Calcification of Coronary Artery

[willsborough]

I have just been diagnosed with calcification of the coronary artery. I have had breathing problems for 4 years and a CT scan of my lungs found a problem with my artery. I am 68, gave up smoking 35 years ago. I eat a meat free, dairy free diet high in fish and vegetables and fruit and pulses. I have an underactive thyroid for which I take Levothyroxine. For the last year I have been taking a Benecol equivalent cholesterol reducing yoghurt drink. The doctor has prescribed statins which I don't understand. With such a low fat low cholesterol diet how did I end up like this. Very confused

[Hidden]

OK first of all I would do your own research into the benefits of Benecol, I believe they were forced to remove an advert by the ASA a while ago for misleading "facts". Apart from being very expensive there can be some pretty unpleasant side effects from consuming this, and it is also unnecessary to do so if you have a good diet. What has your cholesterol level been over the last few years? It can be difficult to lower it by diet alone (and so called wonder drinks!), hence the reason you have been put on a Statin. I am afraid there are lots of people who have led a very healthy lifestyle but still have problems like yourself. I tried to lower my levels by diet and unfortunately it failed.

[willsborough in reply to Hidden]

Hello

Thanks for the response. I haven't been told I have high cholesterol, in fact I haven't had a test for several years. I think the prescription of statins was a response to the CT scan which showed the calcification of the arteries

[Hidden in reply to willsborough]

I think you need to go back to your GP and ask some questions, you will almost certainly have had blood tests as part of the investigations one of which would be to look at your cholesterol levels. Which Artery(s) was found to be affected by the calcification? Were you given any other medication?

[elliebath in reply to willsborough]

Like you I developed breathing problems in my 60s. I had a chest xray and a CT scan. Nothing wrong with lungs but discovered some minor vascular calcification . In my case this was mild calcification in one place only and under 20% . No further intervention necessary other than to keep an eye on BP and cholestrol levels and take a daily aspirin.I get an annual blood test and all areas are within normal range. So you should ask for a printout of your last blood test and an explanation of each result.

Other than that, I continue to maintain a healthy weight, eat a healthy balanced diet, walk daily . But as we age most people have some degree of calcification and in my case, I also have family history of heart disease. So for this reason, I now also take a statin as a precautionary anti inflammatory.

[Heather1957]

Sometimes nothing we can do will stop this happening. I had a bypass preceded by an angiogram, only 4 years later I needed 2 stents (in a different artery) and they had to drill the artery to allow the stents be inserted. I was told this was very unusual as it had only taken 4 years for the artery to fur up. I was already on Statins which have been doubled.

We have a history of cardiac problems in my family and while we do all we can to stop this happening, it may well be in our genes!

[look585]

I have very high coronary calcification levels and my cholesterol levels were never previously flagged as problematic, but what’s a problem for the population in general and what’s a problem for an individual can be different. as the cardiologist said after my CT scan, “these levels are too high for you” and put me straight on high intensity statin treatment.

[MountainGoat52]

I wholly agree with what has been said. In general, a cholesterol level of 5.0 is considered okay, but I have been told that I need to keep below 4.0 and lower if possible. I am proactive in respect of my health and I noted that my annual blood tests showed that I was creeping above 4.0. I therefore requested that my statin dose was doubled and, after a review, my GP agreed. I am hoping to see the results at the next blood test.

[willsborough]

Thanks for all the replies.

My blood pressure was averaging 155/100 and I have now been prescribed 10mg Atorvastatin and 5mg Amlodipine. My last Cholesterol test was 5.1 in 2018. I have now had another and am waiting for the result

[elliebath in reply to willsborough]

When you get your blood test, ask for a printout. It's not the total cholesterol that's important, it's the ratio between the LDL, HDL and triglycerides that is important and most docs now go by that, not the total. For example, my total is 5.6 but my ratios are excellent

Edit: oops, I just realise your post is from last year !! I hope all is going well for you now.