High CAC Could it be from Covid and Treatment Drugs

Possibly. The great injury common to all variants of COVID-19 is the brutal extent of inflammation they cause. Plaque tends to form where there is inflamed endothelium inside the arteries. Inflamed tissue is rougher, in a manner of speaking, more like sand-paper than silky smooth surfaces normally associated with endothelial cells.

Interesting, appreciate the reply. I believe that my CAC is from the inflammation. I am 68 been Keto since 2013. I'm a runner, cyclist, hike and strength train for most of my life. This diagnosis has floored me. The thing I am struggling with now is the Cardiologist wants me to take a statin and I don't see any benefit in it for me. I take no meds; the statin won't remove the plaque!

The statin, as much as there is controversy over their utility, does calcify plaque, which is what you want. You don't want fluffy plaque being dislodged and wandering around your blood stream any more than you do clots. Calcified plaque tends to stay put....more.... Statins also raise your AIC, which everyone up on their blood sugars science is most happy to learn. 🙁

Hmmm ... couple of things.

The CT process used for the CAC test is likely different than the CT used for inflammation and pneumonia.

My sense is that LOTS of folks who have high calcium are like you - maybe not the majority, but enough - to indicate the calcified plaque could be a genetic condition.

And, finally - unless you consider yourself as educated and informed as your cardiologist, perhaps you should heed their advice? You must know the statin will increase the calcification of your plaque, which could mitigate the likelihood of the plaque breaking off?

I have a few thoughts/questions to your reply but I will reserve them till I can process things a little more.
I do not consider myself more educated or informed than my cardio but I am trying to educate myself.
I understand what a statin does so my struggle with taking one does not mean I will not.
I do appreciate your reply found it informative.

I will respectfully refute some of what’s being said. I do suggest you get a secondary opinion if you’re not sure I do that all the time so I could better decide what is best for me. I also want to say that statins are first line protocol and they’re cheap and so the doctor doesn’t have to think they just put you on it, I also want to say that my dad was on statins for 25 years with coronary artery disease and he did very well. I was on them for three weeks and I had reaction. I got the muscle weakness and pain so off the statins I went, took down my cholesterol after I modeled my behavior after my Ukrainian refugee, which was to eat salmon a few times a week , a very stubborn cholesterol score which happened post menopause melted like butter. However, because this last year, my LP little a score indicates that I have familial coronary artery disease. I fought to LEVQIO. And I’m grateful I did fight for it because I have zero side effects from the injection and it dropped my cholesterol like a bomb in three months. I also want to say that plaque floating around in your bloodstream is not necessarily bad as it was explained to me it actually happens after you start these medicines as some of the plaque is removed from your system, good luck and remember that people don’t people here don’t have enough information to give you anything inclusive but they can spark ideas for you to take back to your doctor. I definitely recommend getting in your doctors faces as they don’t seem to give us enough time anymore, and they also seem to have created protocols, which just treat general populations of people , and we need individual care. Good luck!

Thank you @loriesco for your insights and for sharing some of yours and your dads history. I agree with you that people on this forum, at least the majority are not doctors and the information they share is their own experiences or information they have obtained from others. I joined the group to hear what others might think or have experienced. I believe there is wisdom in a multitude of counselors. I also agree with you that doctors these days seem to want to prescribe some type of medication for everything especially when it comes to lipid panels.
I am just starting this journey had a MIP stress test yesterday won't get the results till next week. Having a ECG on the 25th so I will have a better assessment when I get the results of these tests back.
I have been prescribed statins but have decided not to take them till I get all the results back from these tests then I will decide based on that.
I've read people on here with my condition describe that they feel like they are living with a ticking time bomb and though I can understand their fear I just don't want to live that way. I wasn't guaranteed tomorrow before my diagnosis, my life is in the Lord's hand but until that time I will continue to educate myself and live my life to the fullest.
With much appreciation!

mnl1,

While you wait for testing data, I would urge you to carefully consider the medical advice of professionals who, in most cases, have about eight years education FOLLOWING college, and perhaps a dozen plus years experience.

These medical professionals are providing the best care possible - please listen to them. Please don't believe a few hours online will provide the basis for an informed decision.