What is a CAC Score? (Coronary Artery Calcium) Clogged Arteries? - 2024
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- Äas pĆidĂĄn 5. 08. 2024
- What is a CAC Score? Very few tests give you a look at how much calcium build-up you have in your heart arteries. Your coronary artery calcium score gives you a realistic view of your heart attack risk over the next 10 years.
More doctors are ordering CAC scores for their patients and more insurance companies are paying for them. Here's the info you need about this important test. Share it with your doctor and a friend.
COMMON SENSE LABS Book: commonsenselabsbook.com
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Daily MINERALS: bit.ly/MineralFix (Discount)
Risk Calculator: www.mesa-nhlbi.org/MESACHDRis...
** Higher score than you wanted? Do 12 months of KETO or Carnivore then repeat**
CACS progresses 20-25 %/year www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
Statins don't slow/reverse CAC progression pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16415...
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I am almost 70 years of age. Been Keto for 7 years. My CAC score = 0. I was over the moon with my results! Particularly because my total cholesterol score is over 300. Just goes to show....
Me Too! My total cholesterol was 317 (highest ever) HDL over 100 and CAC score ZERO. And I'm 65. My doctor is not concerned about my cholesterol because of the CAC score results.
@@niajohn1528 That is the problem here (In Quebec), the corp answer is "CAC is imprecise and cannot be relied on, let's look at your LDL", which is very sad.... We are still stuck in this dogma...
Good for you that's awesome!
@@robertbelanger2834 Not just Quebec. All of Canada. But then, look at the Death Canada Food Guide.
@@dawne5139 I am avoiding it like the plague ( the Death Canada Food Guide). Thanks for the information, I was thinking of looking at our neighbours (Ontario), but then I will be going for (from French) carotid intima media dopler scan...
My LDL is 285, but I scored zero on CAC scan. I was on statins a few years ago, and they almost crippled me. Never again. Ketovore for the win!
@@skinnydee1886 You'd be fine without the Crestor too. (IMHO)
Carnivore lowered my cac from 5 to 0. LDL is 220. Fortunately, I have an open minded GP. Never been on statins.
@@skinnydee1886 WHY would you CONTINUE listening to your doctor who LIED to you about LIPITOR ??? đđđđ
@@skinnydee1886 How do you KNOW he didnt LIE.
But lets assume your naive assumption IS correct...
Then your doctor is INCOMPETENT !!
So WHY would you continue to LISTEN to an INCOMPETENT doctor ???
how is this possible ? my total cholesterol is 177 and my CAC score is 12
Just a few months ago I completed a CAC test with a result of 1485. A catherization showed 90% blockage of 2 arteries and 85% in another. Had no symptoms, eat healthy, and weigh 110 lbs. Six weeks ago I had a triple bypass. I would recommend everyone get a CAC test. It saved my life!
Debbie, I had a CAC test result of 0 (Zero). But a couple of months later I had an episode of chest pain so they did a CT angiogram and noticed my ascending aorta was enlarged. My coronaries were clear. Had a Echo done and a repeat Chest CT specifically looking at my aorta. They found I have an aneurysm of my ascending aorta! I had/have no symptoms, but eventually will need to see a cardiac surgeon who can handle this. So it was found by accident like yours. Glad you are doing well!
@@PanamaRose interesting, thanks for sharing ! Good to know !!
What is your age and what is your cholesterol and LDL?
@@billdublewhopper3064 67 years old, LDL 155, total cholesterol 231
@@debbies5951 that's just genetics. But why bypass and not stents!
My 2 keto friends and I went and had this test done together one afternoon and then went out to eat. 1 friend has been keto for 10 years and we had been keto for 4 years. Everyone was telling us that the way we eat was going to kill us so we went for the scan.
All 3 of us had a score of 0!!!!
Our ages are 65, 51, and 38đ
Very cool!
