Crazy high calcium score

Posted by heycal @heycal, Jun 17 6:42pm

61 male with COPD which doesn't keep me from exercising regularly. No symptoms of anything unusual lately. Diet is not great, but not overweight in the least. Had a Stent put in for carotid artery 18 months ago. Been on atorvastin and ramipril for BP and high cholesterol for a few years now. Cholesterol numbers now look pretty good I think.

Just had a CT ordered for calcium score after "severe coronary calcifications" noted on routine lung CT scan. My score was just over 4000, though with 'accuracy comprised by motion detection or something', though I'm guessing it's at least somewhat roughly accurate. I was stunned by this number when I saw it today in my health app (I was prepared to freak if I saw 400!), and haven't heard back from my doctor yet. Found this group in the meantime, which made me slow my catastrophic thoughts somewhat as I imagined myself undergoing emgergency heart surgery this evening....

As I await further word, perhaps you folks can tell me what these numbers mean in the report, and what I can expect going forward?

LM: 0 LAD: 658 LCx: 329 RCA: 3062

Thank you,

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UPDATE: Just heard from doc. He's doubling my statin and adding beta blocker and referring me to cardiologist, who he guesses will order stress test. Told me to stop all strenuous activity for now, which I did not see coming and which is an extreme bummer for this sports and lifting addict...

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The waiting is often the worst of it all. But, I hope for you that the determination is not all that bad, and that it can be halted if it is progressing.

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Are you doing Cardio? I lift daily and have for 30 years.. but cardio needs to be a part of your routine.., I was a little slack on this prior to my 2418 score two years ago. Everyday I get thru my cardio without any angina or heart issues., I feel a bit of comfort.

What are your lipid blood work results and what were they prior to medication? Smoker?

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The numbers represent the calcium burden in each artery: LM - left main, LAD -left anterior descending, LCX - left crucifix, RCA - right coronary.

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I have some personal good news on having a high CAC score. Mine went from 378 to 798 in 4 years -- around 23-25% increase per year. We used the book by Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn on how to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease and his diet as a baseline. We added some salmon and shrimp to make it more tolerable. Yesterday I did another CT Scan for a new CAC Score after 15 months and it came back 807.7. YEA! This is just over a 1% increase. Some studies indicate that an increase of less than 15% is an indication of significantly reduced risks. I have a very high Lipoprotein a level also (283) so using the diet to stabilize my calcium buildup rate clearly makes me feel the diet was worth the effort. Good Luck. There is a ton of information on these topics on the web and several really informative clinical studies as well.

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My CAC score was 1250. He doubled my blood pressure medicine and put me on a beta blocker and Double cholesterol meds. No pain. Wants to see me in January of 2025. Wants me to do treadmill and a small workout each day. This is per cardiologist

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@doddr

I have some personal good news on having a high CAC score. Mine went from 378 to 798 in 4 years -- around 23-25% increase per year. We used the book by Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn on how to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease and his diet as a baseline. We added some salmon and shrimp to make it more tolerable. Yesterday I did another CT Scan for a new CAC Score after 15 months and it came back 807.7. YEA! This is just over a 1% increase. Some studies indicate that an increase of less than 15% is an indication of significantly reduced risks. I have a very high Lipoprotein a level also (283) so using the diet to stabilize my calcium buildup rate clearly makes me feel the diet was worth the effort. Good Luck. There is a ton of information on these topics on the web and several really informative clinical studies as well.

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doddr,

Did you begin taking statins at some point in the chronology? Statins will begin calcifying ones cholesterol, affecting the CAC score, but once most of the calcification is complete, perhaps the rate of increase slows?

Not trying to throw a wet blanket on your theory, but there are other factors, likely.

Did you post your lipid panel, and advanced lipid panel results?

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I'm sure you are aware of Astorvastin and the fact it can cause dementia. Was on it for awhile and my memory started to go. I don't take it anymore. There is a vast amount of information out there about statin drugs and how dangerous they are to your health. There are other options to lower your cholesterol.

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Thanks for your input, folks. Cardiologist ordered nuclear stress test, scheduled for this Monday, June 24, with follow up appt July 8. (Unless they find something that depends immediate attention I would think.) Also said I could go jogging and do light weight lifting in the meantime.

To answer some of the questions posted above, I've been on a statin for about 5 years, and I walk close to an hour a day. I don't recall what my cholesterol numbers were previously, but over 200 total and enough to be put on atorvastatin. Last week's number were:

non-HDL cholesterol: 86 mg
Triglyceride: 67
LDL cholesterol: 73 mg
HDL cholesterol: 99 mg
Cholesterol: 184 mg

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@dajasorenson

I'm sure you are aware of Astorvastin and the fact it can cause dementia. Was on it for awhile and my memory started to go. I don't take it anymore. There is a vast amount of information out there about statin drugs and how dangerous they are to your health. There are other options to lower your cholesterol.

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While we could discuss further, I would simply add that almost the entire medical profession disagrees with your statin assessment.

I am not a medical professional.

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