High Coronary Calcium Score: How do others feel emotionally?

jjohn10,

You're on a statin? When did you begin taking? Remember, statins calcify cholesterol deposits, so most folks see an increase of calcium after beginning statin therapy.

Also, my understanding is that calcium will increase - normally- about 15% per year. Even with aggressive changes in diet and exercise, your CAC score will increase. I've seen no one report a decrease in CAC scores - ever.

Hi @jjohn10

Interesting...most people who I know who received a Stent...due to symptoms such as SOB, usually get relief and more energy after the stent placement. May I ask your age? Could be just age related.

Not sure exactly but somewhere around 1400. Cardiologist said one of the highest the has ever seen. I didn't feel any effects of this for 3 1/2 years, remained very active. Then I started to have some issues when I was hiking or biking, where I would have to stop and let my pounding pulse settle down right after I would get started. Because all previous tests found no issues the cardiologist said the only option left was to take a look with a cath. I ended up with 2 stents. I feel like with stents now I have less energy and get tired quicker when active. I do a lot less than I did a year ago.

Hi jjohn10---what was your CAC score? It shows that even if someone has a clean bill of health---it just takes some symptoms to find out their is narrowing or full blockages. It sounds like your back on the mend to a full recovery...happy to hear that.

I'm not a doctor, but I have 3 stents recently and a very high calcium score. IMHO stents are not pre-emptive and a calcium score is not the reason to get a stent. They are considered when you are having symptoms, such as, during normal activities tightness in the chest, bouts of lightheadedness, weakness, getting winded or out of breath easily or maybe a rapid heart rate. The only way I am aware of to know a % of how much an artery is blocked is with a catherization - go in and take a look. But again if you aren't feeling anything may not be needed. I had a very high calcium score about 4 years ago and was feeling fine for 3 1/2 years having changed my diet and taking Crestor, until I started to have issues when I was out for a hike or bike riding. My pulse would pound in my arms and neck when I was just getting started, which hadn't happened before. I had all the standard heart testing done previously and at the standard check up points and always results were good.

Cleveland suggested I start with high dose, high potency statin therapy.
If that fails, then go to Ezetimbe.
If that fails, go to PCSK9 inhibitors by injection
If that fails, go to Bempedoic Acid.
But as far as I can calculate, if the relative risk reduction of successful statin treatment is near 30% for heart attack risk reduction, then the absolute for me would still be almost 10%---down from 14%. So what am I gaining for all that money and misery?
It seems to me that diet, exercise, aggressive A1C management will gain me more---and I am already completely off red meat for seven years---for which no cardiologist has given me the slightest credit and I doubt they are doing so themselves. I will talk to my Endo about it, but reading up on Ezetimbe already suggested that the stuff doesnt actually help with mortality rates, just numbers. I am NOT a doctor, so please make understand that these are just my opinions as a patient, and ultimately I have to make a plan specific to my health and desires. Like everything else in life, you pays your money and takes your chances. 🙂

Doesn't anyone question WHY and HOW the calcium ended up there? And, no, it's NOT good to have calcium in your arteries. And NO it is not inevitable - I know several people in their 60s and 70s who have a O calcium artery score and do not take statins And yes, your calcium score CAN be reduced. Do you take calcium supplements? Do you think they magically go to your bones? I cannot give you medical advice but I would strongly advise you read about vitamin K2 and calcium and, if you are somewhat medically or scientifically savvy, look up the research on this in the National Library of Medicine (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/).