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I have a very high calcium score. What next?

Heart & Blood Health | Last Active: Jun 23 7:02pm | Replies (346)

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@ndealw

When I got my test results back I got kinda freaked out because my CAD score was 595 and anything over 300 was considered high risk. Until I joined this group, I had no idea it was possible for scores to be over 1000 and 2000. I am 68 and asymptomatic, but my dad died of a heart attack at my age, and my brother had a heart attack at 44 (heavy smoker and alchoholic, and I am neither) My lipids are pretty good on 20 mg Rosuvastatin and ezatimbe, except for my Lipoprotein a which is greater than 600nmol/L, which statins don't affect. My cardiologist wants to put me on Leqvio which targets Lipoprotein a, but my insurance won't cover it, plus it seems like it's still in the experimental stage and there doesn't seem to be proof at this point that it actually lowers risk of heart attack or stroke. My cardiologist also says there is a new one that will be available in about a year, but again it will take time to get risk outcome data. I have a tendency to get bad leg cramps that may be attributable to the statin, and I'd love to at least reduce my dose. Sometimes it seems like there's not much point in all these medications, because they can't prove that they lower risk, but the doctors have to do SOMETHING when your scores come back high. So far I am enjoying this forum, and find it somewhat reassuring, so I'll keep reading!!

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Replies to "When I got my test results back I got kinda freaked out because my CAD score..."

Was your father or brother on a statin? According to the CDC, those who take statins have a 25% lower risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Also by reducing cholesterol, every millimole per liter you drop your bad LDL cholesterol, you may live about three years longer. There are a ton of reputable studies worldwide that medication can indeed reduce your CAD probability.

I tried Prluent and my LDL plunged as did overall cholesterol numbers. of course then my insurance stopped paying so I’ve switched to Repatha which is I’m told similar. Whatever you do, I’ve listened and read a lot of info about this including this board which I too enjoy. From what I’ve discovered, the best treatment is a combo of statins and a PSK9 inhibitor like Praluent or Repatha and I believe Leqvio is in that category. I’m a journalist and am soon going to write an article about the stress caused by people having this test. I wish I had never taken it. It’s changed my outlook about my own health and I’m not really sure it means anything. Statins, which I’ve taken for years, are designed to calcify plaque so it’s not dangerous. So does the fact that my score is 642 (my wife’s is 0 and she has not taken statins) mean I’m somehow at risk? I’m not convinved.