Connect
← Return to High Coronary Calcium Score: How do others feel emotionally?
Discussion
High Coronary Calcium Score: How do others feel emotionally?
Heart & Blood Health | Last Active: Feb 13 9:01am | Replies (640)Comment receiving replies
I've been an athlete all my life and have been exercising vigorously for over 55 years (I'm 74) my HDL has been very good, I always surpassed the benchmarks for my age in all the stress tests I've taken over the years, my diet is healthy and I have no other risk factors and am asymptomatic. So imagine my surprise and shock to find a calcium score of 2300! My cardiologist put me on 20 mg Lipitor and baby aspirin a week ago and I have been in touch with a reputable herbalist (the same herbalist my wife has used since her ovarian cancer diagnosis 4 years ago - and she's doing absolutely great). I'm going to start on his program of supplements to go along with the statin and aspirin. I've read conflicting facts. For example one states that anyone with a score of over 1000 has a 25% chance of having a major cardiac event within a year. I've also read that because the calcium has most likely been developing over many many years the score might not be a true indication of risk. What I would love to know and will ask my doc when I see her next week is how do we know how much blockage I have? They say stress tests results will show blockages if the blockages are over 70%. The score might not necessarily reflect the severity of narrowing. Maybe I oughta stop reading about all this and just get to the gym!
Replies to "I've been an athlete all my life and have been exercising vigorously for over 55 years..."
Hello,Bo from Texas. Iam 75,exercised all my life and always ace the treadmill test. Found out,trying to do some preventative test,discovered my calcium score was 2450. Had a nuclear stress test and had a METS score of 14, equivalent to a 24 year old. My HDL is 80 and my LDL is 76,triglycerides is 60. Being a southern boy,sure I have had too much fried foods and steaks. My liver makes too much cholesterol and I am on 40 mg of simvasatin. About 5 years ago,tried getting off and my total cholesterol went from 170 to 280 in three weeks. I believe in satin drugs. No side effects for me. Will get results from a 256k high resolution scanner next week. By the way,Medicare would not pay for scan,so $1200 out of pocket. On my own,starting taking K2(MK7)+D3. 180 mg K2. Will post results of my meeting with Doc. Next week. Still exercising 75 minutes every day. Good luck!
Hello,Bo from Texas. In same boat as you. 2400 calcium score but did great on stress test. I had another 256 k heart scan two weeks ago that my Doc. Says will show blockages. Going to him for results next Wednesday. Have not stopped exercising about 75 minutes every day. Will post my results and recommendations next week.
Got my results back and was generally good news. No blockages with mild stenosis.Flow rates were good at .91,.87 and.87. They start to worry at .75. May put me on
Crestor rather than Zocor to try and get my ldl down to below 50. Took more blood test to measure sizes of LDL and HDL and to check a certain protein in blood. Said to keep exercising and eating plenty ol tuna and salmon. No fried food or red meat. An eat elk in moderation. Avoid sugar as it is toxic and a major player in CAD. Hear results from blood test in a week.
Connect
Hi @nyartist and welcome to Connect.
You'll notice that I moved your message to this existing discussion about high calcium scores. I did this so that you can meet others who have managed similar issues and may be able answer some of your questions about risk and blockage, or at least share their experiences and help you prepare questions for your upcoming appointment with your doctor. I'm tagging @degarden_girl @botexas @luckyg @keithl56 and @thankful to invite them back to this discussion.
NYArtist, it sounds like you've already started a list of great questions for your doctor. I'm not surprised that you've found conflicting facts about calcium scores related to risk. Risk is so multi-factorial. Only a physician consult will by able to measure the risk level specific to you. I suspect that your level of physical fitness and diet will play well in your favor. I might recommend that you let the herbalists know about the medications you're taking and the cardiologist about regimen the herbalist recommends. It's important that each knows what the other prescribesso that they can work together and be aware of possible drug, supplement and diet interactions. A pharmacist is also a great member of your team to help monitor treatment combinations. Will you be seeing the herbalist before you meet with the cardiologist?