I was 58 years old when my PCP suggested a CAC test due to high cholesterol numbers due to KETO lifestyle. I’m 5’11 and 179 lbs. Low triglycerides numbers. The CAC score came back less than 1. I was very pleased with the score! Doc immediately and strongly suggested statins. I said no way and after hearing this again at next visit I dropped the doc. Amazing how powerful big pharma is.
Good for you to drop that doctor. If your HDL is High and your Triglycerides are Low than you are Good to Go! It's the Ratio between those that truly matters. And on top of it all you had a CAC score of ONE!😉 I have a doctor who is simular in that he's always wanting to prescribe medication. My HDL is 70. My Triglycerides are 47. I practice a ow- carb and high-healthy fats diet. With Whole foods and No sugar. It's funny how he NEVER inquires about Nutrition?🤔😉
@@gloriamaryhaywood2217 I am just getting into this. Can you tell me what a good and bad hdl triglyceride ratio is? Also is CAC the same thing as the Agatston score?
I’ve had high cholesterol all my life, and so had both my parents. My father was on Statins for years depleting the zinc into his body, as a result he started having prostrate issues while on Statins. Developing cancer that was not diagnosed after the 4th biopsy, the barbaric treatment that followed was all down hill till his ending. Currently Im in the process of scheduling an appointment with Dr. Jamnadas, listening to his information, for me places him away from big Pharma protocol of Statins, that Doctors here in the US,, are slaves to!
@@albertogorrin2860 You are so fortunate to be able to schedule an appt with this fantastic doctor!! So very sorry about your Dad. Being a stage 3 cancer survivor, I can attest the the absolute Barbaric treatments! Yes, I am cancer-free now for the last 7 years, and grateful to be alive, BUT the Highly Toxic chemo very nearly killed me. Nope, I would NEVER take Statins as long as diet and life style changes can work, and work very well! Here's wishing Good luck and Good Health to you!💜
I have had high cholesterol for 30 years. My doctors actually fired me because I refused to go on statins. Finally at age 50 I was about to break up with another PCP... I asked for a CAC (she didn't bring it up) - my score... ZERO. Do you think that stopped her from still insisting on statins? Nope... I fired her. I don't love my new primary care but I have discovered that when I got to get labs I can tell the lab not to run the cholesterol tests that my doctor puts in (usually without telling me).
Love learning from Dr. Jamnadas! A few years ago I decided I did not want to follow the family history - my dad had already died from atherosclerosis and one of my brothers had had a heart attack and bypass. I went the way of following the keto guidelines, not strict- but staying away from sugar, grains, pasta and starches- which I got flack from my family for, calling it dangerous of me. Fast forward to a few months ago. My mom and all of my (3) brothers have had heart attacks and bypass surgery. I am still with keto. My recent chemistry and lipids labs were normal, and had a calcium coronary scoring CT. At 51yrs my score was a big 0!
This is great! Did you eat sugar and starches prior to becoming keto? Do you think keto removed possible calcium which could have been there before you went keto
@@DailyCupOfRamenn Yes, I ate too much of both. Used to have high triglycerides and cholesterol. Was told by a cardiologist I'd have to be on a statin drug long term. Since going keto and carnivore all labs went back to normal parameters.
Dr. Jamnadas - you're a legend sir, thank you kindly for your excellent talks on fasting, diabetes, sugar and heart disease. Absolutely brilliant, thanks so much.
It is very important to know your CAC score. I have been managing my T2D for 24 years by being a fat burner with a very low carb diet. My first CAC in 2018 was 73 and is now 148. Great for being and old diabetic!! My wife has never been never been viewed as at risk for diabetes. Surprize!, her first CAC in 2018 was 529. Not good. She is also low carb especially since then. Now 3 years later her CAC was 1249. We have a great low carb cardiologist, by the way and he has been taking great care of her since 2018. No real symptoms, stress tests ok. Dr decided to do an angiogram of the left side. Circumflex and LAD. This was done yesterday. No stenosis at all. No stent placed. Big time arterial remodeling! What a relief!! I believe she was insulin resitant enough over the years to get huge plaque development, but low carb diet slowed or stopped it but the calcium is still coming in to old plaques as part of healing. Her labs are always stellar. Low TG, high LDL, pattern A LDL-p low HSCRP, etc. It is my belief if she continues low carb, no significant new plaque will develop and she will be ok for a long time.
