Connect
Living with high calcium score
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.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart & Blood Health Support Group.
Connect
I've been on a statin since forever and since last October, added Repatha. Zero side effects other than seeing my LDL drop from 109 down to 27
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionMay I ask if you had any side effects with the Repatha...or any with statin that changed with Repatha? Just concerned about any possible new side effects. Thanks
I’ve said this before on this thread so here’s the short version. To get my LDL down (it was around 80), my cardiologist put me on an injectable….first Praluent and now Repatha plus a 10 mg dose of Lipitor generic. In six months, my LDL was 5 mg! It was said to be too low so I cut the Lipitor to 5 mg and now it’s 25. If you want to get the LDL down, investigate injectable’s. They work! You take a very easy shot twice a month, self administered. It’s a piece of cake. The medication is costly if your insurance does not pay but Repatha has a $5 co-pay program which is pretty sweet.
Easy first thing that you can do yourself is get an advanced lipid test - one company’s name is CardioIQ - I think really inexpensive. https://www.questdiagnostics.com/healthcare-professionals/about-our-tests/cardiovascular/cardio-iq-report
Review the results and be prepared to make your case.
It’s surprising you haven’t had a stress test - even a basic one would be helpful in understanding. A stress test with echo would be an even better thing to get - standard stuff but you need to push - perhaps even drop back to your PCP instead of the cardiologist.
Thanks for your response. I followed my PCP suggestions all these years and now looking back, I should’ve pushed more for further testing etc. especially with my family history. When I look back in my medical records and it said HIGH on everything. I was always told “you’re young, active, not overweight etc” so no need to be concerned at this point and that went on for over a decade.
I did ask my current cardiologist about additional testing, and was told “not necessary at this point because I’m not showing any symptoms”. In my gut, I feel I need additional testing. I’m in the process of getting another opinion . I’ll see what happens & update.
leeds,
Your numbers sound like many on this site. You knew you had high cholesterol, but didn't do anything about it until you got a high CAC score - also pretty common.
You don't mention - good idea to get these done?
- stress test
- PAD test
- advanced lipids test
I can relate totally. My CT score was 2012. Yes you read that correctly. I am 81 and my cholesterol has never been that high. Cardiologist was pretty lackadaisical about the situation. I plan to change docs. I guess if you’re a cynical person you might be tempted to say. “She’s old what is she complaining about. Ya gotta die of something “. Really?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI totally agree. I’m a 54 F. Looking back, I wish I would’ve been more educated about my cholesterol. For the past 10-20 years my #s were high. I have a family history of heart disease and my cholesterol is now 240. In the past it was always 198-220. My primary dr said “don’t worry just watch certain things you eat, your active, not overweight etc & she also said my other #s balanced it all out. Gosh, I should’ve pushed more and went to see a cardiologist back then. So disappointed in not advocating nor taking it more serious at the time.
I recently had a ct calcium scan (recommended from my husband pcp as he said we’re getting older and it’s probably a good idea to look into the test) which came back high 444. I had my cholesterol checked immediately and that was elevated as well. I then went to a cardiologist and she started me in 40 mg Atorvastatin & did another lipid 3 months later. At that time all my #s went down but my ldl was still above 70 (80) so I was put on another 40mg. (My cardiologist wants it 70 or less) Currently I’m now on 80mg of Atorvastatin/aspirin daily. I wasn’t expecting that at all and was honestly scared about the whole situation. I asked to see if I could stay in the 40mg and watch everything I ate but she felt with my family history and knowing now it’s hereditary I should do the 80 mg. I asked for further testing but was told because I’m asymptomatic it’s not necessary. I told my cardiologist that I do have a pain on my left side that comes & goes but that was coughed up to muscular so idk. I considered myself somewhat active, I don’t eat red meats nor a lot of dairy. So all in all I’m just asking myself the same thing…..if I would’ve been put on meds 15-20, years ago especially with my family history (father heart disease, stents open heart surgery etc, along with a few of his brothers and both paternal grandparents dying from heart related issues & my mother and older sister have high cholesterol & bp with meds) could that have prevented the calcium buildup? I should’ve been more concerned way back then but I’ve just followed what my PCP Drs advice and she didn’t seem overly concerned.
Ugh…so frustrating that this is something I can’t control. I’ve never been on any meds like this so now I have daily statin/aspirin for preventative purposes. It’s hard to hear “heart disease” and it’s very scary.
I’m reaching out to get a second an opinion about my care moving forward. I have so many more questions that need answers and my first cardiologist seemed to just brush off what I’m dealing with. I need more guidance instead of being told don’t eat meat dairy (which I don’t) keep active (which I do) so at this point just getting another Drs perspective on my situation just to ease my mind.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionSadly and soberly, 'clean living' wasn't enough. I was a health freak all my life. But cardiac Lyme took a toll, I'm sure. And who knows what else. My chol was always borderline high, same # as everyone else in my family, none of whom had cardiac disease. So, it's down to 'proper medical treatment' and the rest of what I've always done. I had a 'life script' all my life that I'd live to a very old age pretty much maintenance free. Yeah, well...... then life happens, huh. And no dispensation for being a doc. Onward ~~~~>>>
jon
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsYou look fantastic and 15 years younger than your age. While I do not fully understand your numbers, my take away is that notwithstanding your negative deviations from the norms, one can do just fine with clean living and proper medical treatment. If there is more to it then that, please let us know. Thank you very much for sharing.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions