Yes, a lot to think about @kswartz! You are doing everything you can by staying active, watching what you eat, and working with a cardiologist who is on top of your unique situations. Your husband’s 5000+ calcium score sounds shocking and I imagine you joining him by addressing your own heart health encourages him tremendously.

I am tagging members that may have helpful information/updates to share. @heycal created this discussion after a routine CT. @robmtk and @njx58 have mentioned an extremely high calcium score and/or treating LDL.

Like your husband, my LDL goal is 50. Getting close to that the last year or so has required a knowledgeable care team and multiple medications that seem to have synergy working together. I also get relief from Flonase and antihistamine eye drops, in addition to a super consistent high level of exercise, strict diet and weight training.

You mention walking daily and improving your diet. What kind of changes have you made?

@kswartz The reasoning behind the stabilizing effect of the calcification is that it is much like making bone, which you would immediately see is a stable and durable structure. Bones use calcium and collagen to make themselves. In the case of arterial plaque, I haven't read anywhere that collagen is included in the mix, but the calcium deposition adds rigidity and integrity to the plaque. The rigidity is not great for vessel elasticity (in fact it's bad), but it does help to 'cement' the plaque in place. Initially, as the plaque forms, it is 'friable', meaning it is easily disrupted. Clumps of it can be dislodged and get rushed forward with blood flow until the clump gets jammed into place, blocking a small capillary, perhaps in the brain. Well, whatever relies on that flow is now precluded from receiving it, and you can guess the rest.