990 calcium score but all bloodwork, EKG/stress are fine what next?

My entire vascular system has aged 25 years older than it should brother while my calcium score was only 13.... unbelievable when I think about my heart and now yours? 22 conditions i have on two blood thinners, Eliquus , clopidogrol, 4 stents BP, metoprolol, rosouvastaion 20, and nore it seems as though my aorta from pretty close to the entire length is full of plaque causing all my issues that literally make me feel likea walking time bomb! I spent 2.4 years at Camp Lejeune being poisoned FYI...

The chief cause of plaque deposition and its eventual calcification is inflammation in the vessel of concern, and perhaps due to chronic systemic inflammation. Whether it is from a pathogen, from metabolic syndrome, diabetes, some other comorbidity (often related to some kind of endocrine dysfunction).
https://wellwisp.com/why-does-plaque-buildup-occur-in-arteries/
Diet also plays a role, but some people can eat the very same diet, same quantities, and have no arterial plaque. This suggests that there is also a genetic component to this problem.

Hi @johnv66. I notice you recently joined Mayo Clinic Connect. Welcome! It is great to hear you are learning from others, how they are managing cardiovascular risks. You are really doing so much with this added to your own healthy lifestyle. This certainly doesn’t get rid of the shock you had to feel hearing your calcium score, but you truly are in a great place simply knowing and learning about it. Kuddos!

One suggestion I have from my own experience is you may want to talk to your doctor about trying the lower dose rosuvastatin maybe two times a week. My understanding is that it has a longer half-life than some of the other statins so it stays in your system longer. Taking it twice a week keeps a level all the time, so always a bit of the protective benefits your doctor may be wanting for you.

Mayo Clinic is a great place with their Statin Intolerance and Early Atherosclerosis clinics. I have genetically high and pesky cholesterol that is finally getting controlled. I am learning this is only part of my overall current risk and they are helping identify and address that as well. You may be interested in a summary of blood tests they identify as being helpful: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/heart-disease/art-20049357

It sounds like you have a great lifestyle and have no symptoms. What prompted you to get calcium testing? When are your appointments to get feedback from other cardiologists?

I too had a high calcium score in my LAD. Apparently symptoms only appear at a 90% blockage. I passed every test with flying colours except the angiogram. Two stents put in my LAD. I had a 70% blockage. My cholesterol was borderline high. I was also put on rosuvstatin. I could not even tolerate 10 mg. I take 5 mg and 3 times a week I split a tablet and take 7.5 in total. My doctor is ok with my numbers presently.

@thevikole man am sorry to hear your situation especially that damn Camp Lejeune piece which is horrible that you were exposed to that and I'm very sorry that happened to you. How the human body works and differences in each person is always a mystery but sounds like you are hanging in there brother and am glad your calcium score is looking way better than mine!

hello @gloaming thanks for your reply and I am assuming there is some genetic component here based on my fathers side with his 2 heart procedures but those were over 30 years ago and we're having a hard time tracking down the medical records to see what arteries were stinted/bypassed and what his diagnosis was.

hello @jlharsh thanks very much for your reply and recommendation about requesting a lower dose of rosuvastatin which i'm going to ask my cardiologist about next week at my appointment.

i am looking to get some additional blood tests as i did get a troponin, crp, lipoprotein a and b and those were all good results and showed no issues. i may just get an angiogram or an angio CT might be another option as I want to know what the blockage risk is despite my Echo stress test results being above average.

I asked my doctor about the Calcium CT test earlier this year because i had an uncle on my mothers side die of a sudden heart attack at 70 and he had no prior symptoms or warning signs (although he was overweight and not on top of his health). my doctor at Rush Hospital in chicago suggested the Calcium CT since its offered for $49 and didnt even require a doctors order to schedule.

I will share more next week after the 2nd cardiologist opinion. I am so thrilled to be off that rosuvastatin 20mg and have heard from several people who are only taking 5mg every day or every other day so hopefully that will be the dose my doctor recommends and is much more tolerable.

@johnv66, you had good instincts to ask about getting a calcium CT test. I think I read that you have checked your Apo-A and Apo-B. Ceramides and Lipoprotein (a) are additional tests that check for independent contributors. I found information from Mayo Clinic Labs that may be helpful to show your cardiologist:
- Lipoprotein (a) testing: https://cardiology.testcatalog.org/show/LIPA1
- Ceramides testing: https://cardiology.testcatalog.org/show/CERAM

Yes, please do report back with what you learn from your next appointment.

Appreciate it. Was my destiny. God is the best of all planners. ✌🏻

I have high LP (a). Look up Dr Thomas Dayspring, Lipodologist on YouTube. You can see him through interviews with Dr Attia and Dr Carvalho. Best wishes.