Living with high calcium score

Posted by pop77 @pop77, Oct 10, 2023

I am a 53 year old male. Just found out I have a CAC of 731. Most of it (699) is in the right coronary. I exercise 5 times a week , used to eat eggs every day (15-20 per week), cottage cheese and yogurt. Upon hearing this news, stopped eating eggs right away. Just trying to figure out what else to adjust. I don't have BP and am at a healthy weight of around 160 lbs for 5'8".
Doctor still has to reach out to me and I think most likely I will be put on Statins. I have high LDL and Apo(b), but triglycerides are under control.
The question I have is, how else should I adjust the lifestyle. I don't drink or smoke or eat meat. Should I reduce how hard I work out? I used to take my HR to 165 and whenever I did it I used to get a heartburn. I was thinking that the workout has triggered acid reflux but looks like something else is going on.
For those with high CAC , how hard do you work out? Should I stop hiking and running? Looking for some insights.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart & Blood Health Support Group.

@paosue

My 41 year old son needs heart surgery for post tetralogy correction after corrective surgery at age three

What are pros, any of surgery by adult congenital heart surgeon vice pediatric surgeon?

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Your post got buried in a post about coronary artery calcium. Suggest you try again to post it as its own thread in the Heart and Blood Health group.

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@rtchacko

I have seen Dr. Ornish program being discussed on this forum. Can we have more discussions on this topic here. I have high CAC score, but do not qualify for the program yet. There are a lot of info online.
If anyone is following the program, can I get some input on how practical the diet is and also tips on how to lead a social life on this diet. Thank you

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how do you qualify for the program? Is it your CAC score or your cholesterol numbers etc.?

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I have seen Dr. Ornish program being discussed on this forum. Can we have more discussions on this topic here. I have high CAC score, but do not qualify for the program yet. There are a lot of info online.
If anyone is following the program, can I get some input on how practical the diet is and also tips on how to lead a social life on this diet. Thank you

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My 41 year old son needs heart surgery for post tetralogy correction after corrective surgery at age three

What are pros, any of surgery by adult congenital heart surgeon vice pediatric surgeon?

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@lp77

Did your Dr rec a angiogram ? I would think the non invasive would be a good piece of mind

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No. I had an echocardiogram and a nuclear stress test, both normal, so stopped there

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@keithl56

I have been on statins since they first came out over 30 years ago (mevacor, zocor, lipitor, and now rosuvastin). Before that my cardiologist had me on niacin and questor. I have had no problems with statins, other than some losing their efficacy and requiring increased dosage until changing to a newer one. I have been on the same 20mg of rosuvastatin for several years now.

I have always passed my stress tests and have been mostly asymptomatic. My last two visits my cardiologist has offered to do a cath and I have refused. I have a FFR of only 0.71 in part of my LAD but my cardio said it is non stentable, so I am afraid that a cath will end up turning into a CABG. I have an irrational fear of invasive heart surgery after watching my father go through it twice and dying within weeks of his second at 55 yo.

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"Irrational" fear of invasive heart surgery? I would think it would be irrational NOT to fear invasive heart surgery! I wish you best:)

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@lp77

Did your Dr rec a angiogram ? I would think the non invasive would be a good piece of mind

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CT type scans have issues with artifacts associated the reflectivity of the calcium, so not as useful.

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@lp77

Did your Dr rec a angiogram ? I would think the non invasive would be a good piece of mind

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no other recommendations other than an echocardiogram and an treadmill stress test.

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@agb

I’m nearly the same as your husband: 68 years old, non smoker, bmi of 24, on statin (80 mg) for 20+years and zetia for more than 15, and my calcium score is 843. Passed the stress test ecg, and echocardiogram with no findings.

My MD added Repatha after the calcium score which has dramatically lowered my LDL and Lipo(b), and I exercise daily, eat a plant based diet, and hold my breath

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Did your Dr rec a angiogram ? I would think the non invasive would be a good piece of mind

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@questionofbalance

Ah, OK, you're referring specifically to medical care. My care was excellent, but interactions since I kept the military with their medical system has been limited to pharmacy departments. Remember, however, the system in the military is designed to support younger people - and, then to reflect care in civilian SoC systems. Increasingly, any specialty care is done by civilian sector.

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