High Coronary Calcium Score: How do others feel emotionally?

Age 59, male. 716 calcium score 12/2024. Normal stress test 3/25. 20mg Crestor. Fast forward, 12/25 started having mild chest pain. Abnormal stress test 1/26. Angiogram showed 4 blockages, LAD 70%. 1 stent installed on 2/19, 2 blockages ballooned. 90% block is a minor vessel on back on heart, left alone. Crestor increases to 40mg, Metoprolol 25mg, Losartan 25mg. We shall see what the future holds.

@kirandeep aggressive cholestrol comtrol
Is of upmost importance

@carlnh I have CAC score 1000, I am going to see cardiologist this week, my LDL and Cholestrol was high, Please let me know how your angiogram went . I might have to get angiogram too.

@mla504 Thanks for that info. I'm going to lobby for an angiogram when I see a cardiologist next month. CAC is high but stress echo was totally normal and all blood work is normal. Hoping the CAC is a false alarm!

@harrydog …I would encourage you to get an LPa and APOb test. That is a much better picture of what is going on. Don’t panic…at least now you know to be followed by a cardiologist.

Hello all,
Just received a CT calcium score of 1146 on the Multi-Ethnic Score for Atherosclerosis. My PCP says this is “very high” but it appears to be “very severe” by other criteria.

My question is this: am I a “walking time bomb” for a stroke or heart attack? And secondly, some doctors think the CT calcium scan is useless.

My PCP just quadrupled my Rosuvastatin from 5 mg to 20 mg.
I’m asking him to add into upcoming bloodwork an analysis of 2 specific lipoproteins: ApoB and Lp(a).

And do I need to check on my parathyroid gland?

I’m rather scared right now.

Thank you.

I completely understand how you are feeling as I went through this about 9 months ago. My bloodwork has always been fine and in normal ranges. I just happened to mention to my doctor about a scan just to see and it came back 1160. Freaked out and with every little twinge, it was the end. Saw a cardiologist and she ordered at PET scan which came back completely normal. No blockage or issues. I took this as a second chance and have completely altered my lifestyle. Diet and exercise has become important and a priority. I've incorporated it into my life and I don't feel like I'm sacrificing or living less of a life. My thought process is that I'd rather live an extra week than have that donut or order of fries. The thought of eating really terrible things is not appealing to me anymore.

Everyone's situation will be different, but my advice to you is to learn how food affects your body and find a diet that is satisfying to you and can help stop the progression of plaque in your system. There are things you can actively do to greatly improve your longevity. Listen to your doctor and try to get in the mindset that every day you do positive things for your body, can help you be around for your family and friend longer.
Good luck to you!

I went through a similar process, was prescribed and had some extremely serious side effects that put me in the hospital. When in the hospital, they did an angiogram and it came back completely clear. The angiogram is the Gold standard. I’m very skeptical now of the CAC. I do not believe it to be relevant for people who exercise heavily and have normal numbers for BMI, blood pressure, etc. I was very anxious about all of this for 4 months until last week when I had the emergency angiogram.

Thank you so much for your reassuring words. It really, really means so much to me. I am trying to keep my anxiety in check , my appt. is next week. Many, Many many thanks!!

@harrydog