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?

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mark430 | @mark430 | Jun 8, 2020

I just came across a study reported in the Journal of the Endocrinology Society date May 15, 2020 indicating that they have found a difference between lipophilic and hydrophilic statins. Someone more knowledgeable (meaning anyone with any training) please confirm, but my take is that the lipophilic statins, more so than the hydrophilic statins, are related to decreased abiiity to metabolize glucose and increased aortic calcification.

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skypigg | @skypigg | Jun 11, 2020
In reply to @bluesdoc "Good story, skypigg! We can all relate. And this underscores the reality (imho) that there is..." + (show)
@bluesdoc

Good story, skypigg! We can all relate. And this underscores the reality (imho) that there is NOT a linear relationship between CAC score and obstructive plaque. If that were the case, we'd all be 6' under by now. Tangentially, I saw my cardiologist last week and he told me about a patient referred to him for cath because a patient had overwhelming anxiety about his CAC score of 275. He did the cath and the vessels were squeaky clean. He also said that they, cardiologists, tend to see problems with coronary disease in the </= 500 CAC range, but not so much above that range. Also, as another aside, I asked him how often they see STEMI (full tilt heart attack) in patients on statins with high CAC score. He said that regardless, they hardly ever see STEMIs when patients are on statins. At the local large hospital this past year, there were ~ 250 heart attacks. The number of those ON statins could be counted on one hand. We need to chill, guys. We do what we can, take our statins, do what we can to reduce systemic inflammation - another deep and wide subject - and get on with our lives without adding to the burden of this existence by fueling anxiety. As another fish in the sea with a CAC over 2500, despite having tried to live a health freak life, it is what it is. I had a nice cookie after my spaghetti dinner. My wife makes killer sauce and I enjoyed every bite.

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One thing is for sure, medial layer calcification is not well understood. I have seen three cardiologist about my high CAC score, and you would be surprised at how different their treatment recommendations were. One wanted to do the test again in two years, but another said to never take the test again. One wanted me on 20MG of Lipitor, the other two wanted me on 80 (I switch to 80). I am seeing a lipid specialist now, and will see him every six months. He said that I was an outlier at 54 years old with a CAC score of over 2700. Alot of people recommend to trust your doctor, but it's difficult to do that when I know they don't really know what my condition means or how it will manifest itself later. The best advice so far is to somehow just keep living, and be not be so worried about something I seemingly can't control. I am not an avid exerciser, but I try and walk as often as I can. I also lost alot of weight, and my blood pressure has been way better than it was. So.. I guess I press on.

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1 reply
pcspetpro | @pcspetpro | Jun 11, 2020

It seems important to find out if the high CAC Score is causing arterial blockages.

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1997ta | @1997ta | Jun 11, 2020
In reply to @skypigg "One thing is for sure, medial layer calcification is not well understood. I have seen three..." + (show)
@skypigg

One thing is for sure, medial layer calcification is not well understood. I have seen three cardiologist about my high CAC score, and you would be surprised at how different their treatment recommendations were. One wanted to do the test again in two years, but another said to never take the test again. One wanted me on 20MG of Lipitor, the other two wanted me on 80 (I switch to 80). I am seeing a lipid specialist now, and will see him every six months. He said that I was an outlier at 54 years old with a CAC score of over 2700. Alot of people recommend to trust your doctor, but it's difficult to do that when I know they don't really know what my condition means or how it will manifest itself later. The best advice so far is to somehow just keep living, and be not be so worried about something I seemingly can't control. I am not an avid exerciser, but I try and walk as often as I can. I also lost alot of weight, and my blood pressure has been way better than it was. So.. I guess I press on.

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The treatment plan. Is generally the same whoever you see. Take a statin but the correct dosage will depend on the doctor.

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1997ta | @1997ta | Jun 11, 2020
In reply to @tennisplayer "One other question........all this hype about vitamin K2/MK7 dissolving calcified plaque........any thoughts on vitamin K2/MK7 might..." + (show)
@tennisplayer

One other question........all this hype about vitamin K2/MK7 dissolving calcified plaque........any thoughts on vitamin K2/MK7 might destabilize the calcified plaque and make it more susceptible to a clot?

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I don’t believe it dissolves calcium. I believe it just directs calcium away from the vascular system into the bones, teeth, etc. where it’s suppose to go. But I’m no doctor.

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1 reply
botexas | @botexas | Jun 12, 2020

I have a CAC score of 2500 and my three main arteries are 90% open. I am 77

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3 replies
tennisplayer | @tennisplayer | Jun 12, 2020
In reply to @botexas "I have a CAC score of 2500 and my three main arteries are 90% open. I..." + (show)
@botexas

I have a CAC score of 2500 and my three main arteries are 90% open. I am 77

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That’s great news. Did you have a catheterization to find that out?

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1 reply
wisconsin2267 | @wisconsin2267 | Jun 12, 2020
In reply to @botexas "I have a CAC score of 2500 and my three main arteries are 90% open. I..." + (show)
@botexas

I have a CAC score of 2500 and my three main arteries are 90% open. I am 77

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I am 54 and have a score of 2267. Thanks for your post as it gives us hope!!

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bluesdoc | @bluesdoc | Jun 12, 2020
In reply to @botexas "I have a CAC score of 2500 and my three main arteries are 90% open. I..." + (show)
@botexas

I have a CAC score of 2500 and my three main arteries are 90% open. I am 77

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This is very reassuring to many of us. Not that this necessarily applies to any of us, but we're all grabbing for straws here as clearly, the medical profession (including me) is fairly clueless about our cohort. So, rays of optimism are warmly embraced. Thanks for sharing this, botexas.

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1 reply
seaera | @seaera | Jun 12, 2020
In reply to @1997ta "I don’t believe it dissolves calcium. I believe it just directs calcium away from the vascular..." + (show)
@1997ta

I don’t believe it dissolves calcium. I believe it just directs calcium away from the vascular system into the bones, teeth, etc. where it’s suppose to go. But I’m no doctor.

Jump to this post

I am 70 years old, male. Three years ago diagnosed with 2000 CAC score. I am on 40 mg atorvastatin, losartan (BP never real high but now lower), aspirin. Very lean - avid exerciser. No blockages. No apparent symptoms.....

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