High calcium score: I'm in shock

We have kind of a shortage of cardiologists around here (other specialists too) and I'll bet others would tell me the same thing.

I'm 77 and in the words of one cardiologist, at your age, of COURSE you'd (and anyone) would have elevated calcium! The rationale in medicine (especially per insurance coverage) is don't test anything you can't do anything about*. For example C+reactive protein (another cardiac marker). The thing is, there's no remedy for it so insurance won't cover it. (I said I'd out out of pocket but he still refused.)

I see reading here there are astronomical differences between calcium scores, though and I'd very much like to know what end of the range I fall in!!

Makes me mad.

* Another reasons doctors often refuse tests is if they carry any intrinsic harm. In this case the calcium test does zap you with a lot of radiation.

I commented elsewhere the factor of age in calcium testing (and some cardiologists POV).

I WOULD like to know the age of those posting their calcium scores. Evidently is does have a major effect.

I don;t understand your comment. What does: Vitamin is pretty much poison for such. Mean>?

I overstated my point, because in fact, vitamin K levels need to be carefully monitored and followed by physicians for those who take blood thinners (usually for Atrial fibrillation).

Vitamin K in an improper dose (and it has to be regularly checked by specialists) can have the opposite effect of blood thinners - that is, Vitamin K can cause clotting (and in turn strokes and heart attacks).

It's to avoid that, that patients at special risk for that, take blood thinners. They need to be carefully balanced. In that sense Vitamin K can act as a poison for patients who need anticoagulants.

Very good point. For example, vitamin K is known to counteract what Wafarin does, so you don't want to be taking vitamin K if you're taking Wafarin. Always best to check with your doc about drug or vitamin interactions.

I am 63 yrs. old and have never visited a doctor or had a PCP for about 30-40 yrs. I decided to start a medical record bc I don’t know where I am at in regards of my health. I found out my LDL is high so I went to a Calcium score test and hit a record 1,536 !!! My PCP send me a statin prescription and a Cardio appt. Cardio doc gave me 2 options: a) stress test who he says is 80% accurate and b) an angioplasty procedure. Like some I am in shock. I play tennis 3/4 times a week, swim, etc… and was not ready to even imagine I would be laying in a hospital bed for this monster procedure. I googled if I could reverse my calcium score and I understand this it not possible which makes me shocked again. Right this second I have a very weird type of anxiety…. The kind that won’t go away, like having an empty box that needs to be filled with something and I won’t know what to fill it with…is like an undetermined situation that needs to be addressed. My buddy at 58 collapsed 3 months ago and ended up in a hospital with 3 bypass surgery. Tomorrow I’ll go play tennis…. Until I can’t.

Tomorrow you might consider developing a relationship with a PCP and a cardiologist ... getting a full set of tests to allow professionals to assess your health.

I'm thinking something like:
- CardioIQ advanced lipids panel
- start statins (and expect your CAC to increase because statins increase calcification, but might save your life because they do)
- stress test with echo
- peripheral ultrasound
- CT Angiography (CTA)

Perhaps a comprehensive approach?

How do statins save your life when they increase calcification?

If you have calcified plaque that means you have soft plaque also. The soft plaque is what causes strokes and heart attacks. Statins will calcify the soft plaque making it less likely to rupture. A great book is “beat the heart attack gene” by Bradley Bale and Amy Doneen. ( Bale-Doneen method). I had a 2267 score 3 years ago and follow their advice and see a Bale-Doneen doctor. Best of luck to you.

Thank you. Best of luck. I just ordered the book on Amazon.