I have a very high calcium score. What next?

Posted by dpframing @dpframing, Aug 24, 2018

Just joined the site and I'm looking to share with others who have had a high calcium score. I found out today that mine is 2996 and I am scared by this. I am 61 and I am totally asymptomatic. Now I feel like a walking time bomb. I am thinking of requesting an angiogram to see if there's any narrowing anywhere and if it can be corrected with a stent. After a second heart doctor told me that the plaque buildup might be uniform over the course of years with no big problem areas, I am encouraged. But the score still freaks me out, specifically my LAD at 1333. I don't smoke or drink but I have to lose 40 lbs.

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I just had a CT coronary angiogram with calcium score and my score is 1608. I am 68 years old, male with no symptoms. I do fairly intense exercise 5-7 days per week. I am not overweight. I will be scheduling a follow up with GP and then cardiologist. I too am very concerned about this.

Cholesterol and blood pressure normal with a low dose statin and a low dose losartin.

I too am very concerned.

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What did the angiogram show?

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The calcification with little or no stenosis.

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Exaclty what I had- check out my post today

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Exaclty what I had- check out my post today2 hours ago · Coronary artery Ectasia (CAE) in Heart & Blood Health

I got a 2996 score on the Agatston test. I got scared, and I successfully pleaded to my doctor to authorize an Angiogram.
Before the test, I met with the procedure doctor and he said possibly the majority of the calcium was in the walls of my arteries, and
not in the arteries themselves, which would cause a blockage or narrowing. That turned out to be the case, and he said a stent was not needed.
However, the angiogram did show a significant amount of ectasia in the top sections of the 4 main arteries. A serious and rare condition,
affecting 5% of heart patients,it's the enlargement of the arteries to at least 1.5 times their regular size which can create a slowdown of bloodflow, and most seriously, clots. It is best managed by diet, exercise and medication, especially aspirin and Plavix. I'm on BP meds and a statin too. And I have to lose 35 pounds.

I would be grateful to hear from others who have this condition, and how they are dealing with it.

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No stenosis may mean the calcium is actually in the walls of the arteries.

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Hello,
My Calcium Score was real bad some years ago like yours. I was in the Cath Lab in short time. The calcium was in the walls of the arteries, just like you. I had other problems to take care of with the heart, but at least this was not one of them. Maybe in the future they will develop a test to rule out our situations so the fire bell isn't rung. I wonder how often this happens?

Bruce
Texas

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Hey Bruce. What other heart problem did you have? Mine was enlarged arteries, which slows down the flow of blood. So clotting is the major danger.
They want me to take a large dose of statins to handle cholesterol, but I'm having second thoughts. Some think that stuff is poison.

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Hello,
I've had 3 heart surgeries. I'm 53 years old this year. The bad calcium score was 10 years after the 2nd(Aortic Aneurysm). After the Heart Saver CT Bad Calcium Score the Cath Lab result was Arteries look good, calcium in the walls, but the Aortic Valve is leaking very bad. Aortic was replaced this past January. I posted a 6 month update in the Heart Section of this forum.
I take thinners for the mechanical valve. Been taking statins since ~2002 or so. I also avoid greasy food, don't eat pork at all and only cook with olive oil/avocado oil. Some folks that take statins rely on the medicine and eat really bad stuff. I try to make it easy on myself and control what is coming in. I have no side effects from taking statins. Nothing at all.

Hope this helps.

Bruce
Texas

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Thanks for the reply, Bruce. I guess I'l stay with the statins and eat really healthy. Sounds like you're handling the situation. Best to you.
Domenic
Brooklyn

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