Calcium Score Test

[OlympiaGym]

Anyone know whether this is worthwhile? I get one every few years and always same result - zero plaque.

28 years of gear use and abuse so looking to monitor, but don’t want to waste time and money.

[OneMoreRep]

Anyone know whether this is worthwhile? I get one every few years and always same result - zero plaque.

28 years of gear use and abuse so looking to monitor, but don’t want to waste time and money.

Good test.

If there is evidence of coronary plaque by way of calcium buildup that can lead to blockages that result in a heart attack, this test would be a good indicator.

A score of zero is great. I would get the test every 3-5 years for peace of mind.

"1"

[IroNat]

Meaningless test.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/do-you-need-a-calcium-scan

"But people need to realize that these risk scores are imprecise. For some, they may overestimate risk. For others, especially younger people in their 40 and 50s, they may underestimate risk," says Dr. Blankstein.

[OlympiaGym]

Good test.

If there is evidence of coronary plaque by way of calcium buildup that can lead to blockages that result in a heart attack, this test would be a good indicator.

A score of zero is great. I would get the test every 3-5 years for peace of mind.

"1"

Thank you.

[OlympiaGym]

Meaningless test.

Source?

[IroNat]

Source?

See above.

They are a good excuse for a doctor to put you on statins and mess you up.

CT scans are high radiation and good for increasing your cancer risk.

Get one every 3-5 years?

That's 10-13 CT scans over 40 years in addition to other X-rays you get over that period.

Radiation is cumulative.

https://www.webmd.com/cancer/radiation-doses-ct-scans

[OlympiaGym]

See above.

They are a good excuse for a doctor to put you on statins and mess you up.

CT scans are high radiation and good for increasing your cancer risk.

Not sure that article proves your point. In my case, the test result makes me less likely to be a candidate for a statin prescription.

[IroNat]

Not sure that article proves your point. In my case, the test result makes me less likely to be a candidate for a statin prescription.

Only fools take statins nowadays.  Do some research.

[OlympiaGym]

See above.

They are a good excuse for a doctor to put you on statins and mess you up.

CT scans are high radiation and good for increasing your cancer risk.

Get one every 3-5 years?

That's 10-13 CT scans over 40 years in addition to other X-rays you get over that period.

Radiation is cumulative.

https://www.webmd.com/cancer/radiation-doses-ct-scans

I drink, smoke cigars, and use gear so a little extra radiation doesn’t really concern me. Also, not looking to live forever.

[IroNat]

I drink, smoke cigars, and use gear so a little extra radiation doesn’t really concern me. Also, not looking to live forever.

You're on your way to an early death.  Congrats.

[OlympiaGym]

Only fools take statins nowadays.  Do some research.

No one is recommending I take statins.

[Rambone]

I clicked because I honestly thought the title said ”Calum”

[Gym Rat]

If you get "zero" youre good for many years (for calcium only).
I know a guy, very low cholesterol, zero calcium, had widow-maker heart attack.
(Soft plaque). Calcium score doesn't see or look for soft plaque. (The real thing that causes sudden blockage).

It is only 1-test, and means very little in the big picture of things.

[Humble Narcissist]

Only fools take statins nowadays.  Do some research.

True. The medical establishment wants everyone over 35 on them.

[IroNat]

I'm just being argumentative but there is some truth in there occasionally.

[IroNat]

True. The medical establishment wants everyone over 35 on them.

Those bastards.

[OlympiaGym]

If you get "zero" youre good for many years (for calcium only).
I know a guy, very low cholesterol, zero calcium, had widow-maker heart attack.
(Soft plaque). Calcium score doesn't see or look for soft plaque. (The real thing that causes sudden blockage).

It is only 1-test, and means very little in the big picture of things.

Did he have any underlying issues - obesity, family history, etc.? Or did he just have a “widow-maker” heart attack out of nowhere?

[loco]

Did he have any underlying issues - obesity, family history, etc.? Or did he just have a “widow-maker” heart attack out of nowhere?

(Soft plaque). Calcium score doesn't see or look for soft plaque. (The real thing that causes sudden blockage).

^ This.

Insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, all of which people can suffer from even if they're thin, increase the risk of heart disease and stroke more than anything we know.  These increase the risk even more than obesity alone, more than smoking, and much more than high cholesterol.

[loco]

Meaningless test.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/do-you-need-a-calcium-scan

"But people need to realize that these risk scores are imprecise. For some, they may overestimate risk. For others, especially younger people in their 40 and 50s, they may underestimate risk," says Dr. Blankstein.

IroNat ain't lying:

Atherosclerotic Plaque in Patients with Zero Calcium Score at Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography
"The frequency of atherosclerotic plaque with zero CS was relatively high, indicating that the absence of calcification does not exclude the presence of plaques, many of which obstructive, especially in non-obese subjects and alcohol drinkers."
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5967134/

[OneMoreRep]

See above.

They are a good excuse for a doctor to put you on statins and mess you up.

CT scans are high radiation and good for increasing your cancer risk.

Get one every 3-5 years?

That's 10-13 CT scans over 40 years in addition to other X-rays you get over that period.

Radiation is cumulative.

https://www.webmd.com/cancer/radiation-doses-ct-scans

For me, every 3-5 years after the age of 45 wouldn't concern me too much (that's just my stance/opinion). Everyone's threshold is different.

Here's how I do it. Every year I get standard blood work (CBC, CMP, Lipid Panel, HgA1C, Liver function tests, TSH, Vitamin D).

Every 3 years I get Lipoprotein A blood work done and an EKG.

Every 5 years I get both an Echocardiogram and a Calcium Score Test.

For peace of mind, it makes me sleep easy at night.

"1"

[Dokey111]

You can find scientific legitimate medical research to support whatever you want to believe.  Hope this helps.

[loco]

For me, every 3-5 years after the age of 45 wouldn't concern me too much (that's just my stance/opinion). Everyone's threshold is different.

Here's how I do it. Every year I get standard blood work (CBC, CMP, Lipid Panel, HgA1C, Liver function tests, TSH, Vitamin D).

Every 3 years I get Lipoprotein A blood work done and an EKG.

Every 5 years I get both an Echocardiogram and a Calcium Score Test.

For peace of mind, it makes me sleep easy at night.

"1"

I highly recommend you test you fasting insulin and fasting blood glucose as well, with insulin being the most important of the two.  One can have insulin resistance and high insulin, yet have normal fasting glucose and A1C, at least for a while before things get worse.

Another good one is LDL particle size.  You want your LDL particles to be large and buoyant, not small and dense.  The small particles are the ones that cause atherosclerosis even if your LDL is low.

[MajorDomo]

I drink, smoke cigars, and use gear so a little extra radiation doesn’t really concern me. Also, not looking to live forever.

Why bother having a calcium test then?

[OneMoreRep]

I highly recommend you test you fasting insulin and fasting blood glucose as well, with insulin being the most important of the two.  One can have insulin resistance and high insulin, yet have normal fasting glucose and A1C, at least for a while before things get worse.

Another good one is LDL particle size.  You want your LDL particles to be large and buoyant, not small and dense.  The small particles are the ones that cause atherosclerosis even if your LDL is low.

I like it and will add to my labs.

Thank you!

"1"

[deadz]

Meaningless test.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/do-you-need-a-calcium-scan

"But people need to realize that these risk scores are imprecise. For some, they may overestimate risk. For others, especially younger people in their 40 and 50s, they may underestimate risk," says Dr. Blankstein.

Nat, any thoughts on using red yeast rice daily. Same risks as a statin? I understand it contains what statin drugs contain in a natural form. I have a Calcium test done every 10yrs, always has been zero.