HomeAnswersCardiologycalcium scoreI am a 38-year-old athlete with a high CAC score. How can I reduce it?

What can be done to reduce the CAC score in a 38-year-old athlete?

Share

The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. K. Shobana

Published At October 18, 2022
Reviewed AtAugust 2, 2023

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

I am a 38-year-old male, very fit (competitive athlete) with a height of 6'0" feet and a weight of around 185 lbs. Out of curiosity, I got a coronary calcium score 18 months ago. Surprisingly it came back with a score of 25. I have no family history of heart disease. Assumed it was diet related, so beginning 18 months ago, I went plant-based. My cholesterol levels have always been low (total below 130). The latest results are similar to my regular results (total 128 mg/dL, LDL 55 mg/dL, HDL 58 mg/dL, triglycerides 77 mg/dL). I just got an updated CAC score and assumed it would have stayed at 25 or gone down after being plant-based. Instead, it came back at 65. That is an increase of almost 300 % in 18 months. I do not know what else to do and do not want to start getting on statins for the rest of my life. What is causing this to go up, and what can I do about lifestyle changes to make it stop going up? I do not have any symptoms (no chest pain, etc.), but my calcium score keeps increasing. A few years ago, the first calcium test score returned 25. Since then have been plant-based but the score keeps going up. I am currently taking Finasteride and Testosterone. Please help.

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern. Your over-risk factors for coronary artery disease and your coronary calcium score are low. Here are the suggestions to reduce the risks. Smoking if you are a smoker, cessation prevents further damage to the internal lining of the arteries. A balanced diet with all essential nutrients. Reduce your sodium intake daily. Add more green vegetables to your diet. Foods high in vitamin K are beneficial in blocking calcium buildup in the arteries. Exercises which you are already doing. In your case, the status of lipid profile and CAC (coronary calcium scan) score has no role of statin. I hope you find it helpful. Thanks and regards.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Amiya Kumar Chattopadhyay
Dr. Amiya Kumar Chattopadhyay

Cardiology

Community Banner Mobile
By subscribing, I agree to iCliniq's Terms & Privacy Policy.

Ask your health query to a doctor online

Cardiology

*guaranteed answer within 4 hours

Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. iCliniq privacy policy