CAC Score 1146 - 57 yr old male - no blockage

First of all, thank you to everyone who has shared information on this platform. Reading others' experiences helped me maintain my sanity during what was a very stressful few weeks.

My recent story may be helpful to others who receive an unexpectedly high calcium score.

During my annual physical in May 2026, my primary care physician suggested a coronary artery calcium (CAC) scan. I had no symptoms, but I mentioned that my uncle died of a heart attack at 69 and my father underwent bypass surgery in his mid-70s and lived until almost 89. I also had for years low HDL.

About three years earlier I had passed a stress test for an unrelated matter. At that time a cardiologist also suggested a CAC scan, but because insurance did not cover it, I never pursued it. I thought I was doing just fine anyway.

Fast forward to May 4, 2026. I was sitting on a plane heading off on a family trip, looking forward to enjoying wonderful Spanish and Turkish food, when I received my CAC result: 1146.

I was in the 99th percentile. I just could not believe it. I thought the results were mixed up. But unfortunately that was a very low probability.

My routine blood work had always looked fairly good, except perhaps my HDL which has been low throughout my life (generally ranging from an all-time low of 29 to 46 but generally around 35 - 38), and my LDL had usually been around 90–115, including approximately 100 at my most recent physical.

Since I was traveling for three weeks, I spent much of that time wondering what I might find when I finally saw a cardiologist so rather than waiting until I got back home to US, I found a good local hospital in Ankara.

On May 15, I met with a Turkish cardiologist in Turkey. Compared with U.S. healthcare costs, the evaluation was remarkably affordable. Rather than spending time on additional noninvasive testing, he recommended proceeding directly to a coronary angiogram.

I was hesitant but I figured this would be a small risk to take to get a clear picture.

After scouring the internet, I was convinced I would need one or more stents, or perhaps even bypass surgery.

To my great and pleasant surprise, the angiogram showed no significant obstructive disease. I am still very much relieved. My most severe narrowing was approximately 30% in the right coronary artery (RCA), which also happened to have the highest calcium burden.

I am not an elite athlete, but I have been physically active almost my entire life. Over the years I have played basketball, swum, mountain biked, lifted weights, and walked regularly. I have not smoked throughout my adult life, and my alcohol intake has generally been moderate. Stress, however, has often been high, especially during work, international travel and taking care of family etc.

My treatment plan by the Turkish cardiologist is straightforward: exercise, rosuvastatin (Crestor) 10 mg, low-dose aspirin, and a heart-healthy diet. Keep LDL under 70 was his recommendation.

As for LDL, the day I received my CAC score, I started a statin (primary care physician prescribed it right away) and made major dietary changes immediately. I was actually surprised that by the time of my angiogram, my LDL had already fallen to 33 mg/dL.

My next step is to meet with a U.S. cardiologist, review all records, and continue refining my long-term plan. Waiting now for July appt.

I am sharing this experience because a very high CAC score can be emotionally devastating. While a high score absolutely deserves serious attention and ongoing management, it does not automatically mean severe blockages, stents, or bypass surgery.

Every case is different, but in my situation the angiogram findings were far better than I had feared.

This experience has certainly changed my outlook. Not knowing may have been bliss, but knowing has motivated me to eliminate bad habits, take prevention seriously, and hopefully enjoy many more healthy years with my family.