Connect
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.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart & Blood Health Support Group.
Connect
@christianzane
thanks
i'll give it a read.
I've been on warfarin for past 20 years due to mechanical valve and i've read some articles that warfain's blockage of K-2 may contribute to the calcium build up but my dr. doesn't think so.
@christianzane this is what is so confusing to me and how useful cac scores are for prognostication. If you have this compensatory enlargement, are you safer from MACE events? I had a very high score, but mild atherosclerosis, but I also needed one stent. I understand I have coronary artery disease, but maybe not as bad as my calcium score would imply.
@robmtk
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15364120/
That wasn't LDL, but it terms of plaque (not calcification) it's about shrink and stabilize:
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/can-statins-actually-reverse-plaque-buildup
https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/features/can-you-reverse-coronary-artery-disease
@christianzane
I've never heard of a way to reverse the calcification. Do you remember where you read this?
thanks
Rob
@robmtk from what I've read, arterial calcification can actually be reversed to some degree with LDL below 70, with even more reversal below 60.
Arteries can expand to compensate for calcification, especially in healthy folks with flexible arteries, it's called compensatory enlargement but I think in severe cases the artery can only expand so much. Also a CAC score doesn't measure blockage only the amount of calcium. High CAC can occur with minimal blockage, and the opposite is true with a fairly low CAC score and high blockage.
For all those with high calcium score and clear catheterizations, what are the doctors telling you as the reason for this? Are you still at high risk? What is the monitoring plan as you go forward?
these are all very interesting cases and I appreciate the sharing. I am at 1187 calcium score and taking 20 mg atorvastatin and a baby aspiring every other day. No symptoms so Dr. has said continue to exercise, which I always have, and watch diet. My genes are an issue with uncles and cousins dying of heart attacks at a young age. I am 69 and no symptoms so will continue to monitor and live life.
@kswartz
I'm on 5mg of rosuvastatin which i started beginning of year. My LDL is 57. My Dr. never told me a number he wanted me at.
@kswartz awesome. Keep posting. I feel the same way. Just kind of scared but all is good