Arterial sclerosis calcification

Hello @richkey, Welcome to Connect. Getting a new diagnosis especially when it's dealing with the heart can be a little scary. You are definitely not alone and I'm hoping other members may be able to share some experience with you. What's helped me with a new diagnosis is to learn as much as I can about the condition and what changes I can make that might help make a difference which is what you are doing now. Mayo Clinic does list some lifestyle and home remedies in the treatment information that might be helpful as a start - https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/arteriosclerosis-atherosclerosis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20350575. You might also be interested in this research paper on the topic:
--- Lifestyle Factors and Coronary Artery Calcification: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4646139/.

You mentioned that your doctor said not to worry. Can you discuss your concerns with your doctor about things that you can do to improve the condition?

Hello @richkey,

I'd like to join John, @johnbishop, in welcoming you to Mayo Connect. I can certainly understand your concerns about a new heart diagnosis, especially given the recent death of your spouse. Grief and loss are stressors that make any problem, especially, new health issues, even more difficult to digest.

Did your doctor prescribe any medications to help with this new heart issue? Also, as John asked in his post, were you given any lifestyle changes (such as a healthy eating plan or an exercise plan) that would help you?

@richkey Hi Rich. I am not a heart patient myself, but I am the daughter and sister of heart patients. The job of the right side of the heart is to send blood to the lungs for oxygenation. The blood returns from the lungs into left side of the heart that is larger because it pumps blood to the rest of the body.

The holidays probably were difficult to get through for you after loosing your wife. Be kind to yourself and do something that can help you relax. Reaching out to people you know can help. Everyone needs some companionship. Do you have a pet? After we lost my dad, my elderly mom adopted 2 small dogs from an animal shelter that have been her companions. Volunteering at an animal shelter may be something fun to do. You could play with pets who are also lonely and in need of companionship.

Stress can affect your heart, so I wanted to share this link. Perhaps a visit with a social worker can help find some solutions for feeling lonely.
https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/healthy-heart/your-heart-can-break-from-stress/
Heart disease can be managed. The link John @johnbishop sent with the Mayo Clinic information has lots of information about that. My dad had a first heart attack when he was 50, and he lived to be 86. He had a coronary bypass operation at 52 and he had a pacemaker/defibrillator and some ablations for an electrical problem in the area that generates the signal for a heartbeat. Back then, there was not as much known about how diabetes and heart disease are linked, and my dad had Type 2 diabetes. He never took diabetes medication for it, and he had to change his diet. He did take heart medications. My brother had the beginning of a mild heart attack, and the doctors were able to thread a device through his groin and up to the heart to open up the blockage. He has changed his diet and improved his A1C test numbers which is preventing his condition from progressing into diabetes. Changing the diet to avoid sugars and refined carbohydrates lowers blood sugar and reduces inflammation.

I was a young person when my dad had his heart attack and I changed my diet back then too and I felt better. I don't handle stress well and there have been times in my life when I had some chest pains, and I went through a cardiac evaluation with a lot of tests in my 50's. The doctor told me he usually sees some sort of blockage developing at this age, but there was none to be found. The emotional issues and stress that a person goes through can cause a heart attack. My dad had low cholesterol and convinced himself that he was going to have a heart attack and he did. I know that I must do everything I can to work through problems that are causing me stress because I don't want that to affect me.

I found some links that may be helpful for you. Mayo publishes books and content on Heart Health as well as recipes for healthy eating. Here are a few of the links that I found.

Podcast about Coronary Artery disease
https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/healthy-heart/can-you-reverse-coronary-artery-disease/
More topics on the Heart
https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/healthy-heart/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/heart-healthy-diet/art-20047702
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/heart-healthy-diet/art-20046702
Right now, you need a little bit more information from your doctor and advice on treatment. When is your next follow up appointment? Do you know what questions you want to ask? If you have more specific information from your doctor, I can try to help it make sense.

Remember, be kind to yourself.

Jennifer