@@Malcolm-Achtman where can I find and explaination of TG vs Low or HDL? And the dangers of poly unsaturated vs heat treated hence trans fatty acids.... Please help, it is all so confusing😊🙃😄
@@binebum1 Keep in mind a CAC score also factors in your age. A score of 73 in a 40-year old is more of a concern than if you were 75 years old. A score of 1249 is high regardless of your age. You are usually provided with a CAC score and a percentile of risk (based on your age). For example, when I was 61 years old, my CAC score was 479. My reports said, “Your score of 479 places you in the 75th percentile rank.” This means 25% of males aged 61 - 65 would have a higher CAC score than me.” Here are some rough guidelines: A score of zero means no plaque was identified and hence cardiovascular risk is low. And by risk they typically mean your chance of having a cardiovascular event within the next 5 years. A score of 1 - 10 is low risk (minimal plaque burden). From 11 - 100 is moderate risk (mild plaque). From 101 - 400 is high risk (moderate plaque burden). Above 400 is very high risk of an event within 5 years and a significant amount of plaque. Some experts suggest another factor is how much and how fast your CAC score rises. If you don’t do anything it’s common for your score to increase 25% per year. If, on the other hand, you make proper diet and lifestyle changes (the key word is “proper”), your plaque may stabilize or perhaps increase say just 10% per year. This is believed to be suggestive of decreased cardiovascular risk.
Thank you. You have begun to describe exactly what happened 15 years ago. Now am on a ketogenisis food program and it's working. Am sleeping better, energy better, handling pandemic lockdowns stress better.
2.5 years ago my cardiologist recommended I get a calcium scan although insurance would not pay for it it might be revealing. I hope it has become covered by my insurance although I can and now will pay $100-150 for it and thank you for the video!
I had to pay $50 for mine but well worth it for the info it provided especially as it shows I have an aneurysm of my ascending aorta that was previously unknown 😮
Thank you for this reinforcement of what I had read from Dr. Malhotra's book. I'm in the process of getting this test for my wife. Thank you for all your work. You're amazing.
Just had calcium score done and was pleased to have 0 even though my cholesterol is high! Now after watching so many of Dr J’s videos I have the rationale for changing my diet. The videos on gut bacteria are amazing and I am sending to many friends. Sugar has always been my weakness and I have the fatty liver to prove it 🥲 but now I have resolved to improve my gut health knowing everything depends on it!!
how nice when a doctor looks at the whole body and not just one score (like LDL) - some people do fine with fairly high cholesterol. I wonder - what other signs are there of heart disease? vitamin D? what is happening with the hormones? At 60 with high cholesterol since going thru menopause I have asked my new doctor what other signs are there that I am at risk of a heart attack? she said I should do a CT coronary calcium score - which I am willing to do to answer just that question.
Taking vitamin D3 with K2 will help with the risk factors. Vitamin K2 takes the calcium to the bones and out of the arteries. The CAC is great to see where you are at.
Had a workup last year for random episodes of tachycardia. They did a chest CT that showed minimal calcification but it wasn’t ever mentioned by my cardiologist. I think I’ll get a score too for a better look.
I underwent the Coronary Cat Scan w contrast 3 years ago after an abnormal exercise stress test. Results were “Zero blockages.” In June this year chest pain woke me at 4:20am. Went to ER for a cardiac workup. Another Coronary Cat Scan w contrast done. Result “Zero blockages.” Docs said chest pain not heart related. Well that’s a huge relief but still at square one, what causes the “chest pain” that wakes me at that hour out of a dead sleep?? Now if I can just get the life insurance underwriter to reduce the annual cost my life insurance policy!
Really enlightening video. It would have been more useful if you gave the calcium scores, which is normal as well as the score which need caution and further tests
I know. People need to entertained all the time now and to me, it's distracting .at least it's not a "short" which is totally enabling the agenda of dumbing down, numbing up, and impatience
I have family history of high cholestrol I have it since 20 now 53 my calcium score is 0 i had 1 test at 48 was 0 and still 0 at 53 ....and my ldl is 195 total cholesterol is 253 I can not take statins ....but even tho family has high cholesterol no one has heart diease .....this is a topic more doctors should study .......
