1. < Heart & Blood Health

Calcium score

Posted by cindycossen @cindycossen, Apr 6 7:47pm

I have been on 40 mg simvastatin for years with a low dose aspirin. My cholesterol is well under control in fact my HDL is 88 my triglycerides are perfect. My mom had a stent put in her LAD artery when she was 70 due to about 80% blockage.
About 8 years ago I had a calcium store test and it was 21 and a couple years later I had another one and it went to 49 and then two years later it went to 69 but the doctor, my cardiologist said no concern and some of the plaque was in my lad artery I have cardiophobia I am petrified. And just last week he said for peace of mind, from my peace of mind why don't I get the CAT scan that shows if there's blockage in my arteries but to say that and not tell me to go ahead and do that it doesn't seem like he's concerned?

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cindycossen | @cindycossen | Apr 7 4:42pm
In reply to @bitsygirl "I'd guess s/he's talking about a coronary CT angiogram. This is a different scan from the..." + (show)
@bitsygirl

I'd guess s/he's talking about a coronary CT angiogram. This is a different scan from the calcium CT. It can tell you the rough percentage of blockage in each coronary artery. For example, I have a really high score, almost 600, and the coronary CT angiogram showed no blockages more than 50%. That's not optimal, but given the time it takes for the blockages to progress and the fact that they can be stopped in some cases, I'm in reasonable shape. I don't think they consider intervention until the blockages are 70% or more.

I'd guess that at your numbers, s/he really isn't concerned but thinks that maybe knowing the percentage would give you peace of mind. If the numbers you mentioned are overall CAC scores, they are low. A score less than 100 is in the lowest risk category. (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/16824-calcium-score-screening-heart-scan) outside of a score of zero. For some people, knowing might make it worse I suppose. You'd have to decide for yourself. Not all cardiologists offer a CT coronary angiogram (if that is what is being offered) unless you had symptoms, so yours is trying to put your mind at ease. (I would guess.)

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It's the angiogram but they do it with a CAT scan 3D now to look at your arteries non-invasive

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cindycossen | @cindycossen | Apr 7 6:28pm

And then I'm on the treadmill and they say these grips that measure your heart rate or not always accurate but once in a while it shoots up to 200 and then goes right back to like 90 and I was told by the cardiologist if my heart rate and briefly went up to 200 even for 2 seconds I would feel my heart beating out of my chest so I was concerned about that

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njx58 | @njx58 | Apr 7 6:37pm
In reply to @cindycossen "He specifically said for my peace of mind cuz I'm so terrified. I never understood that..." + (show)
@cindycossen

He specifically said for my peace of mind cuz I'm so terrified. I never understood that but even if there's some blockage, isn't there a chance the plaque can break off

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Soft plaque is the danger. That is the kind that can break off. Statins calcify soft plaque to make it stable.

So, how does this affect your calcium score? If soft plaque gets calcified, by definition your calcium score goes up, but in this case it's a good thing. That is likely why your doctor isn't concerned.

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1 reply
cindycossen | @cindycossen | Apr 7 7:46pm
In reply to @njx58 "Soft plaque is the danger. That is the kind that can break off. Statins calcify soft..." + (show)
@njx58

Soft plaque is the danger. That is the kind that can break off. Statins calcify soft plaque to make it stable.

So, how does this affect your calcium score? If soft plaque gets calcified, by definition your calcium score goes up, but in this case it's a good thing. That is likely why your doctor isn't concerned.

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Well I wish he would have explained that but thank you. Just curious how you're so informative?

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2 replies
cindycossen | @cindycossen | Apr 7 7:47pm
In reply to @cindycossen "Well I wish he would have explained that but thank you. Just curious how you're so..." + (show)
@cindycossen

Well I wish he would have explained that but thank you. Just curious how you're so informative?

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It just freaks me out because my mom had a stent put in her LAD artery when she was 70

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missey | @missey | Apr 7 9:08pm

It may ease your mind to have it done. My calcium score is 306 and I know a lot of people that are in the 1200s and above without any problems they state. Take a look at your diet and try to follow a healthy one.

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cindycossen | @cindycossen | Apr 7 10:05pm

They're in the 1200s and have no blockage?

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njx58 | @njx58 | Apr 8 5:57am
In reply to @cindycossen "Well I wish he would have explained that but thank you. Just curious how you're so..." + (show)
@cindycossen

Well I wish he would have explained that but thank you. Just curious how you're so informative?

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I have a score of 205 and am on statins.

The score doesn't necessarily mean a blockage. Plaque builds up on the walls of the arteries. It's like a drain pipe that has buildup so that there's a narrower space for the water to flow. A stent widens the space (I don't have one, by the way.) If the artery gets completely blocked, then bypass surgery is a possibility.

Also, important to note that you don't need perfectly clear arteries to live. I have a 40% narrowing in an artery, I go jogging 3x week and I go to the gym. I feel fine. The statin, along with a better diet, helps keep things from getting worse. And if you get your LDL low enough, the plaque can regress somewhat. Nothing can remove it, though.

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1 reply
cindycossen | @cindycossen | Apr 8 6:30am
In reply to @njx58 "I have a score of 205 and am on statins. The score doesn't necessarily mean a..." + (show)
@njx58

I have a score of 205 and am on statins.

The score doesn't necessarily mean a blockage. Plaque builds up on the walls of the arteries. It's like a drain pipe that has buildup so that there's a narrower space for the water to flow. A stent widens the space (I don't have one, by the way.) If the artery gets completely blocked, then bypass surgery is a possibility.

Also, important to note that you don't need perfectly clear arteries to live. I have a 40% narrowing in an artery, I go jogging 3x week and I go to the gym. I feel fine. The statin, along with a better diet, helps keep things from getting worse. And if you get your LDL low enough, the plaque can regress somewhat. Nothing can remove it, though.

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So the narrowing cannot cause a heart attack

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2 replies
mayoconnectuser1 | @mayoconnectuser1 | Apr 8 8:40am
In reply to @cindycossen "So the narrowing cannot cause a heart attack" + (show)
@cindycossen

So the narrowing cannot cause a heart attack

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Perhaps just start taking a statin so the plaque will calcify?

CAC number will increase, but chance of plaque breaking off will decrease.

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