1. < Heart & Blood Health

I have a very high calcium score. What next?

Posted by dpframing @dpframing, Aug 24, 2018

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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statcac | @statcac | Nov 30, 2021

Last year had cac score 295 . Put me in 95 % for my age. Was advised to start statin. I did not. Was a previous smoker. Stoped 23 years ago. Previous drinker . Stoped 10 years ago. Total cholesterol runs around 175 with ldl at 110. Exercise everyday day. Try to stick to whole foods with minimal processed foods. Debating starting rosuvastatin at 5 mg 3 times a week. Not sure if my calcified plaque is from my past lifestyle and medication is necessary. Thoughts ?

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markdeegan | @markdeegan | Oct 23, 2021
In reply to @mayofeb2020 "I have been reading all the posts on calcium scan. May I ask what prompted the..." + (show)
@mayofeb2020

I have been reading all the posts on calcium scan. May I ask what prompted the scans? Was it at the suggestions of cardiologists?

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Probably something they saw with Lung CT scans

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markdeegan | @markdeegan | Oct 23, 2021

Crestor and Zetia… Loose Weight. Watch what you eat.

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markdeegan | @markdeegan | Oct 23, 2021
In reply to @keithl56 "I'm 62 and my father died at 55 (as well as grandfather, aunt, and uncle all..." + (show)
@keithl56

I'm 62 and my father died at 55 (as well as grandfather, aunt, and uncle all in the 40's and 50's, plus 3 cousins with heart attacks and/or stents also at young ages). I'm asymptomatic and also have had a good stress test. I have maintained my ldl in the 50-70 range for years with 20mg Crestor and 10mg Zetia. After my high cac score (1014) my cardiologist call the very next day and was very alarmist due to the risk associated with the high cac (25% chance of a major CV event within a year, likely one within 3-5 years).. He immediately increased my statin to 40. Within a month my liver enzymes increased to 5-6 times the mormal upper limits, whereas in the past they never were outside normal limits. I then had to stop the statin completely for a month which got my AST back to normal and my ALT to 1.5 times normal (he said it's OK as long as it is not more than 2.5 times normal). I'm now back to 20mg and am being monitored every sis months.

As long as you are asymptomatic and living a healthy life style there is not much else you can do. As soon as you experience symptoms make sure you call your doctor or get to a hospital. Knowing you have a high cac score is a double edged sword. It is good to know you are at high risk so you can manage the risk factors that are within your control. However, that same knowledge can create stress and anxiety with the uncertainty of if/when you may have an event. If the latter is a major issue make sure you reach out and address it to avoid sure it doesn't lead to situational depression. You have to live your life as normally as possible!

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I am on 40 mg Crestor. I started Zetia, 2 months later my Liver enzymes high. May be more related to Zetia. High cac may be related to Statin. Statins increase Calcium score a lot.

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dstuemky | @dstuemky | Oct 21, 2021

If your lp(a) is good then you have large cholesterol particles which is very good news.
Have your thyroid AND parathyroid checked. If parathyroid (no relationship to thyroid) is malfunctioning it can make your calcium levels freak out. Had a friend who had this issue and she had her parathyroid glands (multiple small) removed till her level s became normalized.
It’s hell to get old

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tkjl24t | @tkjl24t | Oct 21, 2021
In reply to @dstuemky "Have you been taking calcium supplements? After having similar issues I began researching my every evening..." + (show)
@dstuemky

Have you been taking calcium supplements? After having similar issues I began researching my every evening before bed TUMS habit (I love very spicy food and kept getting heartburn at night). I found multiple articles re a study that proved that calcium from diet was readily absorbed into the body but calcium supplements were not and could build up in your arteries. Ive since stopped my spicy food at night and all TUMS and will recheck my calcium score after a year.

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I have not been taking any calcium supplements or high calcium foods. I routinely get blood work done and my calcium levels have been 9.0-9.5 which is within normal range, Additionally my LP(a) levels which I was told is independent of LDL cholesterol levels and my c- reactive protein levels are both very good. The ct angio did not reveal any blockages but I’m terrified of my calcification continuing to accumulate despite me doing everything I can from a medication and lifestyle perspective.

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dstuemky | @dstuemky | Oct 21, 2021

Have you been taking calcium supplements? After having similar issues I began researching my every evening before bed TUMS habit (I love very spicy food and kept getting heartburn at night). I found multiple articles re a study that proved that calcium from diet was readily absorbed into the body but calcium supplements were not and could build up in your arteries. Ive since stopped my spicy food at night and all TUMS and will recheck my calcium score after a year.

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1 reply
tkjl24t | @tkjl24t | Oct 20, 2021

Hello - I’m a 40 y/o male that just received a calcium score of close to 1100 taken during a CT angiogram. 4 years ago my score was 330 at which time my crestor was doubled the 40 and 4g of vascepa daily along with an aspirin. I’ve had no symptoms, don’t smoke, eat very healthy, LDL regularly in the 40s-50s, and exercise very regularly. I’m at a loss on how my score still increased exponentially despite me taking every effort to reduce it over the past 4 years. Has anyone experienced anything similar with the score rising steeply even though you are taking all precautions to address it?

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1 reply
tim1028 | @tim1028 | Feb 25, 2021
In reply to @mayofeb2020 "@tim1028. Did you have high cholesterol before the calcium scan? Is this why your PCP ordered..." + (show)
@mayofeb2020

@tim1028. Did you have high cholesterol before the calcium scan? Is this why your PCP ordered it? I eat a very clean diet, with alot of vegetables and very little animal protein, yet my cholesterol is on the borderline. My PCP said it could be genetics since my family has a history of high cholesterol and high blood pressure. My vegan friend's cholesterol is not that much better and he is very surprised.

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My only cholesterol risk factor was a low HDL, in the high 20s. My PCP gave me the option of getting a CAC scan to see if I needed to be on a statin. The rest is history. Cholesterol numbers are influenced by genetics as well as lifestyle.

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