I've had this test done twice already with Princeton Longevity Center and happy to say both of my Calcium Scores have been ZERO! That said, it's a great initial baseline test of your heart that provides you peace of mind in your life. It does require a prescription from your doctor, but family history is one good reason to have it done. Also, I think most insurance companies don't cover it fully, however, if you want to spend your 401K in retirement one day, invest in this test and your future! It's totally worth it!!!
I have one simple question regarding calcification. I am 63, maintained A1C of 6 to 6.3 since 2000 at the same time have consistently maintained total cholestrol of 175 mg/dl, LDL-110 to 130 mg/dl, Trigly~50 to 70 mg/dl, HDL~45 -53mg/dL. Hs-CRP near 3. Intermittant (15-18 hrs) fasting >20 yrs, vegetarian. Recently did a CAC although my primary doc said he doesn't believe in that. I forced him to give the prescription for that & am glad that I took it. What is my CAC score? 2900. Almost all vessels are calcified. Left main 74, LAD-612, LCX-937, RCA-503, PDA-766. I am hopeful that most of my plaques are all stabalized due to extensive calcification in most of my cardiac arteries. Can I say this at this point? Note that I don't have angina. I frequently climb mountains, 500-1000 steps with no angina.
Hello, My father has a score of 3160 we have checked with his doctor and have done the treadmill test he passed 8/10 in it. He has no chest pain no breathing problem. No pain at all but the score is very high what could be the reason?
Coronary calcium scores are an indication of coronary artery disease. Sometimes, further testing is required to better understand the degree of disease and help decide the best treatment strategies. Most people who have cardiovascular disease have no symptoms. That's why Coronary Calcium Scoring and Cardiac CT Angiography are important screening tools. They help us to find disease BEFORE symptoms when treatment is easier and more effective. By the time there are symptoms, there is most likely already a severe blockage, plaque rupture or heart attack. To learn more about why this happens - please watch our video on stress testing at ruclips.net/video/jq_H3HIqU6c/видео.html.
Most likely. A man at 40 with a calcium score of 150 is over the 90th percentile for people his age and is considered very high risk. For a man at 80 with a score of 150, 75% or more of men his age will have a higher score and is considered lower risk that most at his age. Both patients have plaque and are at risk and we would treat the 40 year old aggressively to reduce his future risk of heart attack. I have uploaded the chart showing average scores for age on our website at princetonlongevitycenter.com/cacs-in-asymptomatic-patients-graph/ for your review.
First of all, excellent handle Mr. Gladiator! In cardiology, know very little about the actual process of plaque destabilization and plaque rupture (i.e.. Why does it happen and when). We do know that this is often the inciting event for a heart attack, but in medicine, we are not necessarily good at predicting plaque rupture. Therefore, it is very important to have a thorough and complete cardiovascular assessment and to fully know your individualized risk of heart attack.
I had 3 CAC Scans. In 7/2017 it was 107 so I started taking a statin. In 8/2019 it went up 85% to 193 so I stopped the statin and just took K2, D3, magnesium, aged garlic. (I also was limping with the statin - and the limp disappeared after stopping it.) On 7/2021 my CAC score was 164. It had decreased. I'm a 72 year old woman who has been 100% vegetarian for 49 years. My husband with same diet has zero plaque. I'm hoping to slowly remove the plaque. LAD artery went from 99 to 75. LCX artery went from 94 to 89. Maybe in 10 years it will be gone. I never had any heart pain or any body pain except leg muscle while taking a statin. I've never been to the ER, hospital, or had surgery.
Hi Moe - it would be both inaccurate and unethical for us to comment on your specific care. A calcium score and stress tests are often used together and one does not exclude the other. A calcium score is used as a tool to establish risk of heart disease/heart attack and is better at doing so than a stress test. In many cases a person who has had a heart attack would pass a stress test even the day before. A stress test is generally used for visualizing occlusion of an artery in determining who might need corrective therapeutics or surgery and is not used for risk stratification.
@@moet4519 - Regular stress test typically only detect inclusion (blockage) of 50% and greater. Most cardiac events happen with less than 50% blockage. ie, stress test is crap. Get CAC test. My score is 123.
I recently had Ct scan of abdominal and they found that I have severe atherosclerosis of Arota. I have family history of heart disease. I am on medication for high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Should I go for coronary calcium score? Please advise. Thanks
Discovering atherosclerosis of the aorta is common depending on age and other risk factors. When found, the chances of also having atherosclerosis and plaque in the heart arteries is higher. A coronary calcium score help us to assess that risk much better.
