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The REAL Reason Why Your Arteries are Calcifying - CAC Score

Dr. Paul Anderson

195,530 views

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Dr. A discusses the coronary artery calcium score and how it relates to arterial calcification. Learn what these terms mean, how they impact your heart health, and why it's important to understand their significance for cardiovascular risk.

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CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction
00:25 Arteriosclerosis vs. Atherosclerosis
01:23 What Is the CAC Score and Why It Matters
02:20 Are You at Risk? Interpreting Your CAC Score
04:09 The Limitations of CAC Scoring for Heart Health
05:36 Calcium in Arteries: Friend or Foe for Heart Health?
07:18 Why Lower Inflammation May Raise Your CAC
09:29 Understanding CAC Score Changes in Treatment

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20 Comments

@gabymalembe 1 year ago

My CAC score was 1188 13 years ago, when I was 68. I thought I was going to die any day. Now I’m 81, no “events” but I still think I’m going to die any day.

@FunJayJay 1 year ago

How to prevent and reduce this inflammation?? .. Regular doctors only know about statin and nothing else

@littlemoo52 1 year ago

53 with above average cholesterol. Drs quick to say statin. Just got CAC test done and 0’s across the board. Making a bunch of lifestyle changes to move the cholesterol down. Your best bet is to understand your body, educate yourself and don’t rely on prescription drugs unless absolutely necessary.

@willbrink 1 year ago (edited)

Soft plaque is more dangerous than calcified plaque if one has plaque, and a low CAC score does not indicate one is at a low risk of dying. Hence, CAC are really of little clinical value other than specific settings. As he says, it's late stage of the disease process. Obviously the goal is to prevent plaque of any kind, but as ASCVD takes decades to become problematic and CAC scores tell us little, those on various fad diets doing high fives and bragging of their low CAC score are ticking time bombs. Two essential markers of risk are apo-B and hsCRP. Keeping BP, blood sugar/A1C under control is key.

@charmainerobinson8130 1 day ago

I had a CAC done 6yrs ago at 70yrs of age and it was 0....recently had another one at 76....it was 0 also...which is great but doesn't mean i won't have problems and other heart issues.

@ketofiveo 1 year ago

thank you for this. my score was 5600 this year, 2024- 4100, 2019- 1500. keto to carnivore lost 80lbs asymptomatic at 55 yrs old retired cop

@AJTramberg 1 year ago

I had a CAC score of 300. Then I got a CT Angiogram 2 months later...now it's almost 600. CAC isn't super accurate.

@DTMBYLEZ70 1 year ago

What do I notice- the print of the Jethro Tull album -Too Old to Rock and Roll and too Young to Die😂😂😂

@RC_NotTheCola 1 year ago

Thanks, turns out I have had high cholesterol for some time and trying to asses some issues 3 years ago had a CTA. Turns out at 50 I had a score of 250. I had already had a decent diet but tried to clean it up more, reluctantly started a lower dose statin, lifting 3-4 day,, and walking 3-4 miles 6-7 days a week. Score today, 398. I expected it to go up, maybe not that much but really hoping it was just fixing things so your video helped ease my mind some.

@MrMaximisation 1 year ago

Great explanation thank you Doc !

@eddienomoney1882 1 year ago

Great topic. The video covered my major concerns. Thanks.

@RJ-luci 1 year ago

Thanks so much for the useful information. I am having my CAC test next month and feel much better about it now.

@DCGreenZone 1 year ago

Found on the INTERNET, this is NOT my statement/experience: >>Two years ago, a 2D echocardiogram revealed coronary calcification, which was preventing one heart valve from closing. My doctor indicated that no surgery was immediately warranted, and the issue would be monitored. I sought some way to address the calcification, and eventually learned about Berberine possibly being able to dissolve the calcification.

I started taking Berberine as a daily supplement about a year ago.

Last month, a follow up ultrasound of my heart found all valves to be functioning normally, and there were no signs of coronary calcification! I am so relieved and glad that it worked. Meanwhile, my cardiologist asked for the second time, "What's Berberine?"

Go figure.<<

@vario2664 1 year ago

A cardiologist that has a YouTube channel, Dr. Alo, I believe, claims that calcium predominantly accumulates on the OUTSIDE of the arteries, and said most plaque that causes heart attacks and strokes are SOFT plaque, not calcified.

@MrCabimero 1 year ago

Dr. Anderson, I must say as a practicing internist I listened to your video but began with some level of skepticism. But I decided to have an open mind and listen, and I thank you for your logical, understandable explanation. Comment - it is my understanding that one role of the statins is to help form a calcified plaque on soft plaque which we THINK helps stabilize the plaque and make it less likely to rupture. Hence higher scores if you repeat the scan. ( It is not recommended to repeat the CACS if you were positive.... it will not go down, and will over time go up, with or without treatment ).
Thank you for your post.

@MarkusAReallyUs 1 year ago

You explained this very well! Understandable. Yhank you.

@prashantjain1968 1 year ago

Very well explained. Thank you

@kimbreeding6868 1 year ago

Thank you Dr A. I have a 23 year old stent in my LAD and 2 years old it was 90 % blocked so cardiologist put a stent inside it. This is very informative and I appreciate your insight so much. In all those years I’ve never been told this before.👍👍

@marksirianni6379 1 year ago

great explanation thank you.

@rossentownsend4936 1 year ago

Thank you for improving my understanding of this . Hopefully More can be said for people who need secondary prevention advice.
It seems this Is overshadowed by primary prevention.
Population studies are important but it's also important to help individuals understand how to reach their individual health care needs .