High Coronary Calcium Score: How do others feel emotionally?
I have a calcium score of 1,950 which is extremely high which means I am at a very high risk for a cardiac event,heart attack,stroke or sudden death.
I take a statin and baby aspirin. I have never been sick, have excellent cholesterol, low blood pressure and I am not overweight. I have no other health problems and I have never been sick. But I feel like a walking time bomb which has caused me a lot of stress. I am 70 yrs old.
I wonder how others with this condition feel emotionally?
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart & Blood Health Support Group.
So I've been having palpitations quite frequently lately. Seems to occur more after a night of alcohol consumption and more frequently after may meals. My heart rate will increase to nearly 100 beats per minute for a couple hours before settling back down. There will be an extra beat or a skipped beat here and there. I had previously had an ablation in 2010 to correct AVNRT, but haven't visited a cardiologist since. Cardiologist ordered the Cardiac Calcium score. Well I haven't heard from the cardiologist yet, but I can review the results online. I'm 37 years old and the CAC score came back as 402. First thought I was hoping higher was better, but looking into it, that's an off the chart number for my age. I'm devastated.
@tim1028- Tim, I had been on 40 mg. of Atorvastatin for about a year and began experiencing numbness in my feet when I walked. Went to the Scottsdale Mayo for a 2nd opinion on sevral heart issues and when discussing statins my cardiologist suggested moving to Rosuvastatin because in his opinion worked best on LDL. My LDL was at 78 at the time and he wanted me to get below 70. After 6 months of 20 mg. of Rosuvastatin, all my levels got much better including my LDL dropped to 64. Since than that continued 20 mg dose has maintained those numbers and the numbness is gone best of all!
I have been on a moderately high dose statin, 40 mg of Atorvastatin and 81 mg aspirin for three months. I have none of the standard risk factors and have been physically active my whole life (I'm 70). Thankfully, I have experienced no side effects from the statin and hope to change to a high-dose 80 mg dose of Atorvastatin at my next medical appointment. The 2018 AHA/ACC cholesterol guidelines suggest lowering LDL cholesterol as much as possible
("In patients with clinical ASCVD, reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) with high-intensity statins or maximally tolerated statins to decrease ASCVD risk. Greater LDL-C reductions on statin therapy, leading to lower LDL-C levels, lower significant risk. Use a maximally tolerated statin to reduce LDL-C levels by ≥50%")
My genetic profile from 23andme shows a slightly increased risk for increased Lipoprotein A (SNP rs3798220 = normal; SNP 10455872 = likely elevated LpA.) I haven't had a test for Lp(A) because the horse is already out of the barn. Like others here, I have no exercise intolerance and am asymptomatic. My plan is to eat a more heart healthy diet (Mediterranean), continue to maintain physical activity levels, and address stress.
Always heard the opposite with LDL. My Doc said to get below 100 is standard but in my case with the high calcium score below 80.
I didn't get that info but I have a score of 4 in the widow maker(Left main) and 0 in the Circumflex, 266 in the right coronary and 436 in the left anterior descending. May I ask what treatment you are undergoing?
I don't have any exercise intolerance either. I'm not a body builder(you look great by the way) but I lift light weights and use my elliptical trainer 2-3 days a week for 25-30 minutes with no problem. Also play golf twice a week and train racehorses in the morning(I don't get on them anymore but I do a lot of walking). Thanks for your reply
My total cholesterol is 185. LDL is 130. My cardiologist said the new rules on LDL are 190! I was surprised. Thanks for all the feedback. I didn't sleep well last night. I feel a little better now.
I had the basic non-contrast CAC done, with high scores in two coronary arteries (total score 1500) and close to zero in two others. Can they tell from this CT scan where in the arteries the plaque is located? Or if it is concentrated or spread out?
Do you have any idea why your CAC Score is so high? Do you have elevated LDL cholesterol or LP(a)?
At 2600+, I'd be thrilled with 706. I'm 72 with NO exercise intolerance and normal flow studies to date, short of angiography (which I won't have unless in an immediately life threatening state as I'm highly allergic [delayed systemic hypersensitivity reaction] to contrast). On one hand I feel like a walking time bomb. On the other, I'm pretty good at just getting on with my life as it is (I work, play lead guitar in a band, work out, etc). We're not gettin' out of here alive, so, as my cardiologist says, 'carpe diem'. jon