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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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markdeegan | @markdeegan | Dec 12, 2021
In reply to @seaera "I just had a CT coronary angiogram with calcium score and my score is 1608. I..." + (show)
Profile picture for seaera @seaera

I just had a CT coronary angiogram with calcium score and my score is 1608. I am 68 years old, male with no symptoms. I do fairly intense exercise 5-7 days per week. I am not overweight. I will be scheduling a follow up with GP and then cardiologist. I too am very concerned about this.

Cholesterol and blood pressure normal with a low dose statin and a low dose losartin.

I too am very concerned.

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Have a CT-A to make sure you have no blockages. Keep exercising and eating well. Watch the Triglycerides and fats

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Ingegerd Enscoe, Alumni Mentor | @astaingegerdm | Dec 3, 2021

My husband also had leg pain for a long time. He was then switched to another drug and started at lower dose.
He had quadruple bypass 9 years ago.

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markdeegan | @markdeegan | Dec 3, 2021
In reply to @markdeegan "Exercise" + (show)
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Exercise

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CT Angiogram
Creator and Zetia

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statcac | @statcac | Dec 2, 2021

I did try Atrorvastatin 20mg for a couple weeks and had side effects ( brain fog and leg pain ) I am also concerned about the effects statins have on the rest the body .I did start the rosuvastatin at 5mg 3 times a week . I am going to give it a couple weeks and see how I feel . I fell into the rabbit hole regarding statins online and that generated my concern.

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Ingegerd Enscoe, Alumni Mentor | @astaingegerdm | Dec 2, 2021

@statcac - I understand your hesitance to start taking statins. You have changed to a healthy lifestyle with possibility to slow the progression of plaques.
Many of us have inherited genes for atherosclerosis. I have- I also stopped smoking years ago, healthy diet and exercise as well as taking statins for years now. I had a calcium score CT recently- my score was not terribly high, but I got angry!
I also take Zetia to control cholesterol from diet. My LDL is low enough and HDL high- in other words doing the best I can.
There is continuous research on statin’s effect on plaque already there. So far, there seems to be some regression as well as stabilizing the plaque- making it less likely to break off.
What are your reservations about starting statins on a daily basis?

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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)
Profile picture for mayofeb2020 @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)
Profile picture for keithl56 @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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