High CAC Score - 1098
61 year old male, in good health, very physically active with walking, hiking, golf (walking)and weight training. Recently been through some afib issues that ended in ablation. When I went back to my cardiologist I asked for a nuclear stress echo and CAC. Figured I had taken care of the electrical issue so I should check the plumbing. Stress test showed no obstructions. But when the CAC came back showed 1098. I have been on a statin for 20 ish years. Pre-statin cholesterol was in the 240"s as I recall. Latest test before CAC was 153, ldl 93 and hdl 43. I am completely asymptomatic.
My atorvastatin was doubled to 80mg with lipid panel in three months to determine further steps. In the interim I went on Mediterranean type diet and started to pay attention to saturated fat (which are apparently everywhere!) great news on the latest lipid panel. 98 overall, hdl 39, ldl 38, ApoB 50, lipoprotein-a 22. hoping this is not just an initial blip and can be sustained long term.
I'm told that my CAC may oddly show that the long statin use and exercise has worked because of the calcification combined with a completely normal stress test and that hopefully/likely the plaque is stable and well calcified. Does this make sense?
A big issue for me is the cyclical thinking about what is really going on inside my arteries and feeling every muscle twinge and normal gut process as the big one. any suggestions? Drs don’t think an angiogram is necessary.