1. < Heart & Blood Health

High Coronary Calcium Score: How do others feel emotionally?

Posted by mcphee @mcphee, Dec 14, 2016

I have a calcium score of 1,950 which is extremely high which means I am at a very high risk for a cardiac event,heart attack,stroke or sudden death.

I take a statin and baby aspirin. I have never been sick, have excellent cholesterol, low blood pressure and I am not overweight. I have no other health problems and I have never been sick. But I feel like a walking time bomb which has caused me a lot of stress. I am 70 yrs old.

I wonder how others with this condition feel emotionally?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart & Blood Health Support Group.

Moderator
Justin McClanahan, Moderator | @JustinMcClanahan | Jun 9, 2018
In reply to @dinohula "Have always been in excellent health, my father was unknown to me and my mother is..." + (show)
@dinohula

Have always been in excellent health, my father was unknown to me and my mother is alive at 93. Very active 66 year old, totally asymptomatic. My wife is very anxious about this number. My cardio doc put me on baby asa and crestor. I have been on meds for bp for many years. Gotta keep positive and livin!! Thoughts ,suggestions...........

Jump to this post

Hello @dinohula, and welcome to Connect. You may notice I merged your discussion with an existing discussion titled, "High calcium score." I did this so your message would be received by the many members discussing your very topic.

Your title mentioned that you had a score of over 5,000, which judging by other members' posts, is a very high number. To read more posts from the other members, I suggest clicking on VIEW & REPLY of this notification so you will be brought to the new location of your post and you will be able to introduce yourself to the members who also experienced high calcium scores.

@dinohula, you also mention you are asymptomatic, are the baby asp and crestor precautionary at this point?

REPLY
dinohula | @dinohula | Jun 9, 2018
In reply to @dinohula "Have always been in excellent health, my father was unknown to me and my mother is..." + (show)
@dinohula

Have always been in excellent health, my father was unknown to me and my mother is alive at 93. Very active 66 year old, totally asymptomatic. My wife is very anxious about this number. My cardio doc put me on baby asa and crestor. I have been on meds for bp for many years. Gotta keep positive and livin!! Thoughts ,suggestions...........

Jump to this post

yes

REPLY
botexas | @botexas | Jun 9, 2018
In reply to @botexas "Hello, Bo from Texas. Yesterday I received my calcium score and was shocked! 2450. Going to..." + (show)
@botexas

Hello, Bo from Texas. Yesterday I received my calcium score and was shocked! 2450. Going to see Doc today to talk to him about this terrible score. I feel great,go to gym every morning for one hour of hard exercise. Never stop doing weights and aerobics. My cholesterol is about 155 with Hdl at 80 and ldl 75. Take 40 mg of Zocor daily. I have always considered myself in great heath at 75. Thanks for reading my post. Any suggestions. Have a nuclear stress test scheduled in two weeks.

Jump to this post

Got the results back from my nuclear stress test. Overall positive. My stress test Mets score was a 13,which means that I performed the test equal to a 25 year old. Iam 75 and it took 17 minutes to get my heart to 120 target rate. Heart capacity was 70% vs average 75 year old of 50 -60%. Hdl was 78,ldl was 76 and tri g was 66. The only negative was he saw a shadow on my artery behind the heart. Not sure it is blockage,more test to follow. Another heart scan with a machine with much higher resolution. Feel great. He did put me on 500 mg of turmeric curcumin. More to come after next test.

REPLY
botexas | @botexas | Jun 9, 2018
In reply to @kanaazpereira "Hi @botexas, Welcome to Connect. I can imagine your worry about a high calcium score, despite..." + (show)
@kanaazpereira

Hi @botexas,

Welcome to Connect. I can imagine your worry about a high calcium score, despite leading healthy lifestyle! I'd like to introduce you to a few members who may be able to share some of their experiences with high calcium levels. Please meet @mcphee @gailfaith @jrismyname @dennisl27 @mcristodero and Mentors @hopeful33250 @predictable. You may also wish to view some of the conversations taking place in this other discussion on Connect:
– High Calcium CT Scan Score of 1925 – Anyone Else Experience This? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/high-calcium-ct-scan-score-of-1925-anyone-else-experience-this/

Here is a great journal discussion by Mayo Clinic cardiologists about the basics and significance of coronary calcium score: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/842348

Bo, did you have the nuclear stress test done? Has your doctor suggested any "next steps" to help lower the calcium score?

Jump to this post

See above guess I posted in wrong slot.