Thank you so much. I had my coronary calcium scan done today. I got the report and score is 200. All the arteries have score of zero except Left Anterior Descending. How bad is this? What steps I can take to diagnose further. Please advice. The report also mentioned mild atherosclerosis calcification of the arota. Thanks
@@parulshah4703 Hi Again! We cannot give medical advice via RUclips but in general, Calcium scores are used to detect coronary plaque and help assess risk of heart attack. Depending on age, gender, and other risk factors for disease, further evaluation may be necessary to identify ways to slow the process of coronary artery disease and thus more effectively manage heart health.
Excellent question. We know that things such as diet and exercise can help slow the process of plaque formation and calcification. At PLC we strongly believe that this is critical, which is why our exams include a visit with an exercise physiologist and dietician/nutritionist. In many cases, medications and further medical evaluations are needed to fully understand and properly follow the development of coronary disease.
So I spoke to my GP over doing a CAC. NOT necessary he said. I have done both, 24 hour heart monitor, and later treadmill stress test with ultrasound before and after. Results=normal. So why not CAC? He said CAC is useful IF a patient cannot do any stress test eg, bad knees, hips. Also CAC only shows when calcium has hardened. Prior to that hardening it will be softer(my interpretation of how he described it in his drawings) , and CAC won't pick it up. So I guess, if you can, do the stress treadmill test with ultrasound.
There are many ways to evaluate for coronary artery disease. The treadmill stress test that you described carries a sensitivity and specificity of about 85% and 87% respectively for obstructive coronary disease (ie. stenosis that is > or equal to about 70%). The coronary calcium score is different in that it is a terrific screening tool to help risk stratify patients at intermediate risk for coronary disease. There is much evidence to show that coronary calcium scoring helps re-define 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk as noted in the link below. Furthermore, in many clinical scenarios a coronary calcium score is used as an adjunct to stress testing or CT angiography. www.jacc.org/doi/full/10.1016/j.jacc.2018.05.027?_ga=2.169042023.776165679.1607028058-1315351777.1602787695
You want the CAC test because it is a baseline of any calcium in you arteries. This is extremely important for those with risk factors. Your doctor does not understand this. He should go back to his med school and get his money back because he got robbed. Additionally, follow up scan will show you how poorly most doctors can not stop progression of heart disease. Moreover they blame the patients for poor outcomes. Because they can not imagine their professors were wrong. Lastly stress test detect blockages of 50% or greater typically. In other words, you were treated as a lab rat to generate income for the testing lab or hospital.
@@carnivorechronicles Thank you both for your comments. I will check with another doctor. Appreciate the time you both took to reply. Screen shot taken for my next doctor.
@@gibsonguitarplayer - My score is 123, April 2019. And I just got another test last Wednesday and awaiting results. Sorry to hear about you score. Now that you know you can institute secondary prevention. What are you doing to halt you progression?
Good morning my is cholesterol 8.9 due to my keto low carb lifestyle so my Gp asked me to do calcium score and the result 115 Moderate burden of atherosclerotic plaque should I be worried and do an intravenous test as well . I am 67 years old active male thankyou
Hi Iraklis - unfortunately it would be inaccurate and unethical for us to comment directly on your care without having examined and interviewed you as a patient. A Cardiac CT Angiography is a heart scan that uses a small amount of contrast dye to help highlight the arteries. This enables us to see both calcified and non-calcified plaque and we can, therefore, see stenosis (narrowing or blockage) of an artery where a calcium scoring you can not (calcium scoring is strictly used as a screening test for heart attack risk assessment). Cardiac CT Angiography is very low risk test and highly accurate when performed and interpreted by physicians and technicians who have specific expertise in this imaging. You should discuss with your physician if this advanced diagnostic cardiac scan could assist with determining next steps in your care.
Calcium is found all over the body; in cells, in bones, and circulating in the blood. Calcium is essential for many functions in both cellular activity, muscular function, and bone health. The type of calcium that we see in coronary arteries on a calcium score is related to cholesterol plaquing and coronary artery disease. Over the last 30 years, PLC has been very active in the research of this technology and our doctors regularly contribute to the screening guidelines from the America College of Cardiology.
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This is the best (and most succinct) description I've seen.
This the absolut best explanation I’ve found
I've had this test done twice already with Princeton Longevity Center and happy to say both of my Calcium Scores have been ZERO! That said, it's a great initial baseline test of your heart that provides you peace of mind in your life. It does require a prescription from your doctor, but family history is one good reason to have it done. Also, I think most insurance companies don't cover it fully, however, if you want to spend your 401K in retirement one day, invest in this test and your future! It's totally worth it!!!
Clear short presentation to the point.
Excellent explanation.
