Connect
Extremely high calcium score at 42 - is there any positive here??
I'm a 42-year-old male. Exercise regularly, not overweight, non-smoker. While not overweight, I will say that my diet is crap -- way too much fast food, pizza etc. I guess I still eat like a high schooler.
Anyway, I saw a cardiologist figuring after age 40 this would be wise. He took bloodwork which was basically all fine. The cholesterol was *slightly* elevated and he recommended getting a heart calcium score. Told me he expected it would show nothing but that he just wanted to be thorough. Turns out the score came back at 397.
Obviously, this caught me totally flat-footed. I figured with my diet there might be some plaque, but this number places me in the 99.999th percentile for my age. And everything I have read online sound pretty dire about my long-term prognosis now -- that significant damage has been done, that it can't be reversed and can only get worse and that the statistical linkage between a number like this and heart attack-stroke is profound.
Weirdly, the cardiologist did not seem to be conveying any alarm when he told me the score, though. He was extremely matter of fact about it. Just said it was "very, very high" and that he would put me on a statin (which I've already started) and that I should take daily baby aspirin (doing that too). He said I should focus on improving diet and continue exercising (I already run 4-5x a week) but he was also pretty emphatic that "this must be genetic." (There is a history of heart problems on my father's side of the family -- though he is 76 and has yet to have any heart trouble himself.)
This was all a lot to get hit with at once. From the doctor's casual, matter of fact tone, I left the office a little confused, wondering if maybe this score wasn't that big of a deal and was a very manageable thing. Why else would the doctor not seem that disturbed by it? But then I started reading everything I could find on the subject and it's been pretty devastating.
Obviously, I'm ready, willing and able to implement the dietary changes, but for the score to be this bad at this young of an age (and with no smoking history, not being overweight, and doing regular exercise), it seems like I'm in serious trouble here. So upsetting to read that I can't bring this number down.
I guess I'm just posting this in the hopes that others here might have some experience and insight and be able to offer something, anything that is encouraging? When I read all of the medical material online about high CAC scores, am I missing something? This has all been playing out over the last 24 hours and I feel like I've basically just found out that I could drop dead of a heart attack at any moment and that my life expectancy has been drastically reduced with this news -- and that there's no way to get it back to normal. I now have a million questions for the cardiologist, but when I called his office today I was told he's just started his vacation and won't be back until August.
Any encouragement or practical advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart & Blood Health Support Group.
Connect
I am truly so sorry. I just had a calcium screening at the end of March and had a score of 283 all in one major artery. I was mindblown. 53, female, active, great diet, don’t smoke, etc. My dad and brother died young from heart disease as did uncles and cousins. Those genetics are strong!
To start, those first few days were awful! Denial, way too much google research, feeling like I was going to die any minute. My cardiology appointment was similar to yours and meds the same.
I’ve gotten to a pretty good place now. I’m doing the best I can, and hopefully biannual stress tests and annual cardiology will catch if there is an issue before it is an issue.
My sister (ER doc) recommended The Nutrition Proposition to help navigate dietary changes. That helped. And I am pretty type A so seriously managing stress.
I don’t know if this helps, but it’s where I landed. I may not live to 90. Maybe not 80. But in a week, I’ll have outlived my dad, and that’s something. I am trying to be aware of what causes me stress and to be very active and do what I love. I can’t outrun this, literally or figuratively. But I can do the best I can to enjoy life, hopefully reduce progression, and be in good enough shape to live through surgical interventions when they come.
Hang in there and be gentle with yourself.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsI had a CAC test when I was about 63 and the score was 535. I am now 80 and had a second CAC and the score was over 2000. I have needed two stents but have not had a heart attack.
Blood tests show a high Lp(a) which is the source of my problems. It is a very dense LDL particle which has a little tail on it which burrows into the artery wall causing the build up of plaque. It is genetic and not affected by diet or exercise.
The "Good News" is that there are medications to be released soon that directly target Lp(a). I understand two pills will be released in 2026 and an injectable in 2028.
I send good wishes to everyone who has a CAC score more than zero.
Donna
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI also have a high calcium score and LP(a). Pelacarsen is the first drug that should be available within a year. The FDA has agreed to fast track it as it will be the only medication to lower LP(a). The final trials finish this month. It will be a monthly injection. The pills with even better lowering effect won't be around for a couple more years.
Thanks for all the additional information. I see my cardio in June and maybe by then she will have enough info to feel comfortable prescribing it.
I'm afraid it won't be approved by June but your cardiologist should certainly know about it and can explain how it works and keep an eye out for when it finally comes to market. I'm a nurse and when I know anything more, I will post. I just hope it's this year! Also, I read a lot of research and mega doses of vitamin D might add more calcium to the cardiac arteries while a lower dose might help! I take only 1,000 IU now (25 mcg) I used to take 5,000 IU ! Vitamin D is important but not that high a dose!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
5 ReactionsThank you for the update. I take 2000 IUs of D3 as that controls my restless legs. But I don't take calcium and I eat very little in the way of dairy products because of the cholesterol issue. Maybe I will try to back down the Vit D3 to 1500 and see if that still controls the RLS.
Please don't cut back on the vitamin D. 2000 is not a mega dose and if it
helps you then it's fine. Dairy is fine as long as it's fat free.
Cholesterol in food doesn't raise your cholesterol in the body. Saturated
fats do. As for calcium.. you need it a lot for your bones. It isn't the
same as the calcium in the calcium score for your heart! That's "calcified
plaque" it isn't actually caused by eating anything with calcium.
Thanks Plume. I don't take calcium supps to reduce the possibility of calcification of plaque. I have occasional bone density tests, the most recent being just a couple of months ago and this test and the one a couple of years earlier shows slight improvement in bone density which is likely due to the amount of exercise I get. So, I think I am getting enough calcium from broccoli, dark leafy greens, almonds and other plant sources.
You are so kind to take the time to address these issues with me. Thank you.
Donna
I am sorry about your calcium score. It must be unnerving. I am 68 and have a 0 calcium score, but my carotid is blocked 60%, and my aorta has calcification. I went on the Esselstyn diet for a while. I actually paid to take his course and speak with him. I lost way too much weight. I went from 130 to 117. My sister went from 105 to 95. We both stopped, but it made us very aware of what we were eating. You don’t to take the course, just watch his YouTube. His wife and daughter gave a YouTube food channel. It didn’t lower my ldl much, and recently I found out I have LP (a). That is probably the reason. I was very freaked and my sister has it too. We have taken good care of ourselves over the years, so that was tough to take.
I tried 2 different statins and added ezetimibe. It lowered my LDL to 60. My endocrinologist wants it to be 30. Pharmaceuticals are the only way to do it. Recently, I realized the pain I was having was from the statin:( I stopped taking them and feel much better.
Now my Dr has me on Praluent injections. Cha...ching...pricey. I will add the ezetimibe back when the side effects go away...I hope.
I liked Peter Attia's book Outlive. It has a well rounded way of living. Food, exercise, sleep, stress, face past trauma.
I am looking forward to that new medication for LP a. I tried to get on the Eli Lilly study, but I am too healthy. They are looking for people with obesity, diabetes, HBP ...
You just need to research and do what you can do to have a healthier lifestyle. I hope something here helped you. Best wishes.