calcium scores - High Cholesterol Message Board

jimk849 · 08-12-2007, 05:23 AM

Has anybody here had a ct calcium scan? I had the scan and my number was very high-906. The chart cuts off at 400 so you can see mine was very high. I was sent for a nuclear stress test and the results were fine. The doc added Niaspan to my 20 mg. Lipitor daily. was told to exercise most days of the week to try and raise hdl levels. I have no sympthoms and am wondering what these scores actually mean. If your wondering why I had the test to begin with, my wife works in a hospital and all employees and thier spouses got coupons to get the test half off so she wanted us to go. Her calcium score was 0. Does the Niaspan work? [1000mg] and how long does it take? Does it work to lower colesterol or just raise hdl???????

Lutheran122 · 08-12-2007, 05:32 AM

I had it done last year and my score was 190 or so..the scoring on my test went up into the thousands though..then this year I had an angiogram done and it showed some narrowing of my arteries so definitely stay on the statins and niaspan will both raise HDL and lower LDL. I am no expert , read the other threads in here for more info.

Lenin · 08-12-2007, 07:04 AM

Quote:

I have no sympthoms and am wondering what these scores actually mean.

They don't mean a whole lot, Jim. The tests tend to give a lot of false positives (saying there is a problem when there is not) and this is why no insurance companies will pay for them...becasus they just cause a lot of expensive confirmatory tests.
Worse is the lesser but more serious incidence of false NEGATIVES...saying you are well when you are NOT. Plaque CAN contain calcium but many do not and are made of calcium free FAT, pus, and scar tissue. Generally the more fat, invisible to this test, in a plaque, the more the risk of rupture and serious complications.

A stress test is a better test when you feel the need to have one...and THAT will be covered by your insurance company.

Your Lipitor and Niaspan depend more on the status of your cholesterol numbers than your calcium score, although maybe with a higher calcium score it might be wiser to control your blood lipids more tightly?
Niaspan is usually prescribed for those who need to boost their HDL's.