Coronary artery calcium scan

(johnp71) #1

I started my weight loss journey one year plus one day ago. There was a Groupon for a coronary artery calcium scan at a local cardiology clinic for $40 so I figured what the hell, let’s see if my heart is OK. Over the last 366 days I’ve lost 70 pounds, 10 inches off my waist, and feel better than ever.

Super easy test. Just a CT scan of my heart to see if I have any calcium buildup. Got the results immediately afterwards.

My score was zero!!! No buildup in my heart!

I have no idea if I had any in the past, so I wonder if being keto for a year has scrubbed my heart clean? Or does it take a bit more time to reduce calcium buildup, or is it not reversible at all? I’m just curious, and I’ll take my zero score!

(Becky) #2

Congrats on your progress! I’m going to groupon right now!

#3

be careful putting all your eggs into one scans basket. there could be measuring error or application error. also keep in mind that coronary events are associated with high CAC scores but aren’t exclusive to them.

I would try and get another one in 3 or 6 months to confirm or get more info.

there is unfortunately not much information on how long it takes to improve it via a ketogenic diet, or at all other than anecdotes.

lets hope its an accurate real finding that would be awesome.

(Linda Culbreth) #4

Great job on the weight loss!!! Have no idea on the scan.

(Richard Morris) #5

A coronary calcium scan is a lot of ionizing radiation because they sometimes have to take hundreds of times more scans in order to capture the heart at the precise moment of the downswing of it’s beat. So it is not a great idea to get multiple in a year. As a comparison a cardiac score exposes you to 2 millisieverts or about 40 chest X-Rays, or roughly double the exposure a Flight Attendant experiences in a year.

If you get a zero CAC you can wait 15 years before you get your next. If you are or have been type 2 diabetic then that duration is reduced to 10 years. I got a zero score a year ago and will recheck in 9 years.

(Michael Wallace Ellwood) #6

What’s the next best thing to a coronary calcium scan, and how invasive is it?

(Richard Morris) #7

it’s the gold standard as far as I’m concerned. But I wouldn’t have one more than once every decade.

Next best is a carotid intima ultrasound which tests the thickness of the walls of your carotid artery.

(Michael Wallace Ellwood) #8

Thank you Richard.

(Sharon) #9

My CAC scan score is 405 I am female age 72 . Keto one year. Lost 35 # smoked from age 12-52 for 40 yrs one pack a day. have not smoked for 20 yrs also sober alcoholic 31 yrs Does Keto improve this in time? or does it make this worse, my doctor seemed think that Keto was the cause but did not discourage me for doing Keto since I had successfully lost the weight.

#10

is there any evidence that keto can lower a CAC score or reverse plaque buildup? if so , please show me the science please Or podcast it. .

My CAC score was 244 last month. 58 year old 1 year menopausal female . My CAC score 5 years ago was 0. its a pretty fast rise.

My (relatively new to me) primary care doc in the Seattle area is a well known keto/lo carb guy. /Earlier this year, it was bacon and eggs for two weeks. . A couple months later , it was salmon and greens. Now suddenly 2 weeks later (with this CAC score and some symptoms) its “take a statin.”. I don’t WANT to take a statin:) Plus I now have a Cardiologist. Ugh. . apparently if you show up at the ER with chest pain and an abnormal ECG, getting into the specialist takes a day - not 6 months.

My cholesterol numbers are just a bit higher than normal but my ratio is only 3.0 I have fatty liver. Most alarming, t I am having some fibrillation and dizziness issues that scream stroke risk to me and to the ER doc. I am prediabetic (5.7 A1C have been as high as 6.1. it fluctuates) and am packing 80- 100 extra pounds. I mountain bike and hike for a living so the weight REALLY has to go for the sake of my joints and effectiveness at work. But , the CV issue is real. I feel it while exercising . I am having a stress test next week .

So… looking for science . show me the science. Adding lipids to my blood stream on a keto diet plus the lipids floating about as my liver ‘gets thin’ seems a bit scary. With some kind of inflammation and ateriosclerosis going on … is it risky really. ? Rough blood vessels, existing plaque, inflammation an seems a bad combo. but my joints and mood and cognition are much better on keto. But, the science please. my degrees are in science. I need data. I am not finding it online. I am thinking vegan. :cold_sweat:

Oddly my genetic profile shows me at low risk for diabetes, weight gain, etc. but moderate for CV disease… Le Sigh.

Richard…weigh in here and do that thing you do explaining the science. . many thanks in advance.

Anyone in a similar situation? I would welcome your input also.

(Christian) #12

In the excellent book “Eat Rich Live Long” from Ivor Cummins and Jeffry Gerber you can find the story of a patient who got reduced his Calcium Score on LCHF (page 272).
And there are described studies which show that even with a higher CAS you can improve the overall risks significantly by slowing down it’s progress.