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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?
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alaskat,
I may be mixing threads ... did you get a Duke Score or a METS number from your stress test?
Was this a "stress test with echo?"
I may be confused, but you note the cardiologist wants you to be catheterized? Normally this occurs only with other symptoms noted - like chest tightness, breathing issues, etc.
Good for you. At least now you have more information and you'll have even more soon. You can still have a ribeye now and again but overall better to stick to less red meat and pork. I think chicken and eggs are fine. I never do egg white omelets for instance. Eggs are pretty much perfect as they are. But in addition to less red meat and more exercise and trying to lose weight, I've also cut out cheese which I love. I'll do this to live longer healthier. And I have to admit, much as I hate to count calories, weight watchers really works!
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2 ReactionsSo I went for my stress test yesterday and I passed it with flying colors. It was difficult in that I normally fuel my body with food before exercising (did I said no coffee either?). Got the heart rate up to 133 bpm. No problem there. Now, the heart imaging presents a very small dark spot on the RCA (right coronary artery). Cardio suggests it would better looking into the future to get an angiogram with the interventionist and IF and only IF it is blocked to 70% then a stent would have to be placed. I feel better knowing that the facts have become more clear. Meanwhile I have not abandoned the chickens and the fish of the world yet but other than that all the rest is veggies. I might start eating less chicken at some point. I am actually looking forward to the angiogram, hopefully not a stent but if it comes to that then so be it. Looking forward to have a ribeye after that. LOL
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1 ReactionNo, Jan59, there is no divine intervention, just the work of millions of people in the medical field - and, some random occurrences.
Any scoring, like METS or Duke?
My calcium score is 1800. I had nuclear treadmill stress test yesterday and it was normal. My journey all started with a complimentary calcium score I received when I attended a luncheon recently. This prompted more tests. The ultrasound of carotids and aorta was good but thyroid nodules were found and one is fairly large. Had thyroid ultrasound yesterday and will now be having thyroid biopsy. I have no idea if my thyroid has affected my cardiovascular system but I suspect that could be a possibility. Meanwhile, I’m now on the Mediterranean Diet, living life and thanking God that I had that calcium score prompting more testing. I know this was all divine intervention!
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1 Reaction@santafepete
I had also read on a reputable website (either clevelandclinic.org, pubmed or harvard health) that some "heart CT" machines can inaccurately report CAC scores when your heartrate is above 65bpm. I've sent an email to the place that did my scan twice now, asking them what type of machine they had and did they monitor my heart rate while taking measurements. Not a peep from them and it's been over two week.
I'm suspect now as my CAC was 2354 but my nuclear stress test results from today were all good. My cardiologist said "Your stress test is normal. " I was VERY relieved by this. Still waiting on my echocardiogram results, but that test was the biggest one since it can detect serious blockage.
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1 ReactionI just turned 50 last month. I was put on blood pressure medication just last year. My employee noticed a diagonal crease in my ear, and let me know about this thing called a "Frank sign". I looked into it, and thought I needed to advise my GP. I was sent in for a calcium scoring, and I hit a 282. 251 in my LAD. I was immediately put on Crestor 20mg, and a baby aspirin. I am as I see a lot of folks, very concerned about my future now. What really seems to confuse me, is my resting heart rate when I first wake up and check it is approximately 40-45 beats per minute. It has been for going on over 20 years due to my fitness regiment I held for most of my adult life. If I understand calcium scoring, I have a substantial amount in my LAD artery. This I would think would force my heart to pump harder, and generate more heart beats per minute in doing so, right? I am going in for a stress test next week. I understand blockage of over 70%, and the need for further evasive treatment options if needed will be determined after this event.
Actually, no. The soft plaques apparently calcify over time, with various factors affecting the speed of this, including heredity.
If the soft plaques are so significant, or they don't calcify, the probability of breaking off and causing heart and other issues due to the blockages.
I'm assuming your friend had symptoms, blood work, stress test, etc which indicated intervention?
New Cardiologist made me feel better in that he is looking for ways to better my condition. I know that the stent path means a more long term solution. Ty
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