Hello! I really appreciate your presentations on this contents but the music in it is no backgroundmusic at all and is very disturbing. Sorry if that sounds a little bit harsh, I do not mean it this way. So may it be ossible please only to speak to us without music? Your voice and the content is more than enogh. I am sure we all love it only to listen to your voice. Very kind regards from Vienna/Austria
But....this has to be done diligently...over time....it's not like "melting butter" in a pot and having it move away. Answer: we all need to eat less....and eat less carbohydrate/foods.
I've been taking Vitamin D with K2 for about 5 years. Last year was the first time I took a CAC and my score was 426 in left coronary artery. I should have a zero if my Vitamin D levels are always so excellent right?
Dr, I learned so much from your videos. thank you...I've been reading that your calcium score can go up if you change your diet and lose weight. Reason being the inflamed soft plaque is calcifying and calcified plaque shows up more and infact its common for your score to go up. Is this true? Thank you.
I enjoyed your rundown on the importance of the Calcium score related to overall heart health. My only question would be does the Calcium scan show the exact location of the deposits or just that they exist? Couldn't some of the Calcium shown in the scan not actually be inside the arteries and therefore less of a statistical threat?
Thank you for the great explantion. Helped a lot to understand one more information about what one more factor contribute for heart attack. As my BP is little elevated 15 points above normal my PCP ordered for the stress test and EKG everything came normal so nothing of concern. Prescribed pills for hypertension but no real root cause identified. Researching many thing root cause for the high BP. One of them I suspect was this calcium build up but not yet sure if this is the case until I test it. However question is does Keto diet and cruciferous vegetables, D3 and K2 helps remove the calcium build up in arteries?
Thank you for all your videos, are a big help to all who want to live a healthy life. A question, my husband had score of 500 and the doctor prescribed Crestol 40 M G and Fenofibrate 160 mg but I don't want he take it b/c we learn about fasting and low carb diet and he lose already 20 pounds in 6 weeks and start 30 minutes walk 4 day a week. But we still worried about if is ok don't taking b/c that high score. Thank you in advance.
I thought your comments in general about a high CAC score were rather dire in terms of likely outcomes...most doctors feel the battle is not totally lost, you might be able to survive with changes you make - like with respect to diet, exercise, sleep, etc...not looking for anything but the truth, but just thought you don't appear to be in the camp that says there might be hope, a chance to beat the odds...otherwise, appreciate your videos...
Ciao Doctor how do we reduce this calcium? Tks very much . May the peace of.God that surpasses all understand be with u and family and people working with u ijn. Grazie mille. Ciao Shalom
I've had hereditary high cholesterol since it was detected in me at 10 month old. At times my cholesterol has reached over 600+. I'm now 43 and just had a coronary artery calcium scan done, and my results were zero detectable plaque in my arteries. How is that I can have clean arteries at such a high cholesterol level, when another person with normal cholesterol can actually have heavy plaque build up?
My score was 585 after persuading cardiologist to do the test. I do intermittent fasting exercise and wt 145 lbs solid muscle. I suspect a dental infection on-going Cholesterol Tri 59 HDL 104 LDL 147 Ratio 2.5 This is Bostons largest hospital system..and Cardiologist never heard of an NMR test. Advice to begin loading dose of a statin....I need help with this decision !!! I would definitely come to FL to visit Dr P Jammadis if this is an option????
After many X-rays and ct chest for a variety of reasons from childhood to adulthood and over radiated......what about the ct that is radiating the breasts in route to the heart? Any risk that should concern a patient, including also thyroid as it's exposed too.
So what do you do with an athlete, 48, bodyfat at 7%, non smoker, non drinker, exercise every day, no seed oils - CAC score went from 100 to 200 in two years. I'm doing high dose K2 (I was on moderate dose) 5MG, taking Hawthorne, Garlic Liquid, Nattokinase, Serrappeptase, Wobenzymes. I'll rescan in a few months.
I am 41, 5”7, and weigh 230lbs. I have not lived a healthy lifestyle. Ive never smoked, rarely drink, but I do eat a lot of sugary things and more fast food than I should. I had my CAC score measured in January. It came back at 15. It also showed 30% stenosis in my LAD. I have cut sugar out completely, will not touch fast food for the next year, and have chosen to eat only whole foods. I am going to start taking vitamin k2, vitamin d3, and source naturals nattokinase. I will retest in Jan 2025. I am hoping to see a reduction in CAC score. It’s encouraging to see that it is possible with diet and the right supplements.
