58 year old 293 calcium score

This is ironic that your comment was just posted-I also had a Coronary Calcium test done today. This was my third one. I am 77 years old and mine have gone from 175 in 2019 to 278 in 2021 and now today was 363. This has really grabbed my attention, as I read that anything over 400 was high risk.
When mine was 278, my Cardiologist didn't seem too concerned. I have had cholesterol around 220 since I've been tested, but my LDL's are high.
I don't think there is a reversal of the plaque that is already there, but my understanding is that diet and exercise can keep it from increasing. I see my Cardiologist in February and am anxious to talk to her. I did start today with eating a heart healthy diet and upping my exercise. I'm interested to see what other comments are. Take care.

@ljchr thank you for the response. I also see a cardiologist in February and I'll report back here. I've been told that lifestyle changes are the first step but I'm not sure what else I can do because I already eat very healthfully and exercise regularly...

My understanding is that the plaque gets deposited in the lumen of the blood vessels, not on the inside lining of endothelial cells. The reason it finds its way in there is almost always due to inflammation at that site. You say your CRP score is normal, but maybe it runs hot 'n cold without anyone being aware, and when it's hot it irritates those endothelial linings and then plaque builds up where they have found it. Also, you're aging, so this would appear to be normal for you (you have long since adopted the lifestyle changes and practices that most physicians would agree is admirable and very safe, yet here you are..!). And who knows, maybe your genetic code predisposes you to a high CAC at this stage of life.

My understanding is that the CAC score is like a photograph of a point in time. It only shows directionality when compared to earlier scores, but it doesn't always point to an inevitable and continued increase. It's a snapshot of what is extant where they find it. If you happen to have taken a statin for the last five or six years, that's probably best because the statins help to calcify the deposits and to stabilize them. Instead of frangible deposits that can break away and float downstream, they solidify with calcium and stay put.

I’m 70 and my score was 593. I’ve been on a statin for 30 years. I had a heart catheterization done last month and I had no blockage.
So don’t panic. Eat right and exercise and take a statin and you’ll be fine.

I agree with you. I am 70 and had a score of 1687, which has gone up over the last 20 years from 185 in 2001. I was very concerned but the more I study the CAC score, it is one element of a big picture. I am on a statin and have been for many years with no symptoms so I try to live my life, enjoy my grandchildren, eat as good as I can, exercise and have regular checkups. It takes awhile to adapt to the realization that you have calcium but as my cardiologist says, if your score goes up, that means the statin is working to solidify the soft calcium. A good thing!!!! Take care!!

@mikeis68
1687 is a high score!
Mine was 1350 and I had a triple bypass.
A friend, who had no symptoms, had 1600 and the cardiologist sent him right to the hospital for his bypass.

My husband’s is 5185. No symptoms , not enough blockage for a stent ( must be 70% blocked). His cardiologist increased his atorvastin from 10mg to 80mg and his LDL dropped to 35 which is where she wants it, added Asa 81mg , and counseled to change diet and exercise. ( all of which we e done). I decided to get mine checked, and saw a cardiologist Jan 5. Here’s what he said the plan is usually……ca score of 1-99 add ASA, statin
100-399 add ASA and increase your statin dose
400 and above same as (100-300) .
I have no symptoms and I’m on rosuvastatin 10mg daily. I’m scheduled to get a coronary angiogram which should tell calcium score and the soft plague. My father died at 61 of a heart attack.

58M, normal BP, LDL in 120’s, no diabetes, CAC score was 716, months ago, started 40mg Atorvastatin and switched to 20mg Rosuvastatin, due to side effects. Walk 3 miles everyday, trying to eat better. LDL now low 50’s. I am waiting and watching. Stress EKG and Echo normal in early 2025.

Dont get medical advice here. Get a cardiologist and at minimum do a stress echo or nuclear stress or whatever they recommend. THIS IS NOT A PLACE FOR MEDICAL ADVICE.

I am a 69 year old female. My Calcium score was 220 and my cholesterol was normal. My cardiologist led me to believe that this score was fine for a woman my age. I went every three years and had stress tests…all were fine. I just had a heart attack in Oct and had 5 blockages! I found out in the hospital that I have a very high LPa…no one had ever suggested that I get that checked. It is totally genetic and diet, exercise and statins don’t help. I would suggest that you ask for that test and APO b. They are better indicators than cholesterol tests. I was totally shocked! I am now warning everyone I KNOW TO GET THIS TEST.