Coronary artery calcium testing can reveal plaque in arteries, but is underused
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Re: Coronary artery calcium testing can reveal plaque in arteries, but is underused
#2https://archive.today/ckFV7
(coronary artery calcium testing)
Re: Coronary artery calcium testing can reveal plaque in arteries, but is underused
#3Before getting a CAC scan, I'd probably do these tests first:
* ApoB - about 20% of people with normal cholesterol results will have abnormal ApoB, and be at risk of heart disease.
* Lp(a) - the strongest hereditary risk factor for heart disease.
* hs-CRP - inflammation roughly doubles your risk of heart disease
* HbA1c - insulin resistance is a risk factor for just about everything.
* eGFR - estimates the volume of liquid your kidneys can filter, and is an input to the latest heart disease risk models (PREVENT).
Easy to order online: https://www.empirical.health/product/comprehensive-health-pa...
CAC is great for detecting calcified plaque in your coronary arteries. But before you have calcified plaque, the above risk factors tell you about the buildup of soft plaque. And 4 out of 5 of them are modifiable through lifestyle, exercise, and medication.
Re: Coronary artery calcium testing can reveal plaque in arteries, but is underused
#4https://archive.today/ckFV7 (coronary artery calcium testing)
Re: Coronary artery calcium testing can reveal plaque in arteries, but is underused
#5Before getting a CAC scan, I'd probably do these tests first: * ApoB - about 20% of people with normal cholesterol results will have abnormal ApoB, and be at risk of heart disease. * Lp(a) - the strongest hereditary risk factor for heart disease. * hs-CRP - inflammation roughly doubles your risk of heart disease * HbA1c - insulin resistance is a risk factor for just about everything. * eGFR - estimates the volume of…
CAC is the right test for people who already have identified that they have major risk factors such as metabolic syndrome/T2D, high cholesterol, etc. It identifies whether heart disease has already advanced enough that the risk factor has become a risk.
Some of the tests you list (like A1C) are baseline things everyone should get checked every year. Agreed that the others could provide value for those who want to know more about their risk level; however, it’s uncommon for those tests to turn up positives without one of the baselines having already raised at least a yellow flag.
None of the tests you listed will tell you whether you have any soft plaque buildup. They just tell you more about your risk factors. However, there are ultrasound tests that can detect increased blood pressure in major arteries, which IIRC does reflect soft plaque buildup.
Re: Coronary artery calcium testing can reveal plaque in arteries, but is underused
#6This test is also being heavily misused and misinterpreted in some online communities. There are a lot of people posting CAC scan results after something like a year of keto dieting in their 20s or 30s and using that to conclude that the saturated fat connection to atherosclerosis is a myth or that high cholesterol is fine.
These tests don’t have perfect accuracy and resolution, so low or zero results don’t mean that a lifetime of high cholesterol won’t catch up with someone in their 60s and 70s, yet a lot of podcasters and social media influencers are making those claims.
Re: Coronary artery calcium testing can reveal plaque in arteries, but is underused
#7I had a calcium score of zero, is that good? Hereditary high-cholesterol.
Re: Coronary artery calcium testing can reveal plaque in arteries, but is underused
#8These tests expose one to a fairly high dose of radiation. From a quick googling, there does seem quite a range in exposures for this test. That being said, you probably don't want to get one of these scan every year.
Re: Coronary artery calcium testing can reveal plaque in arteries, but is underused
#9What I always wondered is if I get this test done, what would I even do with the results? If my arteries are already clogged, etc.
Can this plaque be reversed?
Re: Coronary artery calcium testing can reveal plaque in arteries, but is underused
#10This test is also being heavily misused and misinterpreted in some online communities. There are a lot of people posting CAC scan results after something like a year of keto dieting in their 20s or 30s and using that to conclude that the saturated fat connection to atherosclerosis is a myth or that high cholesterol is fine. These tests don’t have perfect accuracy and resolution, so low or zero results don’t mean that…
I agree the results after one year of a keto diet don't prove much, but getting that test seems like a good idea. I hope they'll keep testing and reporting the results for years, so we can learn more about the long term effects of a keto diet. And if it does cause problems, they'll want to know ASAP.