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High Coronary Calcium Score: How do others feel emotionally?
Heart & Blood Health | Last Active: 2 days ago | Replies (697)Comment receiving replies
I am a 70 1/2 year old male who exercises regularly (weight training, swimming, biking, etc) and has normal blood pressure (118/70). I recently had a calcium score test and I was shocked and frightened to see my score of 1031. When I went to see my primary care physician, she callously and foolishly remarked "that's the second highest score I've ever seen". I was quite angry about her comment because she knows I get anxious about health issues. She prescribed a statin medication (Rovustatin 10mg) but after nine days I told her that I wanted to discontinue because I was feeling unwell. She advised against stopping the medication but she told that she could not force me to take it. The thing is, I've become depressed since this whole ordeal began and I couldn't really tell if I was having side effects from the statin or if it was the depression. So that's where I'm at now, scared and miserable, looking for answers, and praying that I feel better soon I have an appointment with a cardiologist in a few weeks.
Replies to "I am a 70 1/2 year old male who exercises regularly (weight training, swimming, biking, etc)..."
@drgerryherman You have to take the statin. Please. With that CAC score, it is paramount that you do not accumulate more plaque. The only way to do that is to get your LDL under 70, and you can't realistically do that without medication. Also, there is no pill in the world that will lower that CAC score. That plaque is there forever. The statin will keep it stable and help prevent further buildup. It's not a death sentence, but you do need to treat it. The cardiologist can't do anything for you other than prescribe medication and perhaps order additional tests (stress, maybe an angiogram).
Don't be depressed; be proactive and take this challenge head-on. 🙂
By the way, I am male, 67, taking statins for two years, and I've competed in several 5K races this year. My CAC score wasn't 1000, but it was over 200.
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@drgerryherman
Please dont overreact to the calcium score. I am 70 and have a 1647 score. I have always exercised, eaten pretty good, low lipid scores where they should be. When I first got score, I was also figuring I had a week or two left, but I have now adjusted to it and I take my atorvastatin every day, continued with exercise and other things you should do. I feel good and I realized the need to enjoy even the little things I used to take for granted. My advice is to enjoy life, listen to your cardiologist and primary and move forward. The depression will be more debilitating than the calcium. Many people have calcium higher than us and lead regular, productive lives. Hope this helps! Need to go and watch my grandkids soccer game (: