinking it would be fine, boy was I shocked. So the doc has ordered a nuclear stress test (hope that will be able to detect blockages) and we’ll go from there, the part bothering me the most is I feel like with this new information/high CAC that I could drop dead before the nuclear stress test, a timebomb so to speak. Can anyone reassure me that’s no exactly the case? PCP upped my Lipitor to 80 mg from 40, that’s it so far, anyone been put on blood thinners as preventative? Any thoughts on any of this would be appreciated.