Heart health - best ways to actually see what’s going on inside

[Mr I]

I had a calcium score done about 2 years ago. It came back as a zero score. I'm 42 in september. Strong family history of heart disease. Dad had his first heart attack at 48.
Was relieved by the results but the nurse there made a comment about it not being 100% accurate. She said it only picks up soft plague?? can't remember exactly what she said. Since then I have had a stress test for the heart and that also came back with good results. I plan on having another Calcium score done at 45.

Good for you, a lot of people don’t have the balls to find out. But it’s a win win, if the score shows you need meds to help you’ll then go get them. The alternative is you don’t find out you have a problem till it’s too late.


the scan takes seconds abd it shows any build up in the four arteries to the heart, the most important of which is the left main.

[Bouncer]

I had a calcium score done about 2 years ago. It came back as a zero score. I'm 42 in september. Strong family history of heart disease. Dad had his first heart attack at 48.
Was relieved by the results but the nurse there made a comment about it not being 100% accurate. She said it only picks up soft plague?? can't remember exactly what she said. Since then I have had a stress test for the heart and that also came back with good results. I plan on having another Calcium score done at 45.

ask doc about off label use of Vacepa. i'm not an expert but I know a doctor that won't shut the hell up about this stuff. dude is one of those mild mannered types that never get excited about anything but with this stuff he's over the moon. he told me he'd put everyone over 50 on it. the pure EPA doesn't raise bad cholesterol like normal fish oil tends to. he's on it and he's got his father on it and they don't even have a history of heart issues. he says it's approved for very specific cases for people with very high triglycerides but the off label use is what gets him so excited. the reports of general heart health improvement for everyone put on this stuff is very promising.

you know me, i used to be that guy that said "just use fish oil". well if you actually read the studies on Vascepa vs Fish Oil the 2 have almost nothing in common in terms of proven results. i sound like I work for the company or some shit. lolz

[redback]

So over the years we have posted about what we see the risks are associated with our lifestyle and what measures we take such as supplements and diet etc.

at age 43 I have never had any issues that I know of but I have had cholesterol profiled alongside blood pressure and resting hears rate checks.

lately I’ve seen a number of freinds in their mid to late 40s suffering an event of some sort and needing stents out in to mitigate blocker arteries.

what people are saying is that those headline measures as above and even more invasive checks normally performed don’t tell the full story.

even a dye based angiogram will only show a flow issue on the screen if the artery is blocked/occluded by circa 75%.

but it only takes a 50% blockage for a plaque break off to clot and fully block in that case, which, in the case of the left artery would usually be fatal.

There is something called a CR calcium score that provides a very accurate reading. Moreover, if it results in a score of 300 or over you could be heading for an event.

In that case you would be advised to see your doc who may suggest either a stent or at least statins.

in the next month or so I am planning to self refer and pay privately for this procedure on a risk aversion basis so that if I find I have an issue I would rather know now so that I can take preventative measures.

does anyone have any experience with this?

I had a calcium score done about 2 years ago. It came back as a zero score. I'm 42 in september. Strong family history of heart disease. Dad had his first heart attack at 48.
Was relieved by the results but the nurse there made a comment about it not being 100% accurate. She said it only picks up soft plague?? can't remember exactly what she said. Since then I have had a stress test for the heart and that also came back with good results. I plan on having another Calcium score done at 45.

[Bouncer]

cant help with specific question but the hot new thing in the US in heart health is VASCEPA. at first glance you might think its just expensive fish oil. false. it's the only pure EPA in the world. all other fish oil is mixed with dha which basically renders the EPA all but worthless for heart health. VASCEPA has been shown to cut your risk of an event by 25%.. look into it bro.

[Mr I]

So over the years we have posted about what we see the risks are associated with our lifestyle and what measures we take such as supplements and diet etc.

at age 43 I have never had any issues that I know of but I have had cholesterol profiled alongside blood pressure and resting hears rate checks.

lately I’ve seen a number of freinds in their mid to late 40s suffering an event of some sort and needing stents out in to mitigate blocker arteries.

what people are saying is that those headline measures as above and even more invasive checks normally performed don’t tell the full story.

even a dye based angiogram will only show a flow issue on the screen if the artery is blocked/occluded by circa 75%.

but it only takes a 50% blockage for a plaque break off to clot and fully block in that case, which, in the case of the left artery would usually be fatal.

There is something called a CR calcium score that provides a very accurate reading. Moreover, if it results in a score of 300 or over you could be heading for an event.

In that case you would be advised to see your doc who may suggest either a stent or at least statins.

in the next month or so I am planning to self refer and pay privately for this procedure on a risk aversion basis so that if I find I have an issue I would rather know now so that I can take preventative measures.

does anyone have any experience with this?