I have a very high calcium score. What next?

@gchang817

They are saying to change diet, increase statin, continue to exercise, and stop smoking and stop excess alcohol and follow up in 3 months after the dose increase in the statin. I’ll update soon when we see the cardiologist after our 3 month follow up.

@topofthehill I am a 59 year old asymptomatic female, and I found out last year I have a 107 score with most calcium in the LAD. This placed me into the 93 percentile for my age and sent me into a deep spiral as it was completely unexpected. I exercise at least an hour daily, and my weight and BP are normal, my ldl was only slightly elevated (107), hdl always high (70s-80s), triglycerides low (50s), and LPa normal. My A1C had been creeping up, and at 5.9 I was considered pre-diabetic. My cardiologist advised me to back off on the exercise until I had a stress echocardiogram.

I had a carotid US in December that revealed 1-15% (very minimal) blockage and a stress echo in February that came back completely normal. I’m now on 10 mg rosuvastatin, baby aspirin, and CoQ10. I have always eaten healthfully but decided to remove refined carbs/sugars and focus on lean meats, fruits and veggies and am no longer pre-diabetic. I have started exercising more again but try not to let my heart rate get above 140 as that is the max recommended for my age.

Interestingly, I just had another carotid US last week and have progressed to mild stenosis < 50 in some places and 16-49% in others. I am still waiting on the cardiologist to review the findings and make notes, so I am not sure what to make of it.

What I have learned through research is that high calcium scores can mean nothing or they can be indicative of blockage that requires intervention. I have a good friend who is in his 70s and is one of the healthiest people I know, and his score was in the 800s. He had an angiogram which revealed he had moderate to severe blockage in a couple of areas, but his heart had rerouted the blood around those areas, so he didn’t require any surgical intervention.

So I guess the take away for me has been that people with very high calcium scores, even into the 1000s, can and do live long, healthy, active lives. I’m focusing on healthful living and enjoying every moment of life that God gives me.

@christianzane
Christian. Thanks for the professional and reassuring information. I appreciate it! Stephen

@bluegelicopter

No worries, over 90% of men and 67% of women over 70 have coronary artery calcification. It's no big deal IF you make the proper lifestyle and statin changes and pay attention to you body for signs of angina.