The Conversation…

“I need you to take a Coronary Calcium test,” my Dad was telling me.  “Dad, why do ‘I need’ to take it?”  “Because I have blockage in four arteries and it’s hereditary.”  I am NOT thrilled by this realization and that is what landed me an appointment with his cardiologist and my first wake up call on MY health.

My Dad was in perfect health at 75, or so I thought.  This was a guy who lifted weights in the same Gold’s Gym as Arnold Schwarzenegger back in the ’60s.  He was a body builder before I was born.  How could he have blockages?

I am over weight, true.  And as a software developer and owner of a website designing company, I spend all my time behind a laptop.  At 53, my weight yo-yo-ed consistently each year.  I start off in January losing some weight only to gain it back and with bonus by December.

I felt fine, what could it hurt to appease Dad and take a test?

What is a Coronary Calcium Scoring Test?

Coronary calcium scoring is a non-invasive medical imaging test used to assess the amount of calcium deposits in the coronary arteries. It is also known as coronary artery calcium scoring or cardiac calcium scoring. The test helps identify the presence of atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of fatty plaque in the coronary arteries that can lead to coronary artery disease (CAD).

So I got the results and the results were not good.  I scored a 191, which is high for a guy at 52.

Recommendation… a daily statin used to lower my cholesterol.

Prescriptions of Cholesterol-Lowering Medication Increases from 2003-2012

According the Center for Disease Control, Cholesterol-lowering medication use increased with age, from 17% of adults aged 40–59 to 48% of adults aged 75 and over. Was this going to be my fate too?

I pushed back a little wanting to think about it.  Dad wanted me to start on one immediately–it had helped him lower his cholesterol.  Mine is probably high.  Instead of starting on the statin, the cardiologist ordered more tests.  In the coming months, I will have a Lipid Panel test, a Lipoprotein A test, a stress test, and ECG.  I don’t want to be on a daily statin.  It’s time to get motivated. It’s time to figure this out!