High Coronary Calcium Score: How do others feel emotionally?

From my point of view, I would appoint a cardiologist to monitor what is going on and its progression. As you change your lifestyle, eat better and exercise you heart will be happy! I would get a second CT-Scan in 2 years to see the progress (hopefully it will go down).

Also I suggest reading about insulin resistance and its effect on the arteries.

I also had a high score. It's scary but I am taking this as a lucky warning for reducing my risk of stroke or heart attack.

Hello Everyone,

I have never posted a blog before, so here it goes. I actually work in the medical profession as a COO, my wife convinced me to get a calcium scoring and have my annual check-up. Yup...healthcare professionals are the worst about taking care of themselves. Anyway...my labs are OK except lipid profiles...all out of wack. 218 total cholesterol, high triglycerides, high LDL and Low HLD to be brief. I get a calcium scoring and bam! 170. It was a bit in each vessel, 70, 80, 30 I went into panic mode and text'ed my primary care physician who I know. First he said positively, no other abnormalities seen...which I knew. As I told him I was panicking, something I don't do, he said take a deep breath--yes definitely a bit of a surprise, but still in a safer zone than many others. He put me on Crestor 10mg, and 81mg aspirin and will repeat the labs in 3 months, which will be at the end of April. He said we will adjust meds if necessary. He said exercise, eat better.... I am 6 ft. 185lbs, I was not an exerciser to be honest. So I have been exercising 6 days a week--no Shortness of Breath, and I run vigorously with a sweat. I dropped 10 lbs and hold my breath. My brother had a similar issue but he is 10 years older than me when dx, he was a smoker---I was not. He is still around...gives me hope. My father was in the same boat, but had heart attack late 50's, but passed away in Mid-80's. Just nerve racking to say the least. I'm going to ask him if I should get a Cardiologist recommendation. Thoughts?

That sounds encouraging to me! As others have commented, citing Dr. James Min of Cleerly and other cardiologists, coronary calcium stablizes plaques - thus it may actually be positive and beneficial for heart health.

Hi

It was a SPECT MPI. Doctor said everything was normal including blood flow. As far as the CT scan no stenosis reported.

Hi @stanimal, was your nuclear test PET MPI or SPECT MPI? Did they quantify your blood flow? Any stenosis information from your CT scans? If you have no blockages/obstruction, I wouldn't be discouraged! I have a lower calcium score but my recent coronary CT angiogram shows a 50% stenosis in mid-LAD, which worries me; my cardiologist wants me to do a stress cardiac MRI MPI as soon as possible. But like you I super active, around 15 hours per week of vigorous or intense exercise, with no angina or other symptoms.

don't be discouraged. Calcium scores are becoming less and less relevant. I'm assuming you are on a Statin drug.
My score was 2,854. I'm 56 and at the gym every day for the past 30 years. Lots and lots of tests show blood flow is perfect. So living life as though I have another 40 years.
Jeff

I had my first CT angiogram about 11 years ago and my score was 320. Decided to go strict vegan and after two years had another CT angiogram and my score was 420.
I have been very active my entire life with exercise, running, weight lifting, cycling, yoga and racquet sports. I am 68 years old.

I remained about 95% vegan after my second CT scan. And continued my active lifestyle.

I had another CT scan last week and now my score is 1080

Disheartening to say the least.

I had an echo stress which was inconclusive and a nuclear which shows no blockages.

I am extremely discouraged . I thought I was doing everything right and nothing seems to stop the progression

Discouraged in NY

peggystephenson,

keithl56 has accurately expressed my position, as well.

Sorry, my intent is not to be rude. People on here are looking for help. It is disingenuous to promote POV's based on singular anecdotal "evidence" versus numerous peer reviewed studies of double blind studies with large cohorts. You can have your own POV but when you promote it to others you can actually do harm if it is not fact based. If the man in the video can support his outlandish claims he should provide data to back them. I suspect that he can't. He doesn't provide one quantifiable measurement of success.

The problem with your approach is that many people on here are desperately trying to find answers regarding their health and are vulnerable to these sham magic bullet theories and may adapt them opposed to sound medical science and actually be worse off.

This, I understand, is a forum to express POV - not to be rude.
I would be inclined to take something of interest and do my own research. I would not expect (your) POV to be truth - even if you posted a piece of internet sourced study material of unknown origin with unknown motivation as support.
No one is defending their PhD in 300 pages here.
I have a healthy distrust, from personal experience, of the FDA and western medicine and the big Pharma machine. We are all (I’m assuming) people here with concerns and questions and a POV trying to be our own best advocate. There is plenty of info when one takes the time to dig. Good luck crossing your bridge