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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wisconsin2267 | @wisconsin2267 | Feb 24, 2019

Any updates? I just learned my score 2267. Having nuclear stress test in 5 days. Just wondered what I am getting into and what your process has been. Thanks Phil

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1 reply
pcspetpro | @pcspetpro | Dec 5, 2018
In reply to @real "Mine was 800 which is low in comparison to yours but I also freaked out. The..." + (show)
@real

Mine was 800 which is low in comparison to yours but I also freaked out. The MD had me do a nuclear stress test which was entirely normal. But I am not entirely at ease so I guess you just live until you have symptoms.

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A calcium score can increase as much as 30% per year. Lifestyle changes can dramatically lower the rate of progression.

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pcspetpro | @pcspetpro | Dec 5, 2018
In reply to @real "I agree. But it is still hard knowing your score. I wonder if enough is known..." + (show)
@real

I agree. But it is still hard knowing your score. I wonder if enough is known about this calcium test and what it really means

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Watch the Widowmaker

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pcspetpro | @pcspetpro | Dec 5, 2018
In reply to @real "No blockage so far but it makes you wonder when that is going to happen; no..." + (show)
@real

No blockage so far but it makes you wonder when that is going to happen; no one can predict this

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A stress test can reveal if there are arterial blockages greater than 70%. A CT Angiogram is even more accurate at locating blockages.

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real | @real | Dec 5, 2018
In reply to @pcspetpro "Do you have any arterial blockages or symptoms?" + (show)
@pcspetpro

Do you have any arterial blockages or symptoms?

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No blockage so far but it makes you wonder when that is going to happen; no one can predict this

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1 reply
real | @real | Dec 5, 2018
In reply to @tim1028 "The linked Mayo Clinic article on coronary artery calcium scoring is excellent. It refers to the..." + (show)
@tim1028

The linked Mayo Clinic article on coronary artery calcium scoring is excellent. It refers to the American Heart Association's 'Simple 7' ways to be heart healthy. I have a high CAC score (1560) but do all seven heart healthy recommendations, so my lifestyle is highly likely to help counteract the deleterious effect of a high plaque burden. My cardiologist started me on a high-dose statin and a daily baby aspirin and told me to see him in a year. He said the problem with most of his patients is to get them to make healthy choices that reduce their cardiac risk. What works for me is to make small, conscious changes. Over time these seemingly unremarkable changes add up to big results. 'It's hard by the yard, but a cinch by the inch'

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I agree. But it is still hard knowing your score. I wonder if enough is known about this calcium test and what it really means

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1 reply
real | @real | Dec 5, 2018

Mine was 800 which is low in comparison to yours but I also freaked out. The MD had me do a nuclear stress test which was entirely normal. But I am not entirely at ease so I guess you just live until you have symptoms.

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1 reply
pcspetpro | @pcspetpro | Dec 5, 2018

Do you have any arterial blockages or symptoms?

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1 reply
tim1028 | @tim1028 | Dec 5, 2018
In reply to @kanaazpereira "Hello @fedoramenorah, Agatston score is a measure of calcium or calcification detected by coronary CT calcium..." + (show)
@kanaazpereira

Hello @fedoramenorah,

Agatston score is a measure of calcium or calcification detected by coronary CT calcium scan. Hence, I moved your discussion to this conversation, where you can meet the many members who are talking about high calcium score.
If you click on VIEW & REPLY in your email notification, you will see the whole discussion and can join in, meet, and participate with other members talking about their or their loved ones' experiences.

A high Agatston/calcium score does not mean that you will have a heart attack, only that there is a greater likelihood of having one than someone with a low score. Here’s an interesting Mayo Clinic article which I would encourage you to view:
– https://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-professionals/cardiovascular-diseases/news/coronary-artery-calcium-score-are-we-doing-too-many-or-too-few/mcc-20438011

Jump to this post

The linked Mayo Clinic article on coronary artery calcium scoring is excellent. It refers to the American Heart Association's 'Simple 7' ways to be heart healthy. I have a high CAC score (1560) but do all seven heart healthy recommendations, so my lifestyle is highly likely to help counteract the deleterious effect of a high plaque burden. My cardiologist started me on a high-dose statin and a daily baby aspirin and told me to see him in a year. He said the problem with most of his patients is to get them to make healthy choices that reduce their cardiac risk. What works for me is to make small, conscious changes. Over time these seemingly unremarkable changes add up to big results. 'It's hard by the yard, but a cinch by the inch'

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1 reply
pcspetpro | @pcspetpro | Dec 5, 2018

Thanks so much for the links. It doesn't seem that the reason for statins causing an increase in CAC score is fully understood. The fact that a PCSK9 inhibitor + statin lowers the CAC increase, confuses things even more. So many more people are getting CAC Testing and are being faced with the question, to take a statin or not take a statin? Thanks again for your help.

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