re: Calcium score CT

Bruh: A score of 100 to 300 means moderate plaque deposits. It's associated with a relatively high risk of a heart attack or other heart disease over the next 3 to 5 years. A score greater than 300 is a sign of more extensive disease and a higher heart attack risk. Jul 22, 2023


I had one last year and got a 12. I'm 59 & a fata$$ too, 6'0, 270lbs. I'm on statins due to high trigs and LDL.

You need statins, find one that doesn't make you hurt. You'll know what I'm talking about when you take it.

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LM is widowmaker

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Nope. left anterior descending (LAD) artery is Widowmaker.

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LAD: 320

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That score seems concerning and is in the widow maker heart artery.

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I will ask for further testing to take a closer look as I understand a CAC score is not a definite for actual arterial blockage.

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It is not definitive, but that’s usually because CT Calcium Score doesn’t show all forms of blockage and the level of actual restriction of blood flow may be better or worse than someone with same score. This is because it measures hardened plaque (calcium) not “soft” plaque that could also be restricting blood flow.

Some people are genetically predisposed to "hurt" with statins .. I do not have the gene and statin is no issue for me in that regard.

Now my poor husband has started taking coq10 to combat the cramps .. and it's to help with muscles and the heart is a muscle so coq10 is a daily thing for him (I actually take it as well).

Yes, echoing what others have said.
I am mid 50s and have had 2 of these tests because my father, aunt, uncle and their father all had heart attacks and bypass or died at 49 or 50, so I have been proactive and why I have dug into the numbers.
The issue is that the numbers are categorized in broad terms as far as your risk for a future event. This test is what most people call a "cat scan", but performed in a way that is optimized to look at calcium deposits in your cardiac blood vessels and commonly these deposits are in the form of atherosclerotic plaques, which are made up calcium, cholesterol, and other stuff. They cause trouble because as they build up they restrict the flow of blood in that vessel or vessels and since that vessel feeds blood to heart, if it gets blocked abruptly, that is what is called a heart attack. the blockage can be from a blood clot and/or that plague breaking up.
My number went from ~30ish to right at 100, so I am still low risk but at the upper end so I think anything above 100 is more than just low risk. I have high blood pressure and mildly elevated "bad" cholesterol, and qualify for a statin. I only have one vessel involved, kind of like you, and suspect at some point in my future I will possibly need to get a stent to open that spot up if it continues to grow.
I would bet your cardiologist or someone will want to look and see if the calcium in that vessel is in one spot or spread along the length of the vessel (the score doesn't differentiate).
If you ever have symptoms of a heart attack, you probably should not delay getting to an ER. An older family friend and I were discussing our calcium scores at dinner a few months ago. His recent one was in 1300s and kid you not had symptoms of a heart attack a day or two later but fortunately got treated with a stent since one vessel disease when he had a heart cath. Doing well now, but he told me that he probably would have waited longer to call an ambulance if not for knowing he was at very high risk from his calcium score. Fortunately doesn't seem that his oxygen levels were low enough for long enough to do much if any long term harm to his heart muscle.

Good luck with this. I know I had to pay about $100 cash for my test. Did you get insurance to cover yours?

Hmm.

You’ll need an angiogram to check out the LAD to see if you have significant blockage. Pretty simple and straightforward…. Make them go through your wrist

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No that is not what I am saying, I did say I have a follow-up with my cardiologist. I will see what further test can be done to take a closer look. I do understand that my risk according to this score is elevated and "may" be an indication that I have heightened chance at a heart attack. With that said I believe my lifestyle is healthy now and would like to monitor moving forward that no further damage is done. I may have damage done due to past eating habits and lifestyle. I would not have gotten this test don if I was not concerned about my current and future health.

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Did they show you the scans? I received the scans from my tests. They also went over the images with me. Your next step is an angiogram. If you have the choice, have them go in through the wrist not the groin. While scary the first time because of the unknown to you, the actual procedure is nothing with regards to pain. I've had two done. I have no problem having more if needed. Absolutely nothing scary about it to me. You need a statin especially if you have a family history of heart issues. The statin pretty much stops the calcium buildup from continuing or at least slows in way down. Yeah, lifestyle changes may help some but if you have the wrong genetics then it doesn't matter. The buildup will happen unless you stop it with a statin. I had one angiogram done several years ago and another done a few months ago. No increase on blockage. I take rosuvastatin. Side note, I'm 6'1" and between 180-185.

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Good luck with this. I know I had to pay about $100 cash for my test. Did you get insurance to cover yours?

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Yes I did have to pay for this test and I was told that insurance does not cover it. I am also 100% with the VA so I may try that route (test was done through family Doc's referral).