1. < Heart & Blood Health

High Coronary Calcium Score: How do others feel emotionally?

Posted by mcphee @mcphee, Dec 14, 2016

I have a calcium score of 1,950 which is extremely high which means I am at a very high risk for a cardiac event,heart attack,stroke or sudden death.

I take a statin and baby aspirin. I have never been sick, have excellent cholesterol, low blood pressure and I am not overweight. I have no other health problems and I have never been sick. But I feel like a walking time bomb which has caused me a lot of stress. I am 70 yrs old.

I wonder how others with this condition feel emotionally?

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jasper1072 | @jasper1072 | May 23, 2023

Hi @alaskat

Generally speaking a Stress Test and more specifically a Nuclear Stress Test is performed to look at the perfusion of blood to your heart via the coronary arteries. I actually just had one done 2 weeks ago...and happily it was negative, I have an intermediate score with no symptoms (170)...which is not horrible compared to what you see other people get...but as my own Cardiologist says, he has people with a cac score of ZERO and still they find a blockage that just didn't have Calcium in it....so back to the statement before, everyone's situation is different. No one test is the source of truth.

REPLY
1 reply
writer418 | @writer418 | May 23, 2023
In reply to @jasper1072 "Hi @alaskat Generally speaking a Stress Test and more specifically a Nuclear Stress Test is performed..." + (show)
@jasper1072

Hi @alaskat

Generally speaking a Stress Test and more specifically a Nuclear Stress Test is performed to look at the perfusion of blood to your heart via the coronary arteries. I actually just had one done 2 weeks ago...and happily it was negative, I have an intermediate score with no symptoms (170)...which is not horrible compared to what you see other people get...but as my own Cardiologist says, he has people with a cac score of ZERO and still they find a blockage that just didn't have Calcium in it....so back to the statement before, everyone's situation is different. No one test is the source of truth.

Jump to this post

So Jasper basically answered the question you asked me earlier today. My score was 642 which I thought was terrible at the time although now I understand that some have much higher scores. Yes, I had a sonogram of my heart and a nuclear stress test and probably something else and my cardiologist (who operates on Manhattan's upper east side and is well regarded) said my blood flow was good and not to worry. He did put me on Praluent, an injectable anti-cholesterol drug that lowered my LDL from 78 to 22. Then he cut back on my statins to 10 mg. I have had no side effects from Praluent although if you read the literature, you might get scared off. All I can say is that I don't notice I'm taking it at all. I stopped eating meat and I'm still trying to lose weight although I'm only about ten pounds overweight. I also started swimming 3x a week which is helpful for cardio health. I would rather exercise my head off and eat no meat at all rather than get a stent. if you need it so be it but have these other tests and make damn sure you do. you've got to take control of your own health destiny and not leave it solely up to doctors. Good luck.

REPLY
1 reply
alaskat | @alaskat | May 25, 2023
In reply to @writer418 "So Jasper basically answered the question you asked me earlier today. My score was 642 which..." + (show)
@writer418

So Jasper basically answered the question you asked me earlier today. My score was 642 which I thought was terrible at the time although now I understand that some have much higher scores. Yes, I had a sonogram of my heart and a nuclear stress test and probably something else and my cardiologist (who operates on Manhattan's upper east side and is well regarded) said my blood flow was good and not to worry. He did put me on Praluent, an injectable anti-cholesterol drug that lowered my LDL from 78 to 22. Then he cut back on my statins to 10 mg. I have had no side effects from Praluent although if you read the literature, you might get scared off. All I can say is that I don't notice I'm taking it at all. I stopped eating meat and I'm still trying to lose weight although I'm only about ten pounds overweight. I also started swimming 3x a week which is helpful for cardio health. I would rather exercise my head off and eat no meat at all rather than get a stent. if you need it so be it but have these other tests and make damn sure you do. you've got to take control of your own health destiny and not leave it solely up to doctors. Good luck.

