High calcium score: I'm in shock

Posted by sjy70 @sjy70, Jun 14, 2021

Hi everyone... just wanted to share my last few days - I'm scared and lost and was just hoping to hear from some people who have been in my place. Long story short - I went in for a "routine" checkup at age 50 to make sure my heart was okay. I had a stress test two years ago that was fine. But I do have a family history, and somewhat high LDL and blood pressure so the doctor sent me for a cardiac calcium score. It came back at 407 at age 50!!! That's like the 98th percentile for my age, which is shocking. I do Crossfit and have done half marathons so it was totally unexpected. Now I'm going for another stress test in two weeks to make sure no blockages are over 70%, and I'm not sure of the steps after that.... I'm terrified of needing open heart surgery - I've gotten myself into a place of being okay with a stent if needed. I know it's better to know than not know, but I just feel like my life was suddenly ripped out from under me and to be honest I'm spinning right now... every waking second I feel like I'm going to drop over..

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sjy70 | @sjy70 | Jul 8, 2021

@anniehall56 I am also looking forward to reading about your follow up!

botexas | @botexas | Jul 9, 2021

I am 78 and was lucky my cardiologist is more into prevention than invasive procedures. My score two years ago was 2500. Had the same test as you and the blood flow analysis showed my arteries to my heart are 90% open. Have you been on statin drugs? My RX is to try to eat right but most of all exercise and reduce stress in your life. CAC scores are not well understood by medical community and a lot of score is made up of stable plaque due to statin use.

Jim | @wrig1jam | Jul 10, 2021

I am currently 79 and just had an angiogram and two stents placed in my LAD which was 65% blocked and a stent placed in an artery that was a branch of the LAD which was 8% blocked. After the stents the 65% blockage was reduced to 0% blockage and the 80% blocked was reduced to 30% blockage.

I have had breath and fatigue symptoms since age 75 when hiking in Arizona. However several radiological flow tests showed 65% ejection fraction from the left ventricular, 3 stress tests with ultrasound were normal and two 24 hour halter monitors were normal. At age 78 a CT heart scan showed a calcium
Score of 800, 600 from the LAD.

This year my fatigue got so bad when hiking snd cutting oak trees an angiogram was recommended.

I am 3 weeks out from
The stent placement and don’t have fatigue any longer but I do feel like things aren’t right with my body and heart.

My cholesterol has been 139 total, 68 LDL and 65 HDL. But now take 80 mg Atorvastatin rather than 40 mg.

markdeegan | @markdeegan | Jul 11, 2021

Same thing happened to me. Get a CT-A and then go on Crestor and Zetia

markdeegan | @markdeegan | Jul 11, 2021

In reply to @markdeegan "Same thing happened to me. Get a CT-A and then go on Crestor and Zetia" + (show)

You have to eat differently and make sure you follow the 30 minutes day rules for exercise.

wisconsin2267 | @wisconsin2267 | Jul 12, 2021

Can you confirm your CAC score please. Thank you.

markdeegan | @markdeegan | Jul 13, 2021

In reply to @wisconsin2267 "Can you confirm your CAC score please. Thank you." + (show)

Now it’s 700

wisconsin2267 | @wisconsin2267 | Jul 13, 2021

In reply to @markdeegan "Now it’s 700" + (show)

thanks! I thought it was 800,600!! mine is 2267.

sjy70 | @sjy70 | Jul 19, 2021

In reply to @sjy70 "@anniehall56 I am also looking forward to reading about your follow up!" + (show)

Hey @anniehall56 just curious if you had any update for us after you met with the research cardiologist?

tim1028 | @tim1028 | Jul 21, 2021

In reply to @botexas "I am 78 and was lucky my cardiologist is more into prevention than invasive procedures. My..." + (show)

Good for you. It sounds as if you've got a solid handle on managing your atherosclerosis. By the way, my high score (1,500) was prior to taking statins.

My own thinking about atherosclerosis is that, as you write, the CAC scores are not well understood, but do have a correlation with cardiac events. Most calcified plaque is stable and research shows that soft plaque is more likely to rupture.

In the past two years, I have addressed those factors which physicians are fairly certain are cardiac risk factors, The American Heart Association's Simple Seven. (1) I have changed my diet to a more plant-based diet (2) I have focused on reducing stress (I'm retired and didn't have much to begin with) and improving sleep ( I now sleep well) (3) I continue to exercise consistently, following AHA guidelines. (4) I take a statin, which has reduced my LDL to below 70

Even though no one is risk-free, taking positive steps to improve one's cardiovascular health is essential. And it's no one factor that solves everything, but a combination. The whole is greater than the sum of it's parts.