48M w/High Calcium Score, Great Stress Test, and Family History

Posted by abf826 @abf826, 4 hours ago

I'm 48, recent CAC score of 871, and have a family history of high blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides. The calcium score was my first one. Many years ago, and again about 6 months ago, I had echo stress tests, both of which I did really well on (13:30). I've always been a runner and have had good cardio fitness levels. My most recent labs were good for me (total cholesterol: 155, triglycerides: 141, HDL: 27, VLDL: 25, LDL: 103) after increasing my Lipitor from 10 > 20. Prior to that though, all of my numbers were more elevated.

I'm also a parent of three so other posts are: high CACs among parents with young kids resonate with me a lot - my initial reaction when I got my score was sad/fear/anxiety/anger. It's only been a few days for me so I still have a lot of those feelings but I've also decided to radically change my lifestyle. I exercised only a little in the year prior to this CAC, fooling myself into thinking I was ok because of my decent numbers and good stress test. I let work and other responsibilities serve as excuses for me to not exercise as much. Since my score, I've been exercising every day (walking, running, lifting weights, isometrics and I play ice hockey) and I've gone from an unhealthy pescatarian (lots of cheese and eggs) to a pescavegan diet (no cheese or eggs and only high O3 fish).

I'm definitely have hypochondria about the notion that I could have a heart attack or stroke any day but trying to get past that and do what I need to do to prevent this from getting worse.

Just discovered this Mayo resource and really helping it'll help me discover new ideas, connect with people in similar scenarios and give me whatever silver linings I can get.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart & Blood Health Support Group.

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