It is very important to know your score. My wife considered not at risk, got a 529 in 2018 at age 65. I am the sick one. I have been managing my T2D for 20 years at that point with keto. My score 73. Great for an old diabetic.
My CAC score was partially covered by insurance. I paid $74 out of pocket. I'll have another in 4 years. Thank you for the presentation of this information.
Thank you for your clear visuals and a well-delivered presentation. 👍 Got my score of 153 last week, and I now feel a bit better at 65, and been keto 2 yrs, so will do it again in 5 yrs. Insurance should pay for this!
Excellent presentation. I had the CAC done recently and it helped my doc and in turn I where I am against blood work etc. For such low cost to get that much proactive information, to my mind its a must if the doc asks you to get one.
Dr Stapleton thank for excellent presentation on coronary artery calcium, appreciate your knowledge and the sincere efforts that you have put to post this vital issue good wishes 09/12/2019
Thanks Troy. Great summary. Having had all three types of tests I can vouch for the power of the CAC score for assessing risk. Femoral artery angiogram showed no disease, when actually my LAD was occluded 20% with soft and hardened plaque CAC score 15. I've intensified my lifestyle as a result, low carb higher fat and exercise. Heaps of help here at Low Carb Downunder and all the others around the world. I hope not to have the same problems as my ancestors going at least x3 generations back,who on my mums side had MI 's at age 57...
In 2019 we had a CAC test done on both my husband and I. My score was 119. I have FH with a total of 450+. This year my score was 16. I went down 103. My husband has cholesterol of 168 total. His CAC score was 419 in 2019 and 567 in 2021. So crazy how these numbers work.
So it would seem prudent the first time GP raises concerns around CVD first course of action is CAC to get a number and start tracking progression/regression based on that number. This should be done before any further medical intervention or medication.
If anyone cares, the 1 in 100,000 cancer risk was probably calculated using the linear no-threshold model, which says cancer risk increases proportional to radiation dose, all radiation is equal, and there is no safe amount. That model is the famous one, so it gets used a lot, but it's certainly not accepted by everyone. For one thing, it predicts elevated rates of cancer for people living in certain uranium-rich parts of the western United States, where in fact below-average cancer rates appear. For another, it's known that some types of radiation are safer (e.g., x-rays, beta particles) and some are more dangerous (e.g., gamma rays, neutrons). By analogy, if falling 100 feet onto concrete would surely kill you, then linear no-threshold would predict that you have a 1% chance of dying from falling 1 foot onto a mattress.
CT scan 1/20 showed moderate coronary calcification, a scan 6 months later showed severe coronary calcification so I had a CAC test done with a score of 474. I then went keto for the next year and my CT scan 2 days ago said nothing about any coronary calcification. I kinda think that going keto for the past year had everything to do with that.
My Dr won't order me a CAC Scan because the ACC guidelines mention that it's not useful if Ldl is >200. My HDL-62, Trigl- 45, LDL-207. I have been low carb for 3 years.
Thank you Dr. Stapleton. Very educational for me. I had a CAC score of 1183 handed to me 3 months ago. I had a rather sleepless night after which I decided to relax and rather than worry, to do something positive and change my diet. I am 72 and have been very athletic all my life. Soccer and martial arts mostly, last 10 years I generally walk 8 miles a day for 4/5 days a week. I drastically changed my diet.I have dropped 30 pounds in weight in 3 months from 202 lbs.- 6 feet tall to virtually no sugar-low carb diet. Expect to see a change in my bloodwork next week. It would seem that many athletes are prone to higher CAC scores than average. Sugar has been my undoing I believe. 8 years ago I suffered from a P/E after ankle surgery and it developed into a saddle clot between my lungs. Do you have dietary recommendations for people who have very high CAC scores and have you evidence that these scores can be reduced over a period of 5 years or so. I appreciate your time. Thanks again.
Ivor Cummins speaks at length on these matters. As I understand it, there is no great benefit in lowering the CAC score, but rather, to slow the soft plaque development by lifestyle interventions. An LCHF diet that is free from seed oils and includes seafood omega 3. Control blood pressure. Stop alcohol. Quit smoking. Avoid stress where possible.
BLUE HAWAII Check out Dr. William Davis, Ivor Cummins, Dr. Berg, Dr. Mindy Pelz, Dr. Axe, Keto Connect. There are dozens more: also Diet doctor.com advises with tons of good food for LCHF (low carb healthy fat) lifestyle. Our bodies are very complex: vitamin, mineral, electrolyte, microbiom (gut health) deficiencies are also areas that can make the difference. Intermittent and Extended Fasting also heals and detoxes. Good luck to you!
