Living with high calcium score

I have a high cac score and work out hard: generally get the heart rate in the upper 150’s or lower 160’s (I turn 69 this week), and I exercise based on my heart rate. No issues of any kind doing this.

I transitioned from a decent diet to virtually all plant based, perhaps something with grilled chicken not more than once a week, and fish 2-3 meals. The rest are all plant based and lots of nuts

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

Yes, that is what I continue to read. Frankly, those that say that have never quoted or shown there was not a continuing increase over time.

One would think there would be some point where statins have tamed the cholesterol to where there was stability - ie, no increase or minimal increase in CAC, however I have not read this - or seen proof this has occurred. Proof would be if someone had two CACs over five years which were increasing, then a CAC two years later showing no further increase.

Stop the progression but not decrease through healthy diet , cardio and statins

From the Bloomberg article: “I was under the impression the brand-name drug was the same as the generic, but that is not the case,” said Miranda Janvrin, a researcher who is working on a drug quality study the US military is conducting through the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine. “This was not something taught at school.”

She told the audience that making generic drugs is like attempting to bake your late grandma’s prized cookies — but without the recipe. Generic drugmakers know the key ingredients in a brand medication but they have to figure out the best way to actually manufacture that treatment without the exact directions.

There are differences that result when each company has to find their own way, she said.

The conference was put on by the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, which offers medical training for military members. The university is working with the independent lab Valisure on the medication quality study. Valisure has been behind several revelatory findings in recent years of contaminated drugs and personal-care products.

That drug quality study was also the focus of a Senate Armed Services subcommittee hearing last month looking at ensuring military members receive safe and effective medications.

Anecdotal evidence isn't science.
I provided some links. Here are more. If you find evidence otherwise, please share:
https://www.axios.com/2023/08/08/pentagon-generic-drug-safety-tests
https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/op-eds/washington-post-its-time-to-let-the-government-manufacture-generic-drugs

question of balance,

Do you have first hand knowledge to substantiate your claim regarding how our military's personnel are treated? It seems an odd comment related to medication sourcing.

dnward,

I have found no indication, anywhere, nor any report by anyone, that one's calcium score can decrease.

I had many of same questions. I was hit with 750 or something, now I forgot since more relaxed. I had nuclear and ultrasound scans of heart and ultra of neck and abdomen. All came out normal. Taking Lipitor 20mg for 22 years and they upped me to 40mg. Think I want to go back down to 20mg.
During covid and stress I gained 40 lbs and shed 30 of that. Back to exercising (runner for 50 years) but very slow miles.
My brother needed a stent 20 years ago and I told him he was purple in the face playing racquetball. One day he went for a run and could barely breath. They stress tested him and rushed him for a stent.
So my anecdote marker is ability to breath. It was a good shock for me as I lost the weight but now I'm back to normal routine and seeking to lose another 10.
Cardiologists want you to get LDL below 50 and maybe with medication but I have problems with medications - I cannot buy brand name Lipitor as only the generic is covered. I make sure my drugs are not from India or China. You have to ask EVERY time so they check the big bottle. Mine are made in Canada but when you read about these generic firms, it's a horror. Don't believe me then read report by Bloomberg/Businessweek or better yet, the military is concerned about the quality of generics. You'll hear more about this 10 years down the road as to 'how can they let this happen'? I'm sure anyone wealthy is NOT taking generics. I'll cut to the chase - generic manufacturers must include the primary ingrediant - but that is it. Buffers and fillers they can use anything they like (yes, China and India had carcinogenic materials). Problem is many Americans hate the FDA so it's grossly underfunded and they can barely test what's in the USA, let alone facilities globally. Like we're planning to make computer chips hear, for national security, ALL generic drugs should be made here with substantial oversight. That will never happen because pharma is outsourcing more of their brand labels to other countries.
Look, the military doesn't have a great record caring for our soldiers, so when they are concerned about generics, perhaps we all should.

So the good news is I'm not freaking out about my calcium score as two cardiologists told me they have seen much higher numbers (2,000+) and not concerned. Statins harden the plaque which is good. I've heard, but would love studies to be conducted, that statins cause the calcium test to increase.

My wife had/has hyperparathyroidism and her calcium score was high. Doctors should automatically have your parathyroid checked in that case. Our calcium is between @9-11. She had a tumor and it was removed by a really good doctor in Tampa, 12 years ago. He does 12 surgeries a day and she has been symptom free since. Other doctors do this once a year and mess it up.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-19/us-military-at-risk-from-reliance-on-cheap-foreign-drugs-senators-say
https://ca.style.yahoo.com/news/us-military-worried-generic-pills-173203560.html

Not sure there are any guarantees on that.. but it surely cannot hurt.

My cardiologist., after my blood work 2 years ago said.. this is great.. I feel you can stop and maybe improve you CAC with the changes you’ve made.. time will tell..but keep moving foreward and living as healthy as you can.