REPLY
botexas | @botexas | Jun 9, 2018

My score was 2400 and I continue to exercise 85 minutes of aggressive exercise every day. I scored 13 Mets on the treadmill. That is equivalent to a 25 year old and I am 75. The calcium score is just one benchmark in overall heart health. I believe exercise is key to better health but you need to discuss with your Doc before embarking on a strenuous exercise program. Good luck

REPLY
1 reply
lioness | @lioness | Jun 9, 2018

@botexas if your on calcium stop taking it but talk to you Dr. first . My blood count was starting to get higher then normal and the Dr. told me to not take anymore as our bodies make all the calcium we need plus other vit. and minerals.

REPLY
2 replies
botexas | @botexas | Jun 9, 2018
In reply to @lioness "@botexas if your on calcium stop taking it but talk to you Dr. first . My..." + (show)
@lioness

@botexas if your on calcium stop taking it but talk to you Dr. first . My blood count was starting to get higher then normal and the Dr. told me to not take anymore as our bodies make all the calcium we need plus other vit. and minerals.

Jump to this post

Thanks,not on calcium.

REPLY
Charlie | @ca426 | Jun 9, 2018
In reply to @lioness "@botexas if your on calcium stop taking it but talk to you Dr. first . My..." + (show)
@lioness

@botexas if your on calcium stop taking it but talk to you Dr. first . My blood count was starting to get higher then normal and the Dr. told me to not take anymore as our bodies make all the calcium we need plus other vit. and minerals.

Jump to this post

Calcium is the most prevalent mineral in our bodies, however with different health issues it affects how well are bodies absorption and produce the Vitamins and minerals our bodies need. However with that being said...your doctor is completely wrong, over half of what we need comes from the food we eat....our bodies are very good at keeping balance, but when we have a condition, like kidney failure.

REPLY
richarddemaria | @richarddemaria | Jun 30, 2018
In reply to @keithl56 "I just had a CT scan and have a calcium score of 1014, with the right..." + (show)
@keithl56

I just had a CT scan and have a calcium score of 1014, with the right coronary artery alone scoring 579. My cardiologist called me quite alarmed and ordered a stress test which was good. He then said he would see me in 6 months - no lifestyle changes or treatment whatsoever. I am 61 and in general good health, but both of my parents died in their 50's from heart attacks, as well as a grandfather and uncle in their early 40's and an aunt in her 50's. I have three cousins that have had heart attacks and/or stents in their 50's.

Needless to say, but I am quite anxious. I have read studies that indicate the risk of a serious or fatal MI at 20-25% within one year in asymptomatic individuals with CAC over 1000. Do I just wait until I have symptoms before I get more aggressive treatment? Many in my family had sudden death as their first symptom!

Jump to this post

Same boat Keith. 57 and I just had a CACS done yesterday. 1600. History of family heart disease. Doctor called me same day. Limit red meat and dairy. Double Rouvostatin to 20 mg. Consider my safe healthy, always worked out, pilot so I watch my health. Unfortunately, I'm in that gene pool. I'm now considering vegan approach to lower my CAC score. Time to educate myself.

REPLY
1 reply
keithl56 | @keithl56 | Jun 30, 2018
In reply to @keithl56 "I just had a CT scan and have a calcium score of 1014, with the right..." + (show)
@keithl56

I just had a CT scan and have a calcium score of 1014, with the right coronary artery alone scoring 579. My cardiologist called me quite alarmed and ordered a stress test which was good. He then said he would see me in 6 months - no lifestyle changes or treatment whatsoever. I am 61 and in general good health, but both of my parents died in their 50's from heart attacks, as well as a grandfather and uncle in their early 40's and an aunt in her 50's. I have three cousins that have had heart attacks and/or stents in their 50's.

Needless to say, but I am quite anxious. I have read studies that indicate the risk of a serious or fatal MI at 20-25% within one year in asymptomatic individuals with CAC over 1000. Do I just wait until I have symptoms before I get more aggressive treatment? Many in my family had sudden death as their first symptom!

Jump to this post

I've been on 10mg Zetia and 20 mg statin, now they doubled the stain to 40mg and want another blood test in 6 weeks. I've kept my HDL in the 50's for years but they said they want it down to 20. I never heard of that even being possible. If the next blood work doesn't show further improvement they want me to start injections. The dietary part is really confusing. My one cardio told me that lean red meat was fine (no fat) and that I have to limit my carbs and sugar! I wonder just how much you can truly mitigate the risk when your genes are really the culprit.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.