I m 40 years old and had done calcium cardiac score at age 32 and score was 54,I was treated with heart medicines from 8 years recently I had done Angiography which shows results high development of calcium in my artery, my 2 blood vessels are 100% choke up and 3rd one 70% ,doctor suggested for Bypass but I opt for angioplasty in 1 artery now pls let me know how to remove calcium from my other two blood vessel without any surgery or operation so I can live my life smoothly n healthy
I had a CAC scan done and my score came back as 530 which scared the heck out of me. I have been doing keto along with OAMD for the last 8 months and have had relief of the tremendous stress I have been under for the last 5 years. Is there any way to reverse a score like this or at least keep it from getting worse? I do work out (mostly weights along with light cardio) 3-6 days a week and take a pile of supplements.
I was diagnosed with AFEB last week. I had a CAC done. I didn’t get a total score but a score for each blockage. One was 1-24 the other 24-40. Waiting on my follow up with a Cardiologist. I’m still not sure why the spread and not just on score.
Husband 62 non smoker. Low total cholesterol ldl 120 hdl 65 trig 70 not overweight 5 ' 11 172 physical job CAC 957 nuclear stress test neg echo good heart monitor good no symptoms can't take statins. Added turmeric, k2 d3 multi omega 3 what else can we do.?
I was in LCHF dietary protocol since last 8 years, always monitoring my lipid, hs-CRP , homocysteine, everything in the dream zone, then came Covid, took 2 vaccines within 8 month apart, still got affected by Covid after that, got chest palpitation, got it checked, ECG, nirmal, stress echo normal, but ct angiography scan showed a 90% blockage, Ca score 297. Two stent out. Too statin ( hesitantly for 2 months) then discontinued. Blood Parameters ( lipid, hs crp, homocysteine) are looking good now. Quistion- after how long of angioplasty, i should go for next calcium score scanning?
@@edoc431 To clarify... A 40 year old with a CAC score of 150 is developing heart disease at a relatively young age. Based on the concept that a CAC score could increase 25% per year, the 40 year old is headed for trouble and would need to start making diet and lifestyle changes ASAP. On the other hand, the 80 year old with a score of 150 likely has a much lower risk of a cardiovascular event. He's done well, for whatever reason, and making changes at this stage of his life would likely not matter one way or the other.
I have a very high CAC (740) but no other risk factors. I was put on a statin but heard that will make your calcium score rise. So is that a risk factor in itself? Pradep said the score should go down after two years.
I’m 63, at age 56, needed a pacemaker and bypass surgery for clogged arteries. This from decades of eating a “healthy” LOW FAT HIGH CARB DIET. Damn near killed me. I have been HIGH HEALTHY FAT LOW CARB for the last 6 years. Given that my clogged arteries have been bypassed, will a CAC be of any value? Or will the arteries that are clogged show a useless number? BTW healthy fats are healthy...CARBS ARE POISON.
Utter nonsense. Carbs arent poison at all. You don’t know what you’re talking about. Im your age and have eaten 150 to 200 grams of carbs every day all my adult life. My calcium score is just 3 and I have no inflammation or CAD at all. My friends all eat similarly and dont have CAD either. We all got tested at the same time. We eat normally, not excessively and exercise. I assume youre American and had no willpower and ate pizzas, bread, chips and drank sodas all day long in huge portions.
Add vitamin K2 and D3. Otherwise the extra calcium will either be flushed out or deposited in soft tissue such as arteries or heart valve or lungs, etcetera. Check out several videos on K2 to get the understanding of why this is.
My score is 1078😢 and I have PVD with 49% artery blockage in my right leg. Both my feet are numb. Also have been diagnosed with fatty liver. I'm 57 and have only been diagnosed with these conditions in the past 6 months. Death is closer each day😢
I got a 990 score a couple weeks ago and was worried like you until I saw a video where a cardiologist said he's seen patients get heart attacks with a 0 score and patients that haven't with a 5000 score. Yes he said 5k LoL. I just started eating right and exercising plus some supplements. Oh and I take one 325mg aspirin every night.
