Monitoring CAD

[magnilink]

Hi All

I wonder if any of you have questioned your cardiologist as to how they monitor CAD , as I cannot understand why we all take tablets, have blood tests but don’t really know the progression of our disease, they say it slows it but I would like to know how I am doing as very one is different.

I was listening to a podcast in America and the cardiologist who came up with the Cal score , conduct a low radiation X-ray every year , I asked my cardiologist how she would monitor it and she said X-ray maybe , but I think she was shocked I asked , so why is no one having them

your thoughts

Pip

[High_fives]

Hello

You ask a very interesting question, and there are a few posts on here already about just that but I haven't found a definitive answer.

I've had a CT calcium score combined with a CT Angiogram which I think is what was referred to on the podcast.

I think you can have just the Calcium part or the full Angiogram. The second part involves a dye being injected to look for blockages, the first part gives an overall score for your calcium load ( the higher the more calcium, the more harden plaques you have).

So I guess if you have one every year you can see if your getting more calcium build-up.

I think it's controversial because a) it involves radiation, while small it still builds up, more a concern for young people. b) statins and the body naturally convert soft plaque to hard and Dr consider it hard plaque more stable & predictable than soft which can break off and cause a clot. So a raising score could be 'good' in some circumstances.

The technology is evolving all the time particularly the accuracy of images and reduction in radiation so it will certainly become more common.

Those are my thoughts......

[magnilink in reply to High_fives]

Hello High fives

So in America they say the radiation is so low equivalent to a breast scan which all women have every 3 years so if they were to offer it to CAD patients at 3 years the benefits would far out weigh the risks , in fact taking aspirin very day is far more dangerous they don’t say that

Pip