1. < Heart & Blood Health

High calcium score: I'm in shock

Posted by sjy70 @sjy70, Jun 14, 2021

Hi everyone... just wanted to share my last few days - I'm scared and lost and was just hoping to hear from some people who have been in my place. Long story short - I went in for a "routine" checkup at age 50 to make sure my heart was okay. I had a stress test two years ago that was fine. But I do have a family history, and somewhat high LDL and blood pressure so the doctor sent me for a cardiac calcium score. It came back at 407 at age 50!!! That's like the 98th percentile for my age, which is shocking. I do Crossfit and have done half marathons so it was totally unexpected. Now I'm going for another stress test in two weeks to make sure no blockages are over 70%, and I'm not sure of the steps after that.... I'm terrified of needing open heart surgery - I've gotten myself into a place of being okay with a stent if needed. I know it's better to know than not know, but I just feel like my life was suddenly ripped out from under me and to be honest I'm spinning right now... every waking second I feel like I'm going to drop over..

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alaskat | @alaskat | Oct 26, 2023
In reply to @questionofbalance "Just back from cardiologist. I mentioned 700 as being horrible or emergency. He said no, I..." + (show)
@questionofbalance

Just back from cardiologist. I mentioned 700 as being horrible or emergency. He said no, I have people in thousands. Initial tests (he listened to heart, EKG) looked good. I said I run 4 miles. He said no symptoms hard to get insurance to pay for tests so he will indicate I have minor symptoms so I can be tested. Nuclear stress test/echo cardiogram/nuclear CT scan.

I think they are doing pharma stress test. I think I'd rather exercise vs a drug stressing my heart. Any thoughts on this?

"A radioactive substance, such as thallium or sestamibi, will be injected into one of your veins. You will lie down and wait for between 15 and 45 minutes. A special camera will scan your heart and create pictures to show how the substance has traveled through your blood and into your heart.
A healthcare provider can use two different imaging technologies for a nuclear cardiac stress test: PET or SPECT.
Another way a nuclear stress test can be classified is whether it involves physical activity or medication to stress the heart:
Exercise stress test: You exercise on a treadmill or stationary bike to increase blood flow to the heart and reach a target heart rate.
Pharmacologic stress test: If you can’t exercise, you receive medication to increase blood flow and stress the heart.

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I had the PET and STRESS TEST done. My 1st cardiologist's office wouldn't cover it. He wanted to do an angiogram right away (crazy!). I have about 1600 on my calcium score but I am totally asymptomatic (swim, tennis, gym at 64 yrs. old).
Went for a 2nd opinion and that office was able to make it so my insurance would cover the costs (about $750.00). The stress test went well (I hate running for a long steady while mainly because it bothers my knees a little bit). For the PET scan to be done I had a dye injected into me and that showed (as per the cardiologist)a little dark spot.

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mayoconnectuser1 | @mayoconnectuser1 | Oct 26, 2023

I'm getting confused ...

PET scans are to detect cancers and are very expensive.

Echos are ultrasound assessments before a stress test and immediately afterward and provide very detailed video and imagery of your heart operating normally and following stress. The imagery is quite good.

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1 reply
jasper1072 | @jasper1072 | Oct 27, 2023
In reply to @mayoconnectuser1 "I'm getting confused ... PET scans are to detect cancers and are very expensive. Echos are..." + (show)
@mayoconnectuser1

I'm getting confused ...

PET scans are to detect cancers and are very expensive.

Echos are ultrasound assessments before a stress test and immediately afterward and provide very detailed video and imagery of your heart operating normally and following stress. The imagery is quite good.

Jump to this post

@mayoconnectuser1

You are correct about PET utilized to detect, monitor a cancer diagnosis, but PET technology (usually PET/CT) is used beyond that....Neurology, Cardiac etc. and yes they are expensive. Cardiac MRI is also making strides as well, definitely expensive. I have worked in this field for 20 years. IMO--a bit of overkill, but everyone is different.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11883-023-01107-0#:~:text=Results%20showed%20PET%20to%20have,PET%20as%20a%20confirmatory%20test.

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1 reply
mayoconnectuser1 | @mayoconnectuser1 | Oct 27, 2023
In reply to @jasper1072 "@mayoconnectuser1 You are correct about PET utilized to detect, monitor a cancer diagnosis, but PET technology..." + (show)
@jasper1072

@mayoconnectuser1

You are correct about PET utilized to detect, monitor a cancer diagnosis, but PET technology (usually PET/CT) is used beyond that....Neurology, Cardiac etc. and yes they are expensive. Cardiac MRI is also making strides as well, definitely expensive. I have worked in this field for 20 years. IMO--a bit of overkill, but everyone is different.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11883-023-01107-0#:~:text=Results%20showed%20PET%20to%20have,PET%20as%20a%20confirmatory%20test.

