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Any women with high CAC scores?
I'm new here. Passionate 64-year old Italian-American college journalism professor married to a gastroenterologist who thought I was in great health. Eat pasta, lots of vegetables, fruit, and little meat, never overweight, look young, feel young, but my dad and four of his brothers dropped dead of heart attacks in their 50s. I've always had elevated cholesterol and triglycerides with elevated glucose levels since my 30s, but high HDL. Not one doctor, including my husband, has thought much of it because "I'm a woman" and appear to be the epitome of health. Everything changed 10 weeks ago when I decided I should have some overdue bloodwork. Cholesterol was 280, LDL 170, triglycerides 272, A1C 6.5 and HS-CRP 10. Scared me to death and decided to have the Calcium cat scan, thinking it would be a zero. It came back at 256, with 255 in the LAD. I've had zero symptoms, dance aerobics 45 minutes a day, no shortness of breath. Had the nuclear stress test the week after which came out perfect. WHAT THE HECK? According to the MESA score, I am at the 92 percentile which puts me at high risk for heart attack and stroke, and according the MESA, my arterial age is 79?? Husband got me in to see one of the top researchers of CAC and CAC progression next week at UCLA where he practices but I'm in total disbelief. I don't take statins but may have to (which raises CAC score), taking an aspirin a day, went full strict no refined carbs - goodbye pasta and bread- and lost 15 pounds in 10 weeks which puts me at a weight I was in my 30s. Understand that you can't reverse CAC score but you can stop the progression. That's all I care about right now. Determined and interested in anything you have to say and anything that's worked for you - supplements, diet, vitamins. Have read all your posts (it's my new past time- misery loves company, right?) and have heard of Vitamin C, K, magnesium, fish oil, Co-Q10, niacin, aged garlic). Will post after my appointment next week and share what this doc says (he's written half the studies that come up on CAC, CAD, and CAC progression). As many of you post: I feel like a walking time bomb. Questioning if learning of the CAC score is a blessing or a curse. I went from a very happy person to a total wreck who is relieved to be teaching online for another semester because I don't want to have a heart attack or stroke in front of my students. Sigh.
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Passed the stress test with ultrasound with flying colors.
Interesting ... your doc did an angiogram, but you had good results - do you know your METS and Ejection Fraction (echo from the stress test)? I asked ultrasound, but should have used the term, "stress test with echo" (techs do ultrasound just prior to the stress test and immediately after).
Did you have CT?
Most docs don't do angiograms if you are not showing /feeling symptoms - even with a very high CAC score. Were there other issues?
Looking forward to hearing what the researcher/doctor have to tell you. I have been told by my cardiologist that the CAC score goes up about 20% a year.
Hi J, I have hypertension that goes up and down and saw a cardiologist for this reason who couldn’t figure out why. So a CAC was ordered and I had no idea when he told the results that it was high. I was aghast as I am small, a vegan who eats very well most of the time (though an occasional cookies slips in). I am also a walker trying to add in strength training. My total cholesterol is 162, HDL 70, LDL 77, Trigly 38. I used to always get a star ⭐️ on my lipid profile so never knew I had an artery problem. Wonder why this test isn’t given to everyone before it’s too late?
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2 ReactionsHello debased, 30% a year? Wowsers!
Debwellmadebeh, sorry for typo on your name. I never know what my fingers are going to type next!
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1 ReactionHello swilkins1974, thanks for sharing and what a fantastic outcome! The heart association needs a campaign to encourage women to take the initiative and have a CAC.
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1 ReactionDid he test you for Lp(a)? It is a separate risk factor for heart disease…I have high LDL and super high Lp(a)…double whammy for me. Had a NSTEMI despite a good diet…genetics and stress didn’t help.
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1 ReactionI have much higher CAC score, over 950. Had a NSTEMI over 5 years ago despite a good diet and exercise. Genetics and stress ruled. Did your doc test for Lp(a)? Another risk factor separate from LDL. I am doing well on Repatha and Nexletol now. I even got on a clinical trial for high Lp(a). I think it is all helping.
Keep the faith!
Vania
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1 ReactionThanks for sharing. I had a CAC score of 1800 about a year ago, and just a few months later it had increased to 1936. That really pushed me to seek more intensive cardiac care.
In March 2025, I had a triple bypass, but unfortunately, the grafts failed just 8 weeks later, and I experienced my first NSTEMI. I was told the failure was likely due to poor vein quality.
I also have coronary artery disease in the family, and doctors believe genetics is a major driver in my case. Despite eating a low-carb diet, having a relatively low body fat (BMI around 27), and staying active, things progressed quickly.
I’m now in recovery and reevaluating next steps.
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