calcium deposits in veins

[kevmca]

Have permanent AF but been feeling very tired lately. I am 73 years of age so had tests inc an angiogram which was curtailed because my veins showed some calcium deposits so blood flows hard to observe. Anyone else had this? I would appreciate views on cause and how best to treat?

[Ianc2]

Did you receive any advice regarding the possibility of inserting stents or other more detailed information?

[kevmca in reply to Ianc2]

No but seeing consultant next week

[Ppiman]

I think you'll find that "vascular calcification" is a normal part of the ageing process, something that is also called "hardening of the arteries". It means there are deposits of fat and calcium salts attached to the surface of the veins and arteries. I am not a doctor but I gather it is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, but whether it matters or not will surely depend upon where it is and how much of it there is, since I think everyone over 70 or so will have it to some degree. In that sense it is "normal".

Steve

[charlwood35 in reply to Ppiman]

I read an article by a cardiologist a couple of years ago, where he said, in terms,every 50 year old on the planet shares heart disease (ie calcification of the arteries), it’s just a question of degree...

[sandoval22]

You should have a cac(calcium) scan which would give you a score between 1 and 1000 +. NHS rarely do this test unfortunately and its about £200 private but at least you get an idea how bad it is. Under 100 is considered not too bad.

[Ppiman in reply to sandoval22]

I wonder, though, whether it’s possible to influence the deposition in any way, once it is there?

[kevmca in reply to Ppiman]

Yes thank you, how to control and mitigate the calcination- effect of diet, exercise, family DNA, other, etc. Any insights?

[sandoval22]

Not really. Best you can do is make sure it doesn't go up markedly i.e if it's 100 this year make sure it doesn't go to 200 next etc. CAC score is Ivor cummins speciality on youtube. Check him out.

[sandoval22]

It's all down to diet or rather lifestyle. If you eat the wrong foods then all the exercise in the world wont help. Nothing to do with family. Ditch the carbs/processed food which is easier said than done because we are surrounded by it. Low carb high fat is the answer but you have to do your own research to find out because the docs wont tell you , they are paid to give you drugs. If your CAC score is zero then eat what you want but how many know what their score is ? Mine is 141 so I have to take it seriously.

[kevmca in reply to sandoval22]

For years I have been eating lots of carbs every day, mostly fruit and veggies but not processed foods. For example a mountain of different fruits with my breakfast flakes. Maybe too late to reverse carbs impact?

[sandoval22]

It's all hypothetical without knowing your CAC score. Fruit is full of fructose for a start and as for breakfast flakes there is even a book called cereal killers. Most food with carbs is processed. Carbs/sugar are addictive so it's no easy task to stop the carbs but you need to realise that you are eating them first.