@@Rocketscientist66 Thank you. I am familiar with all the names you have included. My blood numbers a really good, I walk 8 miles per day in a 2 hour window. Feel great. Hope you are too.
Is the CAC score likely to be the same as on the CT angiogram? If the CT angiogram (18 months after the CAC) shows a few points more does that mean the plaque has grown?
@@225rip // I measured 1120 a few months ago. I have read that statins significantly raise CAC score because they in part densify and stabilize plaques with increased calcium and I’ve been on a high dose of rosuvastatin for 5+ years, so I hope it’s not a terrible thing. Still, since I measured 445 in 2012 and have been low carb and 45 lbs lighter since 2019, I am very concerned. I take magnesium supplements and lots of vitamin K2 from natto. Good luck!
What R your thoughts about the" Diamondback" to remove calcium in the Aorta? I have a calcium buildup in my Aorta. I am 80ty & worry about waiting to fix it when I am even older. What R your thoughts about this "router-router?
My insurance paid for it--Medicare+Medicaid (because I'm poor and getting all the benefits I deserve). The results indicate that the CAC test was requested by the patient, ordered by the dr. Mine was high, 474, but after a year on keto my CT 2 days ago didn't mention anything about coronary calcification.
@@richardhoulton4016 I can attest to this. My wife was told to take it as "preventative" with a 0 calcium and perfect lipids. I told her absolutely not. Someone should get fired for such terrible advice
There's no way to know if your low-carb diet contributed to your score or not. Your score might have been 11 before you started the diet. If you stay low carb and get another scan 1 or 2 years after the first scan, then you'll know if the diet is helping or hurting. Ivor Cummins has said that scores typically progress about 25 to 30% per year, but there have been studies that show if you keep your progression rate less than 15% per year, your risk is substantially lower. Over time as the score increases, the increase comes from two sources: A) formation of new plaques and B) increasing size/density of the existing plaques. I think avoiding _new_ plaque formation is the key to risk reduction. Less than 15% annual progression probably equates to existing plaque getting larger and more dense but not much in the way of new plaques. Greater than 15% progression probably means you're developing new plaques. I recently had scan #2 and I came in right at 15% annual progression. I'm not super upset about 15% but I want to get it down below 10% on the next one.
Once I carry a stent on my heart, my goal is to keep my arteries clean without cholesterol and calcium. This is the struggle, how can we maintain this, but without statins?
I'm a thin 5' 7" 135 lbs fit 76 year old with no symptoms of any health problems and have been on Keto for almost 4 years. Just got a requested by me CAC scan with a result of 1114.5. My most recent blood test results were a trigyceride/HDL of 1, CRP
![Gunna - HIM ALL ALONG [Official Visualizer]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/HiCxoDeo0hc/mqdefault.jpg)
It is very important to know your score. My wife considered not at risk, got a 529 in 2018 at age 65. I am the sick one. I have been managing my T2D for 20 years at that point with keto. My score 73. Great for an old diabetic.
My CAC score was partially covered by insurance. I paid $74 out of pocket. I'll have another in 4 years. Thank you for the presentation of this information.
Great info, no hype, just straight up this is what is can do, and these are the limitations.
As usual, LCDU does it again. 👍
Thank you for your clear visuals and a well-delivered presentation. 👍 Got my score of 153 last week, and I now feel a bit better at 65, and been keto 2 yrs, so will do it again in 5 yrs. Insurance should pay for this!
Well done Dr. Stapleton. Excellent presentation!
Excellent presentation. I had the CAC done recently and it helped my doc and in turn I where I am against blood work etc. For such low cost to get that much proactive information, to my mind its a must if the doc asks you to get one.
Dr Stapleton thank for excellent presentation on coronary artery calcium, appreciate your knowledge and the sincere efforts that you have put to post this vital issue good wishes 09/12/2019
Very informative and straight to the point. Excellent communication skills.
Thanks Troy. Great summary. Having had all three types of tests I can vouch for the power of the CAC score for assessing risk. Femoral artery angiogram showed no disease, when actually my LAD was occluded 20% with soft and hardened plaque CAC score 15. I've intensified my lifestyle as a result, low carb higher fat and exercise. Heaps of help here at Low Carb Downunder and all the others around the world. I hope not to have the same problems as my ancestors going at least x3 generations back,who on my mums side had MI 's at age 57...
