I have a very high calcium score. What next?

@pumaguy79 At a CAC score of 8000, did you ever need a stent? Have you ever felt any chest pain? That's quite a score! My score this past March was 2534 (at 61 years of age). Absolutely asymptomatic at this point. I consider myself pretty fit for my age. I walk about a mile 5-6x a week, exercise every other day (sandbag training), mostly vegetarian, no alcohol, no smoking. I was put on 20mg Crestor/Rosuvastatin shortly after receiving my score and started taking D3, K2 and CoQ10 shortly after receiving my score. I chose NOT to go on a baby aspirin though due to the risk of stroke, brain hemorrhage and stomach ulcers.

Just curious how you feel with a score that high.

Thanks,

Andy

I'm 64 and thought in decent shape, a bit overweight, and scored 700. I was shocked as many and there isn't guidance except seeing cardiologist, who are booked for two months. Epidemic?
I eat well and make most meals, mostly plant based with seafood and chicken.
Hurt my knee last year and after 45 years of running had to back down to walking 4 miles.
I'd like to do some light jogging/walking for four miles and I'm doing knee exercises. I got heart rate up to 168 jogging but worried should I not push myself more? Most info says diet and exercise but limits according to score aren't mentioned.
My goal was to back down to 10mg of Lipitor after being on 20 for 20 years. Doc said yes, but first do calcium score. After score he advised going up to 40mg and take aspirin. Aspirin bothers my system so i stopped taking it.
Reading more about K2 helping with heart but it clots blood. Also, seems I should have been taking CoQ10, which I'm doing now. I backed off of K2 because I think more research needed and trying to get it from pasture raised eggs, some cheeses (which is saturated fat) high in K2, and other prepped foods high in K2.
Off for a light run/walk - thinking I go light until I see cardiologist. May last run I felt fine.

Cardiologists… BTDT, been there done that. If you are otherwise a healthy individual with no symptoms the most a reputable cardiologist will do is put you on a statin and perhaps give a stress echocardiogram or nuclear scan. If the stress echo results are normal the doctor will advocate for aggressive lifestyle changes: regular exercise, balanced mostly plant based diet, abstaining from smoking and excessive alcohol and keep BP in check. Regular check-ups/blood work with your GP are important.

Also keep in mind if you have an elevated calcium score it has been high for a VERY long time. And how are you doing now? Fine and probably asymptomatic.

CAC score isn’t a death sentence; it’s a wake-up call.

If no symptoms don’t get tricked into an invasive coronary angiogram without any functional testing like stress echocardiogram or nuclear testing. And resist the unnecessary angioplasty.

Get on a statin. I resisted like an dummy for 20 years, my father started taking them when they first came out in the 1980s I believe it was, and when he recently turned 85 years old I realized he was just doing fine on them and my fears were irrational. The statin will stabilize the soft plaque and prevent it from breaking off and forming clots.

Calcium is just one piece of the puzzle, while this illustration isn't scientific it gives a good overall picture.

I'm 64 and thought in decent shape, a bit overweight, and scored 700. I was shocked as many and there isn't guidance except seeing cardiologist, who are booked for two months. Epidemic?
I eat well and make most meals, mostly plant based with seafood and chicken.
Hurt my knee last year and after 45 years of running had to back down to walking 4 miles.
I'd like to do some light jogging/walking for four miles and I'm doing knee exercises. I got heart rate up to 168 jogging but worried should I not push myself more? Most info says diet and exercise but limits according to score aren't mentioned.
My goal was to back down to 10mg of Lipitor after being on 20 for 20 years. Doc said yes, but first do calcium score. After score he advised going up to 40mg and take aspirin. Aspirin bothers my system so i stopped taking it.
Reading more about K2 helping with heart but it clots blood. Also, seems I should have been taking CoQ10, which I'm doing now. I backed off of K2 because I think more research needed and trying to get it from pasture raised eggs, some cheeses (which is saturated fat) high in K2, and other prepped foods high in K2.
Off for a light run/walk - thinking I go light until I see cardiologist. May last run I felt fine.

I'm 64 and thought in decent shape, a bit overweight, and scored 700. I was shocked as many and there isn't guidance except seeing cardiologist, who are booked for two months. Epidemic?
I eat well and make most meals, mostly plant based with seafood and chicken.
Hurt my knee last year and after 45 years of running had to back down to walking 4 miles.
I'd like to do some light jogging/walking for four miles and I'm doing knee exercises. I got heart rate up to 168 jogging but worried should I not push myself more? Most info says diet and exercise but limits according to score aren't mentioned.
My goal was to back down to 10mg of Lipitor after being on 20 for 20 years. Doc said yes, but first do calcium score. After score he advised going up to 40mg and take aspirin. Aspirin bothers my system so i stopped taking it.
Reading more about K2 helping with heart but it clots blood. Also, seems I should have been taking CoQ10, which I'm doing now. I backed off of K2 because I think more research needed and trying to get it from pasture raised eggs, some cheeses (which is saturated fat) high in K2, and other prepped foods high in K2.
Off for a light run/walk - thinking I go light until I see cardiologist. May last run I felt fine.

I'm 64 and thought in decent shape, a bit overweight, and scored 700. I was shocked as many and there isn't guidance except seeing cardiologist, who are booked for two months. Epidemic?
I eat well and make most meals, mostly plant based with seafood and chicken.
Hurt my knee last year and after 45 years of running had to back down to walking 4 miles.
I'd like to do some light jogging/walking for four miles and I'm doing knee exercises. I got heart rate up to 168 jogging but worried should I not push myself more? Most info says diet and exercise but limits according to score aren't mentioned.
My goal was to back down to 10mg of Lipitor after being on 20 for 20 years. Doc said yes, but first do calcium score. After score he advised going up to 40mg and take aspirin. Aspirin bothers my system so i stopped taking it.
Reading more about K2 helping with heart but it clots blood. Also, seems I should have been taking CoQ10, which I'm doing now. I backed off of K2 because I think more research needed and trying to get it from pasture raised eggs, some cheeses (which is saturated fat) high in K2, and other prepped foods high in K2.
Off for a light run/walk - thinking I go light until I see cardiologist. May last run I felt fine.

pumaguy79,

I completely disagree with your broad statement re being over tested/treated ... sure, it might seem that way while medical professionals are searching for causes, and perhaps informed and aggressive testing hasn't yet saved your life, but the processes have certainly saved hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of other lives.

Now, less broadly, some testing and treatment may be "over," but the question is, as always with large populations of circumstances - where is the line?