I have one simple question regarding calcification. I am 63, maintained A1C of 6 to 6.3 since 2000 at the same time have consistently maintained total cholestrol of 175 mg/dl, LDL-110 to 130 mg/dl, Trigly~50 to 70 mg/dl, HDL~45 -53mg/dL. Hs-CRP near 3. Intermittant (15-18 hrs) fasting >20 yrs, vegetarian. Recently did a CAC although my primary doc said he doesn't believe in that. I forced him to give the prescription for that & am glad that I took it. What is my CAC score? 2900. Almost all vessels are calcified. Left main 74, LAD-612, LCX-937, RCA-503, PDA-766. I am hopeful that most of my plaques are all stabalized due to extensive calcification in most of my cardiac arteries. Can I say this at this point? Note that I don't have angina. I frequently climb mountains, 500-1000 steps with no angina.
Hello, My father has a score of 3160 we have checked with his doctor and have done the treadmill test he passed 8/10 in it. He has no chest pain no breathing problem. No pain at all but the score is very high what could be the reason?
Coronary calcium scores are an indication of coronary artery disease. Sometimes, further testing is required to better understand the degree of disease and help decide the best treatment strategies. Most people who have cardiovascular disease have no symptoms. That's why Coronary Calcium Scoring and Cardiac CT Angiography are important screening tools. They help us to find disease BEFORE symptoms when treatment is easier and more effective. By the time there are symptoms, there is most likely already a severe blockage, plaque rupture or heart attack. To learn more about why this happens - please watch our video on stress testing at ruclips.net/video/jq_H3HIqU6c/видео.html.
Is here a difference in protocol for a CAC score of 150 in a man of 40 vs a score of 150 in a man of 80?
Most likely. A man at 40 with a calcium score of 150 is over the 90th percentile for people his age and is considered very high risk. For a man at 80 with a score of 150, 75% or more of men his age will have a higher score and is considered lower risk that most at his age. Both patients have plaque and are at risk and we would treat the 40 year old aggressively to reduce his future risk of heart attack. I have uploaded the chart showing average scores for age on our website at princetonlongevitycenter.com/cacs-in-asymptomatic-patients-graph/ for your review.
So the question is whether vitamin K2 drawing calcium from soft tissue and arteries creates a hazard of plaque destabilization.
First of all, excellent handle Mr. Gladiator! In cardiology, know very little about the actual process of plaque destabilization and plaque rupture (i.e.. Why does it happen and when). We do know that this is often the inciting event for a heart attack, but in medicine, we are not necessarily good at predicting plaque rupture. Therefore, it is very important to have a thorough and complete cardiovascular assessment and to fully know your individualized risk of heart attack.
I had 3 CAC Scans. In 7/2017 it was 107 so I started taking a statin. In 8/2019 it went up 85% to 193 so I stopped the statin and just took K2, D3, magnesium, aged garlic. (I also was limping with the statin - and the limp disappeared after stopping it.) On 7/2021 my CAC score was 164. It had decreased. I'm a 72 year old woman who has been 100% vegetarian for 49 years. My husband with same diet has zero plaque. I'm hoping to slowly remove the plaque. LAD artery went from 99 to 75. LCX artery went from 94 to 89. Maybe in 10 years it will be gone. I never had any heart pain or any body pain except leg muscle while taking a statin. I've never been to the ER, hospital, or had surgery.
@@PrincetonLongevity RIGHT You ONLY study Big Pharm meds that are the third leading cause of death.. GOOD Job Murderesi
Can a cac scan pick up calcium on the outside of an artey?
Giving a false score?
It will - calcifications anywhere glow bright white on a CT Scan.
@@PrincetonLongevity how do you determine if plaque is on the outside? Is it up to the radiologist who reads CAC scan?
Hi Sir, I finished my stress test with 100% yesterday morning, is that good enough or I need to do more tests ? Thanks
Hi Moe - it would be both inaccurate and unethical for us to comment on your specific care. A calcium score and stress tests are often used together and one does not exclude the other. A calcium score is used as a tool to establish risk of heart disease/heart attack and is better at doing so than a stress test. In many cases a person who has had a heart attack would pass a stress test even the day before. A stress test is generally used for visualizing occlusion of an artery in determining who might need corrective therapeutics or surgery and is not used for risk stratification.
@@PrincetonLongevity thanks a lot you guys are great
@@moet4519 -
Regular stress test typically only detect inclusion (blockage) of 50% and greater. Most cardiac events happen with less than 50% blockage. ie, stress test is crap.
Get CAC test.
My score is 123.
I recently had Ct scan of abdominal and they found that I have severe atherosclerosis of Arota. I have family history of heart disease. I am on medication for high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Should I go for coronary calcium score? Please advise. Thanks
Discovering atherosclerosis of the aorta is common depending on age and other risk factors. When found, the chances of also having atherosclerosis and plaque in the heart arteries is higher. A coronary calcium score help us to assess that risk much better.