@Jenny Weyman , just wondering do you have prediabetes? But of luck on you progress! James in Raleigh, NC
Forget low carb...make it no carb!! You dont need to eat any carbs...well done though
How important is it to have your repeated CAC scan done on the same machine? Great presentation!
In 2019 we had a CAC test done on both my husband and I. My score was 119. I have FH with a total of 450+. This year my score was 16. I went down 103. My husband has cholesterol of 168 total. His CAC score was 419 in 2019 and 567 in 2021. So crazy how these numbers work.
How much ldl you had this year
How did you drop your number so much?
Excellent and informative presentation, discussed clearly. Thank you Dr. Stapleton!
So it would seem prudent the first time GP raises concerns around CVD first course of action is CAC to get a number and start tracking progression/regression based on that number. This should be done before any further medical intervention or medication.
Thank you Dr Stapleton for this educational experience!
Excellent Podcast 🙂👍
Very interesting. Why no discussion about the volume vs the score/number of plaques?
If anyone cares, the 1 in 100,000 cancer risk was probably calculated using the linear no-threshold model, which says cancer risk increases proportional to radiation dose, all radiation is equal, and there is no safe amount. That model is the famous one, so it gets used a lot, but it's certainly not accepted by everyone. For one thing, it predicts elevated rates of cancer for people living in certain uranium-rich parts of the western United States, where in fact below-average cancer rates appear. For another, it's known that some types of radiation are safer (e.g., x-rays, beta particles) and some are more dangerous (e.g., gamma rays, neutrons). By analogy, if falling 100 feet onto concrete would surely kill you, then linear no-threshold would predict that you have a 1% chance of dying from falling 1 foot onto a mattress.
CT scan 1/20 showed moderate coronary calcification, a scan 6 months later showed severe coronary calcification so I had a CAC test done with a score of 474. I then went keto for the next year and my CT scan 2 days ago said nothing about any coronary calcification.
I kinda think that going keto for the past year had everything to do with that.
Just an honest question…are you saying that going on a keto diet reversed atherosclerosis?
I’d specifically ask, not just rely on someone not mentioning it.
I would ask what your score was.
My Dr won't order me a CAC Scan because the ACC guidelines mention that it's not useful if Ldl is >200. My HDL-62, Trigl- 45, LDL-207. I have been low carb for 3 years.
What is your total cholesterol?
It’s your body, not his. He has no right to refuse health care. It’s not an expensive test; pay for it out of pocket.
Very interesting... Thank you
Thank you Dr. Stapleton. Very educational for me. I had a CAC score of 1183 handed to me 3 months ago. I had a rather sleepless night after which I decided to relax and rather than worry, to do something positive and change my diet. I am 72 and have been very athletic all my life. Soccer and martial arts mostly, last 10 years I generally walk 8 miles a day for 4/5 days a week. I drastically changed my diet.I have dropped 30 pounds in weight in 3 months from 202 lbs.- 6 feet tall to virtually no sugar-low carb diet. Expect to see a change in my bloodwork next week. It would seem that many athletes are prone to higher CAC scores than average. Sugar has been my undoing I believe. 8 years ago I suffered from a P/E after ankle surgery and it developed into a saddle clot between my lungs. Do you have dietary recommendations for people who have very high CAC scores and have you evidence that these scores can be reduced over a period of 5 years or so. I appreciate your time. Thanks again.
Ivor Cummins speaks at length on these matters. As I understand it, there is no great benefit in lowering the CAC score, but rather, to slow the soft plaque development by lifestyle interventions. An LCHF diet that is free from seed oils and includes seafood omega 3. Control blood pressure. Stop alcohol. Quit smoking. Avoid stress where possible.
BLUE HAWAII Check out Dr. William Davis, Ivor Cummins, Dr. Berg, Dr. Mindy Pelz, Dr. Axe, Keto Connect. There are dozens more: also Diet doctor.com advises with tons of good food for LCHF (low carb healthy fat) lifestyle. Our bodies are very complex: vitamin, mineral, electrolyte, microbiom (gut health) deficiencies are also areas that can make the difference. Intermittent and Extended Fasting also heals and detoxes. Good luck to you!
@@MrDavidknigge Thanks David. I have listened to Ivor and I have implemented your suggestions for a number of weeks now.
@@AtTheLake91 Thanks, I am all over my issue. Appreciate your reply.
@@Rocketscientist66 Thank you. I am familiar with all the names you have included. My blood numbers a really good, I walk 8 miles per day in a 2 hour window. Feel great. Hope you are too.
perfect, thank you !
