Has anyone had one of these. Can you share you number of you don't mind. Did the result cause you to change any lifestyle things like eating, exercise, sleep?
Please avoid medical advice.
Please avoid medical advice.
CT Coronary Calcium Scan
- Thread starter Donald
- Start date
Is this calcium score test?
check out Ivor Cummings vids on the CAC scan, he notes what it can tell you. very little radiation + a lower cost option non invasive test. the test itself ONLY tells you how much "clogging" there is + its up to YOU to fix it!! his boss of the irish heart institute had a bad aka score + he fixed it with proper eating lo carb, it takes time but the results are worth it. one video "the Widowmaker" know your score tells it all. he notes that test is seldom used in the us as other more costly tests are generally done!
It's a CT (cat) scan of your heart looking for plaque deposits that usually include calcium.
Looking for a score of zero.
Gotcha, I'm 43 and two years ago I had a score of zero, and I eat like crap too. Its a really good indicator of your vascular heath, and based on results your cardiologist can treat you more effectively based on the value. Super easy, 5 mins in and out.
I was very relieved as heart disease is almost 100% in my family. Good luck! Its never too late to reduce the deposits in your arteries.
Everyone will get a little build up based on diet and genetics as they age. I have some they saw on an unrelated CT. I assume you have other symptoms that your cardiologist is sending you for this test or is it just precautionary? It's not about whether or not you have it, it's the extent and what to do to control it relative to your age.
Had this test in October or November. My insurance didn't cover the cost but it wasn't too bad. I think around $100. I'm 62 and my score was zero. There must be a genetic component to artery build up as my cholesterol numbers are just average. I do workout and walk the dogs a few miles a day if that helps. As an aside, I do have heart problems with afib so I say the plumbing is good, the electrical not so good.
It sounds familiar and the DR said insurance wont cover it but it's only $70. Results was zero too which is supposed to be the best. Not sure what it really means though.
CORONARY CALCIUM SCORE:
MESA percentile: 40 %ile
Hoff percentile: 27
Left main: 35.35
Left anterior descending: 56.02
Left circumflex: 0
Right coronary artery: 0
TOTAL CALCIUM SCORE: 91.37
VOLUME SCORE: 78.54
Changed nothing in lifestyle, doc made no negative comments.
MESA percentile: 40 %ile
Hoff percentile: 27
Left main: 35.35
Left anterior descending: 56.02
Left circumflex: 0
Right coronary artery: 0
TOTAL CALCIUM SCORE: 91.37
VOLUME SCORE: 78.54
Changed nothing in lifestyle, doc made no negative comments.
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A family member figured out on his own, taking Magnesium supplement of 400mg a day solved his PVC issues. Cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist were amazed. He went from what he says about 100,000 PVC's a day (Every heartbeat) to 100
Take this with a grain of salt, talk to your doctor of course as his doctors are now aware and told him to keep taking it, also a blood test for Magnesium should be done, he was in the lower green zone. He also has diabetes.
His heart not in great shape though you wouldnt know it if you met him.
Thank you so much! I need to try sometning. I also look like I'm in good shape due to my strength work. The reality is a different story.
Well, Im not a doctor, I have minor PVCs, also had a Heart Cauterization 10 months ago, told Im in good shape, minor plaque, no other intervention needed. I take 12.5mg of Metoprolol a day for PVCs which is a min dose.
My Apple Watch 7 recently a month ago showed for about 5 days a low heart rate of 35 BPM (beats per minute) while I was sleeping, I had an alert on the watch when I woke up about 2 or 3 days that week! I was also able to document it as the watch also can do an ECG ... which is REALLY amazing, I just got it at Christmas.
I can then send the ECG to anyone in a PDF or just save it and print it. Anyway, I got concerned because the watch recorded two events maybe three for just one week a few weeks back that said my heart rate dropped to the 30's BPM (beats per minute) for 10 minute period each time.
I sent the ECG to my doctors office where an NP looked at it and said the watch is most likely unable to take into account your PVCs and showing a lower heart rate. Anyway, I already have a scheduled check up with the cardiologist in June and will take the print outs with me, I dont want to accept an answer from an NP that says "most likely" now, I was going to schedule an appt sooner (and still may) but it only happened a few days then stopped.
I dont take Magnesium supplement because its not a constant and wouldn't want to "cover" anything up if there is an issue. My brother is a different case as they cant do anything more for him and the magnesium took care of it. Which is amazing.
Again, not a doctor but 400 mg of a Magnesium supplement seems like nothing more than a vitamin supplement, its sold in Walmart's, Costco almost anywhere, like all supplements in different sizes, 250, 400 ect.. Multi -Vitamins have anywhere from 40 to 120 Mg...
Just an idea to check for yourself.
I consider myself in good shape, eat right, great lipid levels, actually fantastic. Trying to beat the family history, so far I have been successful both my brother and now gone dad had heart issues for decades by the time they reached my age. According to my cardiologist I may never need any intervention. I do take things to an extreme, just like my long posts in here. I eat pretty much nothing but fruit, vegetables, fish, poultry, super lean beef. I also just six month ago joined OrangeTheory (now that I have the time in my life) and go to 2 HIT sessions a week.
