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CAC score in 95th Percentile - Next Steps?

Heart & Blood Health | Last Active: Nov 22, 2023 | Replies (23)
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@pumaguy79

Dear Question, lots of great questions.
No , I can’t tolerate statins. I take Zetia instead.
Finding a good cardiologist can be a daunting task. By “good” I mean one who treats the patient, noi the numbers. Who considers invasive procedures a last resort not the first. Who is a partner not a single-minded critic. Who is not so severely overloaded that they have time to talk. Cardiologists are taught a completely different bedside manner as in none.
I don’t think there is a noninvasive test for soft plaque.
Computed tomography (CT)will register the “glow” of calcium a tracer of (hard) plaque.

CT has been a blessing and a curse to many.
Oh yes, the risks of cath. My reading tells me the risks are bleeding, stroke, heart attack
And a quick trip to
a CABG ( coronary artery bypass graft)surgery. Without life affecting symptoms, those are too many risks in my humble opinion.
Everyone must decide for themselves.

Take care.

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Replies to "Dear Question, lots of great questions. No , I can’t tolerate statins. I take Zetia instead...."
questionofbalance | @questionofbalance | Sep 16, 2023

Thanks for the useful answers. Agreed about the CT being curse or blessing. I thought my life was over at first.
Zero is goal.
100 bad ....>300 critical. So 700 is beyond critical. Told to double my statin, take aspirin (which I stopped since it bothered me), and find a cardiologist. Do you exercise? What should you and shouldn't you do?

From what I'm finding, you should exercise. Keep moving. If hard time breathing get to ER. Probably need a stent.
Otherwise, slowly increase your workouts.
My goal is to be in shape for the probably stress test in a month. So far I don't have symptoms. My brother got a stent 20 years ago after he was turning blue playing racquetball.
But then you hear of people feeling fine and dropping from a clot. But doing nothing will kill you fer sure.

I'm eating very good food (mediterranean diet without any breads, salmon, sashmi, vegetables w/oil oil, many salads (olive oil/garlic/lemon) and beans, and some shellfish). Lost 30 lbs. Another 15-20 to go. Covid, deaths in family, work stress beat me up the past few years. Feels good to be getting back into shape and this shock of 700 is pushing me harder.

There should be guidelines once you receive the scores.
This forum helps. Thank you.

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