Thank you good information
Is the CAC score likely to be the same as on the CT angiogram? If the CT angiogram (18 months after the CAC) shows a few points more does that mean the plaque has grown?
DR Troy, where are you now?
Is this test given to patients who has had stents already implanted?
My Sisters friend turned 80 yo late week , his CAC score is 900 .
Also, has anything changed in regard the efficacy of a CTA when the calcium score is high (around 1000)?
Got my score last week and it was 1012. What can you tell me about that high score and what have you done to help?
@@225rip // I measured 1120 a few months ago. I have read that statins significantly raise CAC score because they in part densify and stabilize plaques with increased calcium and I’ve been on a high dose of rosuvastatin for 5+ years, so I hope it’s not a terrible thing. Still, since I measured 445 in 2012 and have been low carb and 45 lbs lighter since 2019, I am very concerned. I take magnesium supplements and lots of vitamin K2 from natto. Good luck!
What R your thoughts about the" Diamondback" to remove calcium in the Aorta?
I have a calcium buildup in my Aorta. I am 80ty & worry about waiting to fix it when I am even older.
What R your thoughts about this "router-router?
I’m 69 abd have the same
Go on low carb high fat diet, everything we were told not to do for decades is what will reverse your cac score numbers
$100-150 sounds good, price at one UK clinic is A$635. 🙄
So what is the reason for the calcium to accumulate in the organs if it is harmful??
it's a way for the body to stop a lesion into a blood vessel.
it's harmful only if the the causes of the lesion last for years, so the body will put calcium on calcium.
My score is 14, THe doctor wants to start statins. Im looing for alternative views on treatment??
Insurance doesn't pay for this in the US must be a reason for that.
Yeah…so they can con healthy people into using statins.
My insurance paid for it--Medicare+Medicaid (because I'm poor and getting all the benefits I deserve). The results indicate that the CAC test was requested by the patient, ordered by the dr. Mine was high, 474, but after a year on keto my CT 2 days ago didn't mention anything about coronary calcification.
@@richardhoulton4016 I can attest to this. My wife was told to take it as "preventative" with a 0 calcium and perfect lipids. I told her absolutely not. Someone should get fired for such terrible advice
Our insurance paid 100% for both my spouse and I.
It is important to note this test does not measure stenosis. Great if it did.
5525ccs
What does it mean??????
Your score was 5525?
LCDU FTW
costs me 500 dollars in Perth
And $500 for me in Traralgon Vic two weeks ago
I've been on extreme low-carb for 2 years and I got s score of 11. It's very discouraging...
I thought lower was good
There's no way to know if your low-carb diet contributed to your score or not. Your score might have been 11 before you started the diet.
If you stay low carb and get another scan 1 or 2 years after the first scan, then you'll know if the diet is helping or hurting.
Ivor Cummins has said that scores typically progress about 25 to 30% per year, but there have been studies that show if you keep your progression rate less than 15% per year, your risk is substantially lower.
Over time as the score increases, the increase comes from two sources: A) formation of new plaques and B) increasing size/density of the existing plaques.
I think avoiding _new_ plaque formation is the key to risk reduction. Less than 15% annual progression probably equates to existing plaque getting larger and more dense but not much in the way of new plaques. Greater than 15% progression probably means you're developing new plaques.
I recently had scan #2 and I came in right at 15% annual progression. I'm not super upset about 15% but I want to get it down below 10% on the next one.
@@chaz6399 interested story.
@@chaz6399 how old are you?
Once I carry a stent on my heart, my goal is to keep my arteries clean without cholesterol and calcium. This is the struggle, how can we maintain this, but without statins?
How many uhmms do you have in two sentences???? Too damn many for me to take you seriously or listen to without being damned distracted
Sounds like you are having a bad day Laura. In balance, this is an excellent presentation with life-saving information
Wow, pretty harsh assessment of a good presentation. If your mood is that bad, it's usually best to just stay quiet.
Go to Toastmasters.
Get rid of the "umhs."
Enjoy your CARBavore diet, Laura.
When you’re on that stage, it’s not as easy as you think. I think an ounce of empathy and listening to the content would do you a world of good.
I'm a thin 5' 7" 135 lbs fit 76 year old with no symptoms of any health problems and have been on Keto for almost 4 years. Just got a requested by me CAC scan with a result of 1114.5. My most recent blood test results were a trigyceride/HDL of 1, CRP
How much ldl you had
Vitamin K2, see Ivor Cummins info on how it helps.