Thank you so much. I had my coronary calcium scan done today. I got the report and score is 200. All the arteries have score of zero except Left Anterior Descending. How bad is this? What steps I can take to diagnose further. Please advice. The report also mentioned mild atherosclerosis calcification of the arota. Thanks
@@parulshah4703 Hi Again! We cannot give medical advice via RUclips but in general, Calcium scores are used to detect coronary plaque and help assess risk of heart attack. Depending on age, gender, and other risk factors for disease, further evaluation may be necessary to identify ways to slow the process of coronary artery disease and thus more effectively manage heart health.
@@parulshah4703 reduce ldl c to 55mg and add aspirin 81mg daily
I am 55 and over weight my cac was 122 left lower artery, my question is can you reverse with diet and exercise, . Thanks for helping people.
Excellent question. We know that things such as diet and exercise can help slow the process of plaque formation and calcification. At PLC we strongly believe that this is critical, which is why our exams include a visit with an exercise physiologist and dietician/nutritionist. In many cases, medications and further medical evaluations are needed to fully understand and properly follow the development of coronary disease.
So I spoke to my GP over doing a CAC.
NOT necessary he said.
I have done both, 24 hour heart monitor, and later treadmill stress test with ultrasound before and after.
Results=normal.
So why not CAC?
He said CAC is useful IF a patient cannot do any stress test eg, bad knees, hips.
Also CAC only shows when calcium has hardened.
Prior to that hardening it will be softer(my interpretation of how he described it in his drawings) , and CAC won't pick it up.
So I guess, if you can, do the stress treadmill test with ultrasound.
There are many ways to evaluate for coronary artery disease. The treadmill stress test that you described carries a sensitivity and specificity of about 85% and 87% respectively for obstructive coronary disease (ie. stenosis that is > or equal to about 70%). The coronary calcium score is different in that it is a terrific screening tool to help risk stratify patients at intermediate risk for coronary disease. There is much evidence to show that coronary calcium scoring helps re-define 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk as noted in the link below. Furthermore, in many clinical scenarios a coronary calcium score is used as an adjunct to stress testing or CT angiography.
www.jacc.org/doi/full/10.1016/j.jacc.2018.05.027?_ga=2.169042023.776165679.1607028058-1315351777.1602787695
You want the CAC test because it is a baseline of any calcium in you arteries.
This is extremely important for those with risk factors. Your doctor does not understand this. He should go back to his med school and get his money back because he got robbed.
Additionally, follow up scan will show you how poorly most doctors can not stop progression of heart disease. Moreover they blame the patients for poor outcomes. Because they can not imagine their professors were wrong.
Lastly stress test detect blockages of 50% or greater typically. In other words, you were treated as a lab rat to generate income for the testing lab or hospital.
@@carnivorechronicles
Thank you both for your comments.
I will check with another doctor.
Appreciate the time you both took to reply.
Screen shot taken for my next doctor.
He’s missing the point! I had normal cholesterol levels, negative nuclear stress test. Great right? Went and got a CAC scan…..horrible score of 738!
@@gibsonguitarplayer -
My score is 123, April 2019. And I just got another test last Wednesday and awaiting results. Sorry to hear about you score. Now that you know you can institute secondary prevention. What are you doing to halt you progression?
Good morning my is cholesterol 8.9 due to my keto low carb lifestyle so my Gp asked me to do calcium score and the result 115 Moderate burden of atherosclerotic plaque should I be worried and do an intravenous test as well . I am 67 years old active male thankyou
Hi Iraklis - unfortunately it would be inaccurate and unethical for us to comment directly on your care without having examined and interviewed you as a patient. A Cardiac CT Angiography is a heart scan that uses a small amount of contrast dye to help highlight the arteries. This enables us to see both calcified and non-calcified plaque and we can, therefore, see stenosis (narrowing or blockage) of an artery where a calcium scoring you can not (calcium scoring is strictly used as a screening test for heart attack risk assessment). Cardiac CT Angiography is very low risk test and highly accurate when performed and interpreted by physicians and technicians who have specific expertise in this imaging. You should discuss with your physician if this advanced diagnostic cardiac scan could assist with determining next steps in your care.
Is all the calcium coming from your bones or your diet?
Calcium is found all over the body; in cells, in bones, and circulating in the blood. Calcium is essential for many functions in both cellular activity, muscular function, and bone health.
The type of calcium that we see in coronary arteries on a calcium score is related to cholesterol plaquing and coronary artery disease. Over the last 30 years, PLC has been very active in the research of this technology and our doctors regularly contribute to the screening guidelines from the America College of Cardiology.