I find that there is calcium score ranges from 0 to 5000 ,with scores of say 70 doctors are suggesting statins and patients are struggling to reduce the score then patients with scores 500 to 2000 what they can do , there are asymptomatic persons with high scores what solution is there for them. Please clarify whether calcium score measures deposits outside the vessel also or only inside, please enlighten us.
Dr. Pradip, I had a high CT scan calcium score in November 2020. Also, I found in June 2022 that I have 50% blockage in my left anterior descending coronary artery (widow maker). I avoided the stent because it was under 70%. Since 2020, I've totally changed my diet to keto plus intermittent fasting, I'm taking a statin plus daily aspirin, and I'm exercising every day. My current doctor says I shouldn't get another Heart CT calcium scan. Instead he gives me a CIMT test every 6 months and monitors all my other blood work. Also, my cardiologist who gave me the angiogram wants me to repeat a stress test annually to monitor my condition. What do you recommend I do, besides what I'm doing, to avoid future heart attack, stroke, or invasive surgery?
@@michael7324 There have been studies that said that people who exercise too much have a shortened life expectancy. Furthermore, a combination of longer aerobic and shorter HIT intervals is better especially as you get older. Do your own research!
@@200Nora I have. The question was, can high intensity work outs cause coronary calcifications? If you want to compare the Coronary calcium scores of the two groups of people you will find that those who live a sedentary life are at greater risk than those who exercise intensely.
Won't statin drugs increase your CAC score? I was placed on a statin after a high CAC score. I took the test 2yrs later and it increased by 30%. I was hoping for a lower score.
Yes, statins do increase your CAC score, but it's not because statins are causing plaque. It's because statins calcify the existing soft plaque, which is actually a good thing because harder, calcified plaque is less likely to rupture.
Doc what is normal calcium score please. I’m on keto for over 2 years doing IF x20 hours daily, my score is 5.55 Percentile for age and gender 47, got no afib,no symptoms , LDL is high, doing exercise daily x6 days a week, height 5 feet ,weight 107 lbs, diabetes controlled,A1c 5.8 .I hope you answer my question. My cardiologist wants to give me cholesterol injection, and I been always allergic to statins over the years,almost try every statins with a scary effect of that’s disaabling pain in the back not able to walk,unable to move left arm, but symptoms gone after statin stopped. I don’t like to get injection of this drug. Hoping for your response thank you.
नमस्ते । धान्य रहित भोजन भी है एक उपाय । आप के शब्दों को सुनने समजने के लिए संगीत की ध्वनि मात्रा थोड़ी कम रहेगी जो आप के अनुयायी के लिए सरल रहेंगा। आभार ।
Is there anything special that you would do when ordering the CT, other than to have at least one of the scans without contrast? If there's nothing especially different, I would assume you could do the "study", by using most any of the chest CT DICOM images done elsewhere. Even better, would be to see two CTs, about two years apart. This isn't too helpful quantitatively to just report, "Atherosclerotic plaques in the coronary arteries".
The first CT scan is useful but it doesn't tell you whether you are moving in the right direction. That's why your second CT scan, say a year or two later, can be even more useful. If the score rises a lot, it means your heart disease is still progressing. If, on the other hand, it's about the same or has increased modestly, you're at lower risk. By the way, always try to get your tests at the same facility and on the same machine, with the results interpreted preferably by the same person. Ideally, to get the best images, your heart rate should be below 60 beats/minute. Be sure to ask the operator to tell you what your heart rate was during the procedure.
I know that a calcium score can only detect hard plaques, but what about the soft plaque that a calcium score can't detect? I know historically it was thought that soft plaque was more likely to result in heart attacks, but I have read more recent studies that say it is the opposite.
I have low blood pressure, low cholesterol, am in great shape, have never been overweight and have exercised literally 6-7 days/week for 31 years. I have never taken a week off ever in over 3 decades. I have no family history (my parents are both alive and well and in their mid 70's), rarely drink and live an extremely healthy lifestyle. My CAC score was 255 and I am 46 years old, which puts me in the 98th percentile. I had my lipoprotein A tested and it was 14 (optimal is under 75). This test makes absolutely NO sense. I had a friend who just had a score of zero - he smokes, has sky high cholesterol (LDL in 150s), literally never works out, is 30 pounds overweight. This alone tells me that this test is complete and total BS.
