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I have a very high calcium score. What next?
Just joined the site and I'm looking to share with others who have had a high calcium score. I found out today that mine is 2996 and I am scared by this. I am 61 and I am totally asymptomatic. Now I feel like a walking time bomb. I am thinking of requesting an angiogram to see if there's any narrowing anywhere and if it can be corrected with a stent. After a second heart doctor told me that the plaque buildup might be uniform over the course of years with no big problem areas, I am encouraged. But the score still freaks me out, specifically my LAD at 1333. I don't smoke or drink but I have to lose 40 lbs.
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I am a 67 year old with a CAC of 613. Pre-diabetic. BMI of 23. On Rosuvastatin 20 mg, Aspirin 81mg, and Amilodipine 5mgs daily
My LDL 36. Total Choletestrol 117, Triglyceride 64, HDL 67.
My cardiologist is recommending Ozempic 0.25 mg /week by injection for cardiac protection (not for weight loss or diabetes). My out of pocket expense will be $560 a month.
Anyone else got recommendation to start on Ozempic?
Any thoughts? Thank you
In the U.S., one in five people (20%) have the genetic allele, Lp(a). That's around 66.6 million people. There are 3 present drugs to treat Lp(a). There are 2 PCSK9 drugs Repatha and Praluent. Repatha can reduce LDL by 55%-75% and Lp(a) by 26.9%. Praluent can reduce LDL by 43-58% and Lp(a) by 26-30%. The 3rd drug an inclisiran drug, Leqvio reduces LDL by 40-60% and Lp(a) 20-30%. Does Ireland have access to these drugs? Pelacarsen, Ollpasiran, and Zerlasiran can reduce Lp(a) more effectively and may be available in 2-3 years.
Taking a high dose of statin does not decrease Lp(a) and can increase Lp(a) by up to 20%. Since Lp(a) is an independent factor no amount of exercise, diet or statin can reduce it.
There is really no point in repeating calcium scans if your score is greater then 0 no matter what a doctor suggests, your calcium is not going anywhere and your treatment plans won't change based on repeat scores. However if your score is 0 then I could see how repeat scans might be able to monitor future calcification issues.
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1 ReactionRecall there is a relationship to statin use - statins increase calcification of cholesterol so those, for instance, that have a CAC test prior to starting statins, then start statins and have another scoring might be surprised how quickly their score increased - dependent on timeframe, I suspect.
So, statins increase calcification - which is good as this mitigates cholesterol from breaking off.
5 years. Now 6 years out.
I know, but not much to do about it. I h. ad an FFR done and have an FFR of 0.76 in my distal LAD (non stentable), but nothing else showed up. Cardiologist has offered to do a cath but as long as I'm asymptomatic going to hold off until I notice a problem or drop dead. So far I've made it 6 years with this philosophy. My CAC is multi vessel (mostly LAD and RM, with some LM and LCX). I'm afraid a cath might lead directly to multiple stents or a multiple bypass, and after watching my father die after bypass at 55 am a little gun shy.
I was tested at 65, result 240, no symptoms, felt great, I'm a regular runner --- and an angiogram showed a major blockage in an artery. You're not going to feel plaque buildup until something happens.
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1 ReactionThank you. Happy for you. May I ask after how many years you repeated the test? Thank you
I was tested at 62 and was 1100, now close to 1300. No symptoms and going strong.
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2 ReactionsI am 67 yr old female with CAC of 613. I am pre-diabetic. My cardiologist is recommending ozempic for cardiac protection. Anyone else got this recommendation?