Jump to this post

I appreciate your responses. You are on the good side of things score wise and living your best life possible by exercising and changing your diet. I am 63 and play tennis 2/3 times a week, no dairy unless is low fat cottage cheese, no red meat. I have joined the gym basically for swimming twice to three times a week and use of treadmill for 1/2 hour each time. Tomorrow I meet a 2nd cardiologist's opinion and hoping it is someone who has options as opposite of a "stent procedure only solution". Currently taking 1 statin x10mg p/day with a CAC score of 1525. Have friends and relatives who have stents from long time ago and they don't even think about them and that fact makes me wonder if I should go for that. I want to be worry free but then again I don't want an invasive procedure BUT then again I have a high CAC. I will definitely want my heart stress tests done before anything and see where to go from there but because my mind has a divided opinion I am open minded for an angiogram. I will write more after tomorrow's conversation with the doctor.

REPLY
2 replies
writer418 | @writer418 | May 25, 2023
In reply to @alaskat "I appreciate your responses. You are on the good side of things score wise and living..." + (show)
@alaskat

I appreciate your responses. You are on the good side of things score wise and living your best life possible by exercising and changing your diet. I am 63 and play tennis 2/3 times a week, no dairy unless is low fat cottage cheese, no red meat. I have joined the gym basically for swimming twice to three times a week and use of treadmill for 1/2 hour each time. Tomorrow I meet a 2nd cardiologist's opinion and hoping it is someone who has options as opposite of a "stent procedure only solution". Currently taking 1 statin x10mg p/day with a CAC score of 1525. Have friends and relatives who have stents from long time ago and they don't even think about them and that fact makes me wonder if I should go for that. I want to be worry free but then again I don't want an invasive procedure BUT then again I have a high CAC. I will definitely want my heart stress tests done before anything and see where to go from there but because my mind has a divided opinion I am open minded for an angiogram. I will write more after tomorrow's conversation with the doctor.

Jump to this post

Yes please keep us posted. Good luck.

REPLY
wisconsin2267 | @wisconsin2267 | May 26, 2023

Besides Beat the heart attack gene by Bale-Doneen, this is a really good book by Ford Brewer and Todd Eldridge.

REPLY
1 reply
rochelle369 | @rochelle369 | May 26, 2023
In reply to @alaskat "I appreciate your responses. You are on the good side of things score wise and living..." + (show)
@alaskat

I appreciate your responses. You are on the good side of things score wise and living your best life possible by exercising and changing your diet. I am 63 and play tennis 2/3 times a week, no dairy unless is low fat cottage cheese, no red meat. I have joined the gym basically for swimming twice to three times a week and use of treadmill for 1/2 hour each time. Tomorrow I meet a 2nd cardiologist's opinion and hoping it is someone who has options as opposite of a "stent procedure only solution". Currently taking 1 statin x10mg p/day with a CAC score of 1525. Have friends and relatives who have stents from long time ago and they don't even think about them and that fact makes me wonder if I should go for that. I want to be worry free but then again I don't want an invasive procedure BUT then again I have a high CAC. I will definitely want my heart stress tests done before anything and see where to go from there but because my mind has a divided opinion I am open minded for an angiogram. I will write more after tomorrow's conversation with the doctor.

Jump to this post

Are you aware that all animal products (chicken, fish, eggs, all meats, dairy) contain cholesterol? A whole food plant based low fat diet has been proven to be beneficial. Your body also produces cholesterol.

REPLY
1 reply
wisconsin2267 | @wisconsin2267 | May 26, 2023
In reply to @wisconsin2267 "Besides Beat the heart attack gene by Bale-Doneen, this is a really good book by Ford..." + (show)
@wisconsin2267

Besides Beat the heart attack gene by Bale-Doneen, this is a really good book by Ford Brewer and Todd Eldridge.

Jump to this post

See above.
REPLY
2 replies
rochelle369 | @rochelle369 | May 27, 2023
In reply to @wisconsin2267 "See above." + (show)
@wisconsin2267

See above.

Jump to this post

Is this a good book?

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1 reply
wisconsin2267 | @wisconsin2267 | May 27, 2023
In reply to @rochelle369 "Is this a good book?" + (show)
@rochelle369

Is this a good book?

Jump to this post

I thought it was and gained some advice from it.

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mayoconnectuser1 | @mayoconnectuser1 | May 27, 2023
In reply to @wisconsin2267 "See above." + (show)
@wisconsin2267

See above.

Jump to this post

Apparently not everyone agrees with this doctor ... likely the selling of books and youtube videos makes folks suspicious?

I certainly am.

I am, btw, also suspicious of most binary statements - like only eat plant based food.

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