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I have a very high calcium score. What next?
Heart & Blood Health | Last Active: 4 days ago | Replies (505)Comment receiving replies
I had my calcium CT scan and LAD is 486. I have to wait until 11/25 for an echocardiogram. At the end of November I see my cardiologist. I live in a small town near Olympia, WA. If I am told I need a stent or anything else I may just get a 2nd opinion. I have had high cholesterol since my early 20’s. Even when my body fat was 22% I had high numbers. I have been on statins a long time. For the last 8 years I have had high blood pressure. On my paternal side there are no more cousins (15). My mother will be 98 in 10 days. I will be 74 end of December. I am worried.
Replies to "I had my calcium CT scan and LAD is 486. I have to wait until 11/25..."
@cher51
If you want to check for stenosis you need another CT scan this time with contrast dye injected - not great for your kidneys, but that's the only way the radiologist can clearly see the arteries and blood flow and check for blockages and estimate the percent of blockage (if any - you might not have any significant blockage - usually, if less than 75% and no chest pain, they don't intervene further - just increase statins). The basic CAC CT calcium score only tells you that you have calcium/plaque build up in the areas of the three main arteries of the heart that the low-dose CT looked at. So not that helpful on its own really, especially if, at present, you have no physical symptoms. I have 1,300 total (and about same as you in LAD, but only 20% stenosis there, and no physical pain or other symptoms).
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@cher51 An echo? I would have thought they'd do an angiogram.