question,

You don't mention your BP ... is it high?

And, yeah, that's a long time running/jogging - hard to stop, but sounds like it's time.

Does a single 81 mg coated aspirin really bother you? It's different for all of us, but I never noticed it.

Did you have stress test with echo?
Peripheral artery disease ultrasound?
Advanced lipids panel (CardioIQ)?

Cardiologists… BTDT, been there done that. If you are otherwise a healthy individual with no symptoms the most a reputable cardiologist will do is put you on a statin and perhaps give a stress echocardiogram or nuclear scan. If the stress echo results are normal the doctor will advocate for aggressive lifestyle changes: regular exercise, balanced mostly plant based diet, abstaining from smoking and excessive alcohol and keep BP in check. Regular check-ups/blood work with your GP are important.

Also keep in mind if you have an elevated calcium score it has been high for a VERY long time. And how are you doing now? Fine and probably asymptomatic.

CAC score isn’t a death sentence; it’s a wake-up call.

If no symptoms don’t get tricked into an invasive coronary angiogram without any functional testing like stress echocardiogram or nuclear testing. And resist the unnecessary angioplasty.

Get on a statin. I resisted like an dummy for 20 years, my father started taking them when they first came out in the 1980s I believe it was, and when he recently turned 85 years old I realized he was just doing fine on them and my fears were irrational. The statin will stabilize the soft plaque and prevent it from breaking off and forming clots.

Calcium is just one piece of the puzzle, while this illustration isn't scientific it gives a good overall picture.

@questionofbalance : I was in a similar situation a few months ago. I had to take 4 months off running (after running for more than 20 years) because of Polymyalgia Rheumatica, an inflammatory thingie. At the end of that time, I got a score of 600. I had a stress test before I started running again. I was told that aerobic exercise is fine, but to avoid an RPE of “hard”. I think you are wise to wait to start ramping up until you talk to someone and get a stress test. But I think you will absolutely be able to get back to training at a decent level. I found the book “Beat the Heart Attack Gene” to be helpful. Sometimes books in the popular literature are iffy, but most of the things the book mentions I have also found to be true in my light read of more ‘“trusted” resources. It’s at least a place to get started trying to get your arms around this diagnosis.

Where did you hear about K2 causing clots? What I am being told is that it removes calcium from the blood stream and increases calcium in the bone (where it belongs). I would hate to be taking the wrong supplement.