(high intensity training) I also checked with my cardiologist to make sure it was ok to run my heart rate up to 160 BPM... he was like, well, lets try to work towards the 130s and a peak of 160 for short period should be ok.
This was my workout Monday, from my Apple Watch but OrangeTheory also give you a much more detailed one from their equipment, posting my Apple Watch one because its smaller and easier to fit in this post. For 41 minutes of the 1 hour workout I had my heart rate at 83% to 97% of my age appropriate capacity. Peak of 164 BPM... so far I have survived 2 times a week since Nov 2021 I do try to keep the rate a little lower as you know your rate real time as you work out with their equipment.
I really love electronics and instrumentation and why I love the Apple Watch, I get to see what my heart is doing, much like the oil temperature gauge on my motorcycle tells me what my motorcycle is doing *LOL*
Not only that but keeps me focused and if something does go wrong years down the road maybe I will find out and be able to go to the doctor instead of it being too late. (gulp)
Look, like anyone, Im not perfect but now retired I consider this almost like a hobby, trying my best to do what is right for my body/heart.
I see and feel the results of working out at OrangeTheory, I was always active I thought and pretty darn close to my BMI but this really stepped it up a level, I never expected two - one hour sessions a week to have the impact that it has, meaning muscle mass, even my wife was like, wow, surprised at the change in a short period of time. I do now fill in a third day of the week on my own, working out for 45 minutes or so with "CoreFitness" weights.
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I have PVC too, I only experience them when stressed or anxious. I took a stress test and they were identified during the test. Doc said its common and poses no concern. He said if I begin to have them all the time, that is an issue.
the CAC i mentioned + noted Ivor Cummins is a coronary artery calcium check + it "sees" how much calcification in your "pipes" so if your smart YOU usually can fix it WITHOUT drugs by proper eating aka lo carb as its the carbs-sugars that caused the issue!! reading that magnesium is hard to test as its not much in your blood. many nutrients are VERY important + lacking in todays poor food sources so supplements can help IMI!!
I am still waiting for the test results to be mailed to me. Otherwise my doctor will tell me in a week or so.
Unfortunately you cannot remove plaque. But can alter your lifestyle so things do not get worse.
Unfortunately you cannot remove plaque. But can alter your lifestyle so things do not get worse.
My test results came back and not good. Pretty high on one side, zero on the other.
Referred to cardiologist.
Looks like lifestyle changes will be coming soon.
Referred to cardiologist.
Looks like lifestyle changes will be coming soon.
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So sorry to hear that! Keep us posted.
Im curious, what brought you to the point of the scan?
Were you having symptoms of any kind?
I think some people have this test done as a matter of routine check up rather than symptoms?
The reason I was curious is my fathers side of the family, has been greatly affect by heart disease, stents, quadruple bypasses, heart failure and no one including myself ever had the calcium scan which I think is like a $100 procedure.
We all had at some point nuclear stress tests and ultimately heart cauterizations to check our arteries.
SO far I am the only male in my family that hasn't needed any intervention, stents or bypass. All males except me had both stents and heart bypasses. I would like to think I learned from them over the years and greatly altered the way I eat and food I put in my mouth.
SO the reason I asked the above questions is if you are having symptoms because if I am correct a lot of ins companies dont even recognize or pay for a Calcium Scan, a cardiologist will go straight to a stress test or heart cauterization, normally insurance will require the stress test first and not let you go straight to a cauterization. But I dont think the cardiologist will doing anything if there are no symptoms or maybe a stress test to be sure.
10 months ago my cardiologist with my approval wanted to go straight to the cauterization, insurance company would not allow it without first doing a stress test, so I had to do that first.
Because of my family history I already know the heart cauterization is the gold standard and ONLY sure way to know how much plaque you have.
Not giving advice but for me, they knew I REALLY wanted one as I am now in my retirement years, if it was anything bad I could prepare and be treated if need be before the pint of bypass and too much damage to my heart.
Good news was cauterization showed "minimal plaque" which means no greater then 20% and I can deal with it and my cardiologist says possibly never need intervention. We will see.
Either way, its a good thing that you are doing and I want to stress I am not giving advice, Im not even talking bad about the Calcium Scan because I do remember one NP in my cardiologist office saying that she thinks they are good even if cardiologists dont look at them too favorable and suggested I may want to get one too but most likely would be at my cost. (or something like that) though I then had the heart cauterization after the talk so not sure if she still meant its a good idea/ I dont know much about the test.
Based upon my age primary care Dr. was ordering EKG and Echocardiogram and I asked about the CT Coronary Calcium test as I read about it and only $100. Roughly. He said we can order that. Insurance does not cover it so maybe doctors do not order it as routine.
It may indeed save my life as all other tests are fine.