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Yep - I recall a dual PET/CT system being used in pancreatic cancer diagnosis - but, using it to assess calcium?

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1 reply
questionofbalance | @questionofbalance | Oct 27, 2023

I may need new cardiologist. First meeting on Monday and he wants three tests:
1. Nuclear Stress Test
2. Echocardiogram
3. CT scan with dye

I found out the nuclear stress test was four hours and required I take a drug to simulate exercise.
I called to question why and office said I mentioned I had a hurt knee. I explained i hurt my knee and gained 30 pounds a year ago but I'm back to walking and running 4 miles. They missed that part and assumed I couldn't exercise (how did he miss that part?).
So they cancelled my nuclear pharma test and setup a stress test. I looked online at my charts and it's scheduled for 45 minutes - stress test. Is that worth getting or should I get a nuclear exercise stress test? So why didn't they schedule a nuclear exercise test? Assume that would be 4 hours not 45 minutes.
Or are 2 and 3 above good enough?
Does this cardiologist seem good?

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mayoconnectuser1 | @mayoconnectuser1 | Oct 28, 2023

Normally, a regular stress test is combined with a echocardiogram (not electrocardiogram or EKG) - you lay on your side for a echo prior to the stress test, then after exercising on the treadmill (walking or running) in order to elevate your heart rate sufficiently, you immediately lay on your side, again, for another echo. These two combined constitute a stress test with echo. An echo by itself is not as useful in diagnosis of asymptomatic patients. Again, I am not a medical professional.

Many cardiologists do not think a CT works well as the calcium causes blooming on the imagery which makes it difficult to assess arterial conditions.

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1 reply
mercuryrose | @mercuryrose | Oct 28, 2023
In reply to @mayoconnectuser1 "Normally, a regular stress test is combined with a echocardiogram (not electrocardiogram or EKG) - you..." + (show)
@mayoconnectuser1

Normally, a regular stress test is combined with a echocardiogram (not electrocardiogram or EKG) - you lay on your side for a echo prior to the stress test, then after exercising on the treadmill (walking or running) in order to elevate your heart rate sufficiently, you immediately lay on your side, again, for another echo. These two combined constitute a stress test with echo. An echo by itself is not as useful in diagnosis of asymptomatic patients. Again, I am not a medical professional.

Many cardiologists do not think a CT works well as the calcium causes blooming on the imagery which makes it difficult to assess arterial conditions.

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I am 79 years old and my Cardiologist had me take most of the above tests for a base line a year ago. I have no heart problems. I did have AFIB 1.5 years and Mayo Clinic did an Ablation Surgery in 2020 and I woke up fine and still am. I am glad to take most any test ordered by my Doctors at Mayo Clinic because they can find a problem early or a problem I didn’t know I had.

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beaverstreefarm | @beaverstreefarm | Oct 29, 2023
In reply to @jdyment "Relax. Mine at 55 was 2,845. Plus I have the beginning of an aortic aneurysm. Countless..." + (show)
@jdyment

Relax. Mine at 55 was 2,845. Plus I have the beginning of an aortic aneurysm. Countless tests later and I’m popping 40 mg of statins and we are wait and watch. Once a year I’ll go in for a test. So relax. Get your MRI echo and stress test. The key is how well your body and your heart is pumping blood. You can have arteries that are 95% blocked, but still ample floods flow gets through the opening that exists.

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Recently had my second coronary calcium scan. It was in the mid 2200’s. Five years ago it was in mid 1800’s. I had a nuclear stress test after each coronary calcium scan. It show no significant abnormalities both times. The doctor said calcium buildup outside arteries. Confused!

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1 reply
Ingegerd Enscoe, Alumni Mentor | @astaingegerdm | Oct 29, 2023
In reply to @beaverstreefarm "Recently had my second coronary calcium scan. It was in the mid 2200’s. Five years ago..." + (show)
@beaverstreefarm

Recently had my second coronary calcium scan. It was in the mid 2200’s. Five years ago it was in mid 1800’s. I had a nuclear stress test after each coronary calcium scan. It show no significant abnormalities both times. The doctor said calcium buildup outside arteries. Confused!

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@beaverstreefarm
It is confusing. My scan showed calcification along LAD.
However, a cardiac cath this year showed clear coronary arteries. Explanation was calcification on the outside.
You have good test results- that’s reassuring.

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elaine321 | @elaine321 | Oct 30, 2023

Poor you. I can certainly understand your feelings.
I had a CT scan for my lungs 6 weeks ago. Lungs OK, but I have a severe problem with calcium build up on my arteries.
I never have pain in my chest. I am extremely active but now I am expecting to have a heart attack any day. I am in the UK and waiting for a referral but if this takes time I will go private for the first appointment.
Thanks for reading this

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