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I have a very high calcium score. What next?
Just joined the site and I'm looking to share with others who have had a high calcium score. I found out today that mine is 2996 and I am scared by this. I am 61 and I am totally asymptomatic. Now I feel like a walking time bomb. I am thinking of requesting an angiogram to see if there's any narrowing anywhere and if it can be corrected with a stent. After a second heart doctor told me that the plaque buildup might be uniform over the course of years with no big problem areas, I am encouraged. But the score still freaks me out, specifically my LAD at 1333. I don't smoke or drink but I have to lose 40 lbs.
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Thank you very much. This was the most reassuring statement I received after getting my CAC score!
I am 67 yr old female with CAC of 613. I am pre-diabetic. My cardiologist is recommending ozempic for cardiac protection. Anyone else got this recommendation?
I was tested at 62 and was 1100, now close to 1300. No symptoms and going strong.
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2 ReactionsThank you. Happy for you. May I ask after how many years you repeated the test? Thank you
I was tested at 65, result 240, no symptoms, felt great, I'm a regular runner --- and an angiogram showed a major blockage in an artery. You're not going to feel plaque buildup until something happens.
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1 ReactionI know, but not much to do about it. I h. ad an FFR done and have an FFR of 0.76 in my distal LAD (non stentable), but nothing else showed up. Cardiologist has offered to do a cath but as long as I'm asymptomatic going to hold off until I notice a problem or drop dead. So far I've made it 6 years with this philosophy. My CAC is multi vessel (mostly LAD and RM, with some LM and LCX). I'm afraid a cath might lead directly to multiple stents or a multiple bypass, and after watching my father die after bypass at 55 am a little gun shy.
5 years. Now 6 years out.
Recall there is a relationship to statin use - statins increase calcification of cholesterol so those, for instance, that have a CAC test prior to starting statins, then start statins and have another scoring might be surprised how quickly their score increased - dependent on timeframe, I suspect.
So, statins increase calcification - which is good as this mitigates cholesterol from breaking off.
There is really no point in repeating calcium scans if your score is greater then 0 no matter what a doctor suggests, your calcium is not going anywhere and your treatment plans won't change based on repeat scores. However if your score is 0 then I could see how repeat scans might be able to monitor future calcification issues.
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1 ReactionIn the U.S., one in five people (20%) have the genetic allele, Lp(a). That's around 66.6 million people. There are 3 present drugs to treat Lp(a). There are 2 PCSK9 drugs Repatha and Praluent. Repatha can reduce LDL by 55%-75% and Lp(a) by 26.9%. Praluent can reduce LDL by 43-58% and Lp(a) by 26-30%. The 3rd drug an inclisiran drug, Leqvio reduces LDL by 40-60% and Lp(a) 20-30%. Does Ireland have access to these drugs? Pelacarsen, Ollpasiran, and Zerlasiran can reduce Lp(a) more effectively and may be available in 2-3 years.
Taking a high dose of statin does not decrease Lp(a) and can increase Lp(a) by up to 20%. Since Lp(a) is an independent factor no amount of exercise, diet or statin can reduce it.