Does mild coronary artery disease always progress with time

Theoretically, yes, but the good news is that you might need to live to 110 in order for the occlusion to be complete. Without the statins, it might happen at 102. Or 92. The point is that our organs age and become less capable and responsive, and our support systems suffer the same fates. I had an angiogram as a preliminary diagnostic before I could have an ablation of my pulmonary veins. The result, as told to me right on the table, was 'Minor deposits. You're good.' When I mentioned that this was a great result for a 70-year-old male to my cardiologist, he laughed and said, 'Oh, you have coronary artery disease. It's just mild at present. Stay on the statins.'

I have no ischemia, no blockages, whistle clean carotid arteries, but my current dose of statin is 40mg. I have heard of a woman who has to take 100mg each day!!

Directly answering your question, yes, there is always continued progression, but the statin slows the pace a lot. You'll live a long time, and probably succumb to accident or disease long before your arteries close. Even so, there is monitoring, and the worst spots can be cleared mechanically, and there's always the bypass procedure.

I’m likely to stay on my small dose statin of 5 mg Crestor, due to Type 1 diabetes for over 20 years. I do still worry a little over progressing artery issues. Before I started Crestor late last year, my LDL was 91. Total cholesterol 159. I was then taking a small dose of Zettia. Years before that developed issue with muscle pain and another statin, discontinued with doctor approval.

Recently, showed no plaque on carotid artery ultrasound. And over the last 20 years have had 2 stress tests where you hop onto the table and they view your heart with a device….not sure what it’s called. You see the heart and arteries as they function….all was normal both times.

Like Lazarian, I work out regularly and eat right. Good BP and blood sugar management.

Still…….my father had a heart attack at 63…..quadruple bypass, 4 subsequent stents and Afib. My dad’s treatment has been miraculous and he is now 87!

.am 58 years old and am catastrophising somewhat..hoping that the progression from mild plaque to severe takes decades as opposed to a few years..I realise everyone is different but there isn't even a general guide to usual progression rate to be found anywhere on the internet...lots of people saying different things with some people even saying it can be halted in its tracks if tackled with medicine.diet and exercise

I get it. I’m not sure if I’ve read about what you ask, but I have observed my Dad’s progress over the last 24 years, since his heart attack and surgery. I know he got some progression, because he got 4 stents, but he gets regular tests and last year, his results were better than the year before! It’s been at least 12 years since his last stent. He does take meds for Afib, cholesterol, blood pressure and a blood thinner.

I would think a cardiologist would know how to answer your questions. Not sure if you’d get referred to one with just mild degree of plaque. Hopefully, someone who knows will chime in.

I had a very high CAC score and discussed this question with a cardiologist. He said the progression can be stopped. I’ve also read a bit about it. My impression is that it can be stopped, but it takes medication and a clean lifestyle — how clean depends somewhat on your genes.

I was a regular exerciser for decades, ate reasonably well, maintained a normal BMI, slept well, and still had a very high CAC score at a somewhat young age, so I am a little skeptical. I hope that going on statins will “save” me as there is not much room for lifestyle changes.

I read the book “Beat the Heart Attack Gene” and learned a lot from it. I wish I had read it a long time ago. I thought exercise and eating right would prevent the problems that my mother had (quadruple bypass at 60ish).

For you with a mild degree of plaque build-up, I think an important consideration is your age. What percentile does your score put you in? Here’s a calculator to let you know: https://www.mesa-nhlbi.org/Calcium/input.aspx

It takes decades for plaque to form and grow. No need to panic. Find out your percentile and then you’ll have a better idea of whether there is a concern. If there is, you could schedule an appointment with a preventive cardiologist and discuss strategies for handling it.

Just saw that you are 58. My impression is that a mild degree of plaque in a 58 year old male is not a big problem, but my perspective is from someone whose degree of plaque is more catastrophic. 🙂

My dad was in a similar situation (found it in a regular checkup). Can you pose these questions to your doctor? You mentioned it was a regular checkup, so I’m guessing it was your primary.

If you’re especially concerned (and you can ask their opinion on this too), you could schedule with a cardiologist and that way you can have a more in depth discussion. My dad hasn’t had a heart attack (knock on wood), but he does have a cardiologist he sees for additional monitoring because of his athlerosclerosis. It can take a long time to get an appointment, but he only goes once a year and it gave peace of mind. It became more of an issue because my dad had severe side effects to statins (but everyone is different; he just drew a short straw).

Anyway, what I was going to say, is we learned from his care team that you can drastically slow the progression of the development of the plaques with statins, diet, and exercise. Although my dad didn’t have high cholesterol, he was put on statins because they also help prevent more plaques from forming and prevent the plaque that’s already there from breaking off and causing a heart attack or stroke.