Calcium score of 1199

(Rick P) #1

Hi, all.

I’ve had high cholesterol for years. About 3 years ago, I stopped taking a statin for obvious reasons. Then I started keto in March of 2025 and lost 35 pounds by September. I did a blood test in August, and it showed elevated cholesterol and slightly elevated liver enzymes. When I went to see my doc in June, my LDL was 211 and my liver enzymes had come down from the August test.

My PCP was concerned about the cholesterol, so she sent me for a CT angiogram. I went to the appointment, had an IV inserted for the contrast, then went into the CT machine.

After about 15 minutes, the tech came out and said, “We can’t do the angiogram because your calcium score is over 1000.” So they took out the IV and sent me home.

My PCP was as floored as I was. I’m 61 years old, 5’ 9", 188 pounds and have been doing cardiovascular exercise since my teens. I ran marathons in 1984 and 1985. In the 00’s, I did a lot of triathlons and weight lifting and running. By the mid teens, I had gone strictly with swimming, which I enjoy the most. Been swimming regularly since 2003. I currently swim about 160 miles per year.

So she referred me to a cardiologist (the same one who interpreted my CAC scan) and he can’t see me until November 14. From what I’ve read on the net, I’m a walking time bomb.

I’ve read quite a few threads about elevated CAC’s before, but I would appreciate if anyone could surmise why my cardiologist doesn’t think my condition is urgent.

Thanks in advance.

(Bob M) #2

Are you asking why you don’t have a faster appointment? That probably means that you don’t have something like arrhythmia or similar, which has a higher probability to hurt you sooner. Are you asymptomatic? If so, that might mean they don’t think it’s critical to see you immediately.

You’re probably going to get asked to take PCSK9 inhibitor, possibly based off of this study:

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2514428?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fduckduckgo.com%2F

Anyway, update us about what the cardiologist suggests you do after you get your appointment.

(Rick P) #3

Thanks, ctviggen.

Currently, since I found out about the high CAC, my doctor put me on a statin (40 mg), which has never given me any adverse side effects, and I now take 1000 mg of pomegranate peel extract daily.

Yes, I was asking why he would not want to see me sooner. Of course, when I spoke with my PCP, she said, “Cardiologists don’t think this report is bad.” So I guess the cardiologist knows enough to know I’m not going to keel over and die between now and November.

(Bob M) #4

There’s some other stuff you can take. Nattokinase has been shown to help, but you’ll have to look at the dosing. (I’ve been making my own Natto, which has Nattokinase, but I’m not sure of the level, and not everybody likes the flavor).

Maybe 1000 isn’t that bad? This is one of those areas where AI might be helpful to at least get a good guideline.

(Rick P) #5

Thanks for that information. I just read a study on Nattokinase and it seems very promising. At 10,800 IU per day, it reduced calcium in the coronary arteries by an average 36% over a year.

#6

Serra/Natto is a great supp either way with tons of benefits. There are a handful of protocols out there being used by Functional Med docs and Functional Cardiologists to get plaque reversed. They do usually involve statins, but typically at a lower dose combined with a cocktail of other supps. I don’t have time to dig right now but Ben Greenfield has had a couple of them on his podcast talking about it. I know Nathalie Niddam has had some of them on as well. I doubt you’re a ticking timebomb, they would have been running you through the gauntlet if you were.

Not that it’s a “plus” because clearly it’s not, but at least you can do more to reverse soft plaque than you can for the calcified stuff.

(Joey) #7

Am a but confused… Your score was over 1000… Which score? If it were the CAC calcium score (Agatston) they would’ve known that before since that’s a different test than a CT Angiogram.

In any event, a high calcium score is not a death sentence… On the contrary, calcium plaque is the stabilizer ”scabbing” of soft plaque - which is the kind that’s most dangerous since it can come loose, circulate and cause stroke or other blockage.

I know someone with a rather elevated calcium score who had an angiogram (catheterized through the artery) and the cardiologist did not perform any intervention (i.e, stent or angioplasty) because despite the calcium plaque there were no blockages of any concern.

In short, an elevated score may or may not be an issue of concern. Sure, a zero score is preferable. But even then, it could be lots of soft plaque (which doesn’t show up on a calcium score test, it’s not echolucent) that isn’t scabbing over with calcium deposits to stabilize it in place. We are all different, at different times in our life.

Please keep us posted. :vulcan_salute:

(Bob M) #8

Thanks for the dosage. I was trying to determine if my daily natto would come close to that, but the numbers for natto are all over the place. And I’ve found making natto to be a finicky recipe – the result aren’t the same, particularly if you use two different size containers, which I almost always do.

I’ve gotten my natto making technique down though. Still time consuming to make, but not as bad.

I highly recommend pills, as they are easier.

(Edith) #9

I don’t know how intensive your years of marathon and triathlon training were, but years of extreme aerobic exercise can cause heart damage, including increased CAC.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42520403/

(Hugh Walter Jennings) #10

Nattokinase brands are not all equal. I got lucky and choose Arthur Andrew Nattovena before I saw this video.

(Jane) #11

Can you ask to be put on a waiting list in case there are cancellations? My husband did this and his 3-month wait to see a pulmonologist turned into less than 2 weeks.

(Rick P) #12

Janie:

I am on the cancellation waiting list. Apparently my cardiologist is very busy.