High Coronary Calcium Score: How do others feel emotionally?

Hi Everyone

I noticed many posters talk about the MESA scoring system, but nobody brings up the ASTROCharm system which takes into account the MESA data along with other variables such as CAC, HDL, TC, BP, Race, CRP, Diabetes, family history etc. As it sounds---this was created for astronauts to see their risk. The papers I have seen indicate MESA often over predicted risk---thus they came up with this calculator. To be transparent--it was developed based on a younger population starting in the 40's vs. much of the MESA data which had participants older. My score is 4.2% 10 year risk.
https://astrocharm.org/
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.118.033505

Hi All

I took the plunge and decided to have my Lipoprotein (a) test....via Quest. It came back as < 10nmol/L, so that was good news for me. Rest of the blood work came back as LDL 31, Total cholesterol of 85, HDL 40...which is up from 32 6 months ago. Triglycerides of 67. I had a fear of looking at the LPA test....knowing their is not too much that can change that number.

jjohn,

I have several friends with stents - none associated with actual heart attack, but rather on noting discomfort of some sort, usually during exertion.

They all reported feeling far better following the stent.

Started on crestor june 2019 due to high calcium score then. I was a runnet most of my life and i hear runners tend to get high calcium scores

61 year old male. After stent i did cardio rehab and then resumed normal activity afterwords, some hiking and biking and after a couple months started to get weakness and wasnt able to hike and bike. Just slow walks.

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.

Any links on those studies which show correlation between statins and raised CAC? I had 770 and work out and eat well. Sister-in-law smokes, overweight, and doesn't eat well - she scored zero. I hear she is on statin (which I'm not sure I believe). I've been on statins for 20 years.

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.

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.