High calcium score: I'm in shock

Posted by sjy70 @sjy70, Jun 14, 2021

Hi everyone... just wanted to share my last few days - I'm scared and lost and was just hoping to hear from some people who have been in my place. Long story short - I went in for a "routine" checkup at age 50 to make sure my heart was okay. I had a stress test two years ago that was fine. But I do have a family history, and somewhat high LDL and blood pressure so the doctor sent me for a cardiac calcium score. It came back at 407 at age 50!!! That's like the 98th percentile for my age, which is shocking. I do Crossfit and have done half marathons so it was totally unexpected. Now I'm going for another stress test in two weeks to make sure no blockages are over 70%, and I'm not sure of the steps after that.... I'm terrified of needing open heart surgery - I've gotten myself into a place of being okay with a stent if needed. I know it's better to know than not know, but I just feel like my life was suddenly ripped out from under me and to be honest I'm spinning right now... every waking second I feel like I'm going to drop over..

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@njx58

Oh, nothing crazy. Just years of eating bagels and pizza and cookies and French fries, and not watching sodium, and so on. I was never overweight, so I always thought I could eat anything I wanted at any time. And maybe there's something hereditary that caused an issue over decades. So, now I look at certain foods as treats.

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That is exactly my story, too... the arrogance of youth and of the serious exerciser. In the long run, genetics is almost always more of a factor. In my case I also mistakenly believed that genetics was in my favor since my sedentary and overweight dad had never been diagnosed with a heart condition. I learnt that I was wrong about that, too, when he had his cancer scans... but by then it was too late for me. If I had been thinking about all this better I would have gone on a statin in my 40s to combat the rising cholesterol instead of waiting until my 60s.

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It might be better to have an angiogram instead of a stress test. That way, they can inject a dye and visually see the blood flow in the arteries around your heart. And, if needed, they can insert a stent right then and there.

A score of 400 doesn't mean you're going to drop dead any second. Your exercise has likely helped a lot. Don't panic.

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@interest

Hi, I was diagnosed with 390 calcium score a few yrs ago. I’m 70 yrs old and have family history of heart disease, always ate healthy and exercised thus was pretty shocked upon hearing the diagnosis. Overtime got used to it.
I am on Pravachol 20mg and low dose aspirin.
Would say to others to stay away from red meat.
And keep moving.!

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Did they check your LPA through lab test to see if there is a genetic component

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@missey

Did they check your LPA through lab test to see if there is a genetic component

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No, I didn’t.
But anyway it’s late now and I’m being treated - and effectively

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@interest

No, I didn’t.
But anyway it’s late now and I’m being treated - and effectively

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It is not too late to check your LPA. It is an important factor for the cardiologist to know for treatment, and a long term and short term basis.

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