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Extremely high calcium score at 42 - is there any positive here??
I'm a 42-year-old male. Exercise regularly, not overweight, non-smoker. While not overweight, I will say that my diet is crap -- way too much fast food, pizza etc. I guess I still eat like a high schooler.
Anyway, I saw a cardiologist figuring after age 40 this would be wise. He took bloodwork which was basically all fine. The cholesterol was *slightly* elevated and he recommended getting a heart calcium score. Told me he expected it would show nothing but that he just wanted to be thorough. Turns out the score came back at 397.
Obviously, this caught me totally flat-footed. I figured with my diet there might be some plaque, but this number places me in the 99.999th percentile for my age. And everything I have read online sound pretty dire about my long-term prognosis now -- that significant damage has been done, that it can't be reversed and can only get worse and that the statistical linkage between a number like this and heart attack-stroke is profound.
Weirdly, the cardiologist did not seem to be conveying any alarm when he told me the score, though. He was extremely matter of fact about it. Just said it was "very, very high" and that he would put me on a statin (which I've already started) and that I should take daily baby aspirin (doing that too). He said I should focus on improving diet and continue exercising (I already run 4-5x a week) but he was also pretty emphatic that "this must be genetic." (There is a history of heart problems on my father's side of the family -- though he is 76 and has yet to have any heart trouble himself.)
This was all a lot to get hit with at once. From the doctor's casual, matter of fact tone, I left the office a little confused, wondering if maybe this score wasn't that big of a deal and was a very manageable thing. Why else would the doctor not seem that disturbed by it? But then I started reading everything I could find on the subject and it's been pretty devastating.
Obviously, I'm ready, willing and able to implement the dietary changes, but for the score to be this bad at this young of an age (and with no smoking history, not being overweight, and doing regular exercise), it seems like I'm in serious trouble here. So upsetting to read that I can't bring this number down.
I guess I'm just posting this in the hopes that others here might have some experience and insight and be able to offer something, anything that is encouraging? When I read all of the medical material online about high CAC scores, am I missing something? This has all been playing out over the last 24 hours and I feel like I've basically just found out that I could drop dead of a heart attack at any moment and that my life expectancy has been drastically reduced with this news -- and that there's no way to get it back to normal. I now have a million questions for the cardiologist, but when I called his office today I was told he's just started his vacation and won't be back until August.
Any encouragement or practical advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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Not answering question . What exactly are you taking or doing in detail that is making a staggering difference and what were your first results in blood work and scans now to show all here what is staggering.
I could say I’m in the DH study but that means absolutely nothing to explain how it is making a difference.
My LP(a) was extremely high at 265. I enrolled in a double blind study of a drug to lower LP(a). So far I have had one injection and my LP(a) has decreased by 94%. Otherwise my bloodwork, EKG, heart echo, etc. are fairly normal. LP(a) is genetic and there is little that can be done to lower that number. Maybe this drug trial will be a game changer. Drug trials can be life changing.
Yes, the news made me proactive. I lost 11 kilos, cut sugar, bread and pasta. Only eat between 2-7pm and once a week I drink just juices. I added niacin to my supplements. I drink no sugar kiefer milk and sauerkraut. I added AC with olive oil. I exercise 4 times a week for 50 minutes and 20 of weight lifting. This has bee my program since August, 2022.
I don't have a cardiologist that is watching over me so it has to be me to make appointments and ask questions.
I read alot. I was told by a vascular doctor they will not do anything unless there is 50% blockage. I was told by cardiologist he will not do anything unless there is 70% blockage.
I have researched which hospitals have the best heart medical team on duty with the best stents. Apparently there are the Mercedes versions of stents and then there are the 3-year old Mercedes of stents where I am living at the moment.
I read that CAC scores increase 10-25% per year.
My third cardiologist says a exercise stress echo is recommended, if the result is positive, then a Coronary artery angiography (CAG) is recommended. Have you been told that?
