High Coronary Calcium Score: How do others feel emotionally?

Your LDL is 9? That is really really low. What does the doctor say about that low?

59 yr old male, no risk factors other than BMI 32. 716 CAC started low dose Atorvastin, switched to Rosuvastatin due to muscle aches. 14 months later had minor chest pain. Angiogram revealed 70%LAD, 90% LCX, 80% D1, 80% D2. 3 stents. Historic LDL 120-135. Taking 40mg Rosuvastatin, 10mg Ezetimibe, Rapatha. Now LDL 9. If the science is real, no more CAD advancement.

@charlotteeb Charlotte is right. What is important to know is the level of LPa and APOb in your system; these numbers are captured in a comprehensive lipid panel test. These 2 numbers measure the 'carriers' of cholesterol through your system and should be under 70. Diet changes(rarely any red meat, no more mayo laden tuna or egg salads, sugar, white starch etc. together with a diet high in lean protein-chicken, turkey, salmon, oily fish, leafy and vociferous greens-kale, chard, cauliflower, broccoli, arugula, root vegetables, and snacks limited to walnuts, pumpkin seeds and bitter chocolate 70% have helped me lower my cholesterol from 230 to 135 and ldl from 135 to 43. I been taking crestor 40 mgs for 6months now and will have my numbers retested later this month. Good luck.

I watch youtube videos where the doctors have people with CAC in the 3000-4000. Mine was recently 982. The question is: is it the dangerous soft plaque or calcified plaque which is consider safe because it is like cement. You can only find the makeup through a CIMT or CT angiogram with AI (AI reads it where people can not). When I recently had the CT Heart Cath and angiogram I only know the CAC because the doctor was looking at my valves and heart. It did say calcified and non-calcified but not how much is. So I am working on lifestyle changes to cut the inflammation which for me is a low carb diet. Maybe someday I can afford the CT angiogram with AI reading it or a CIMT.

@drgerryherman You have to take the statin. Please. With that CAC score, it is paramount that you do not accumulate more plaque. The only way to do that is to get your LDL under 70, and you can't realistically do that without medication. Also, there is no pill in the world that will lower that CAC score. That plaque is there forever. The statin will keep it stable and help prevent further buildup. It's not a death sentence, but you do need to treat it. The cardiologist can't do anything for you other than prescribe medication and perhaps order additional tests (stress, maybe an angiogram).

Don't be depressed; be proactive and take this challenge head-on. 🙂

By the way, I am male, 67, taking statins for two years, and I've competed in several 5K races this year. My CAC score wasn't 1000, but it was over 200.

@drgerryherman
Please dont overreact to the calcium score. I am 70 and have a 1647 score. I have always exercised, eaten pretty good, low lipid scores where they should be. When I first got score, I was also figuring I had a week or two left, but I have now adjusted to it and I take my atorvastatin every day, continued with exercise and other things you should do. I feel good and I realized the need to enjoy even the little things I used to take for granted. My advice is to enjoy life, listen to your cardiologist and primary and move forward. The depression will be more debilitating than the calcium. Many people have calcium higher than us and lead regular, productive lives. Hope this helps! Need to go and watch my grandkids soccer game (:

I am a 70 1/2 year old male who exercises regularly (weight training, swimming, biking, etc) and has normal blood pressure (118/70). I recently had a calcium score test and I was shocked and frightened to see my score of 1031. When I went to see my primary care physician, she callously and foolishly remarked "that's the second highest score I've ever seen". I was quite angry about her comment because she knows I get anxious about health issues. She prescribed a statin medication (Rovustatin 10mg) but after nine days I told her that I wanted to discontinue because I was feeling unwell. She advised against stopping the medication but she told that she could not force me to take it. The thing is, I've become depressed since this whole ordeal began and I couldn't really tell if I was having side effects from the statin or if it was the depression. So that's where I'm at now, scared and miserable, looking for answers, and praying that I feel better soon I have an appointment with a cardiologist in a few weeks.

@manofheart thanks you , yes they are aiming for LDL < 50 , already started on atorvastatin 40 mg , aspirin 81 mg , Stress MIBI is shows subtle(5-10 %ischemia ) changes near the anterior leaflet, ST segment is normal , Radiologist thinks that it could be Artifact too. Just waiting for cardiologist to give me more clarity, Stress test is normal METS are good.

@carlnh An angiogram is an invasive test. There is a cardio specific CT scan which can give you all the info you need.

Good luck.

@ordiver1 You may wish to ask your cardio about Repatha to further bring down your cholesterol levels. With Crestor and a pristine diet, I was only able to bring down my cholesterol to somewhere in the 180's. However, I wasn't able to continue to tolerate a statin. Once I switched to Repatha, cholesterol levels dropped to about 150. My calcium score, last checked, was in the 2000's. I have a very high Lp(a) which is what caused my issues. Genetic, can't change that other than keep the LDL as low as possible. Darn scary. I'm 81, a gym rat, got two stents in 2022. My cardio told me that even with the stents in place and the lower cholesterol numbers, I needed to keep my diet pristine.

If Repatha isn't covered by your insurance, I understand there is another medication done by infusion which has had great success and seems to be fully covered by insurances.

I wish you good health and good luck.