The other 2 cardiologist just told me to take 5 mg of statins daily.
Trying to finding some sense and peace with all this.
Stephen
At one level, it is simple.
You take statins because of the CAC test shoeing you gave heart disease.
You get a stress test with echo to provide insight into your heart's condition. If the test, and follow-on angiogram indicates you have blockages, the cardiologist will cath and stent you.
All this - "Only eat between 2-7pm and once a week I drink just juices. I added niacin to my supplements. I drink no sugar kiefer milk and sauerkraut. I added AC with olive oil." likely means you are following guidance from internet or youtube doctors.
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1 ReactionSteveny9, you have done a lot of research on the stents. In my experience, when my blockages became severe enough, there was limited time to get the stents. Unless you live near the hospital using the most modern of stents, you will likely need to accept the stents provided by the hospital that is close by.
Daily exercising is great. Optimal weight is great. You likely will not NEED a stent until there is at least an 80% blockage. If you keep your cholesterol low via diet and statins, I think you can count on a slow growth of the blockages. From my experience and your lower CAC score, I think you might be looking at 15 to 20 years before you need stents. I do think it would be wise to be seen by a cardiologist once a year to monitor your status.
If you are a meat eater, you might try a more vegan diet which removes all animal products and thus removes all cholesterol and adds lots of fiber. Look for recipes with low salt and with proteins such as beans and lentils. If you start a vegan diet a couple of days a week, you might find you enjoy it. There are lots of on-line sources for recipes and support groups. Fruit such as apples and pears have abundant soluble fiber which removes cholesterol from your body. Most cholesterol is made by the liver so even if you are vegan, eating fruit is helpful.
I wish you well. Give this whole thing some time and you will feel more at peace, especially if you are doing everything you can to keep your cholesterol down and your exercise level up.
Donna
Just another thought: Stents can also result in blockages as plaque develops on them. Cardios don't want to stent a person until there is good reason as the stents have a limited life span. Once the stents develop blockages, the next step is by-pass surgery. I understand they don't do additional stents in the same area (although they will do a stent in a different artery that subsequently becomes blocked.) Once you have been stented you must take a blood thinner to reduce the possibility of blockages developing at the site of the stent. So, you want to delay the stent for as long as possible. And as time goes by, medical science may develop other options.
Be at peace, do what you can and follow your cardio's advice.
Donna
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2 ReactionsI'll also note...you may never ever need a stent, not everyone will need even in 15, 20+ years. I have family members who have had heart attacks over 20 years ago....and no stent, no bypass, and they live a normal life with medication....one uncle just passed 6 months ago at 92 who had a heart attack at 65 and another is alive an well at 89 who had a heart attack when he was 58...no issues other than a bad back =:)
Look at many people hear with much higher numbers....
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3 Reactions@steveny
Your reaction is normal...and that is good. It seems you are being proactive and are taking the necessary steps to ensure a good long term prognosis. Anxiety will come down in the ensuing weeks and the main thing is to stay on point with taking your meds, eating a healthy diet, exercising and having your follow up with your physicians. In three weeks I went from an LDL of 150 to 35! Stay positive and remember anxiety also is not heart healthy...so try to distract yourself when you can.
@neilyouger I have been waiting for someone to point this out and it was something that I could not find anywhere in literature. I can't find a study that compares people that do nothing and people that take the meds and make the changes. I've read that 5% or less of heart patients make any substantial lifestyle changes, which obviously makes the numbers look pretty dire for future bad events. One doctor I listened to, said 80 or 90% or even more reduction in risk of heart attack by following guidance and taking meds. Think about all the people walking around not knowing that they have early atherosclerosis that may not be living healthy, would you rather be that person or the person now able to make changes and live longer and better.
Can you share the name of the injectable? I’m curious because my doctor wants to put me a praluent, but I would like to know of side effects people have had on it.
Thank in advance
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