Awesome!
amazing
I had the test done last week and I had a zero and I donât do keto and I wouldnât say Iâm a healthy eater I donât live on Lettuce I eat what I like when I want it but I just try not to over eat the crap but I still eat it I should not of had a zero. Iâve been watching these videos tonight and everywhere I read the comments everybody got zeros everybody 0 0 0 0 0 and now that I saw yours with all three of you are zeros iâm throwing in the towel
Iâm second-guessing this test too many people get zero somethings up. Just sharing my thoughts with you.
@@KatieJoMikell Iâve eat whatever I wanted all of my life.
11 years ago I scored 10.33 couple of weeks ago took the test again. I scored 1173
Iâm 56 years old.
Hey Dr Berry
My husband just got a CACS done. His score was 14800!! I didnât even think they went this high. Emergency intervention required. I eat a low carb/keto lifestyle, my husband has refused to follow me. My CACS is Zero. Needless to say, heâs listening now đź
OMG! I didnât know it would get that high either! I just had mine done also and thought it was outrageous at 1700.
I'm also keto with high ldl cholesterol .Got the CAC after my Doc recommended a statin .cac score= zero at 50 years old.
Mine is 1000 and I have 4 moderately blocked arteries. What did they do ? I hope he is doing better now âŠ
Gotdayyyum!!! Bless his heart.
My Dr was so worried about my high LDL, she sent me to see a Cardiologist so he could convince me to take a statin. My HDL is very high and my Trig are very low. I have been low carb/ Keto for over 4 years. I have normal A1C , perfect CRP, and excellent blood pressure. Not as easy to get a CAC test in Canada without a Cardiologist referral, but he agreed to do one. My CAC test is 0! I was so pleased. I am 61 years old, and never felt better.
Last year at age 64 I had a CAC scan and had no idea of what score to expect. I was surprised when my CAC score came back as zero. I'd been doing low carb only about 4 to 5 months when I had the scan. I'll do a follow up scan in the future to stay on top of it. My weight was 185 to 190 when I cut the carbs. Now over a year and a half later my weight has seemed to stabilize at about 147. I'm beyond thrilled to say the least. Losing upwards of 40 pounds at age 65 so painlessly is kind of a big deal.
That is a big deal.
yep good for you!
My cholesterol is 380
My CAC is Zero!
How mg ldl you had when cac was 0
My LDL=294 and total cholesterol 368. I refused to take statins so doctor prescribed CAC test. Iâve got it today =0.73.
Zero is better but at 62y.o. Iâll take that
good genes.
@@irinab7524 CAC scores can also be given as a percentage. 73% would not be so great. Is that what means?
@@darkpatches itâs 0.73 as a number not %. Virtually zero
I asked my new Cardiologist for a CAC test, all the while he's bleating on about statins, since I said I'd had high LDL in the past.
Lipid test showed TC 353 - LDL 247 - HDL 93 and Trig 67 - When the Doc's office called with the results, they said they wanted me on statins beginning that day. I said No Thanks, and
that I'd talk to the Doc when I saw him for a follow up next month.
The next day, I got my my CAC score, which was 7.15
According to the MESA study, which by the way doesn't include LDL, my risk of developing CHD in the next 10 years is 4.64%. I can live with that.
I'm printing out that assessment and taking it with me next month.
Thank you Dr Berry for everything. Iâm a 52 year old male and have been low carb/keto/carnivore for the past 2 years. I just had my CAC test results and was zero!!!! My doctor had been pushing a statin in previous visits. Today he told me to just keep doing what Iâm doing. No mention of my high cholesterol anymore and no mention of taking a statin! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Wonderful news!
Thanks for another informative video Ken. I used the MESA calculator you linked to this video. I think it misses on a key factor thatâs readily available on many blood panel results and thatâs triglycerides. I like to look at my triglycerides to HDL ratio. Thatâs one of the metrics where I score well (High HDL and low Triglycerides). But that is not considered on the MESA calculator. I am a former track athlete (800 M) and in good current cardio/metabolic health and work out daily. I did the CAC just to get a baseline. Shocker when it came back with a 354 score. Iâm 67 so I did not expect a zero, but my cardiologist said my CAC was SEVERE risk and booked me for an eco-cardiogram and EKG/treadmill stress test. Thankfully, after that closer look, he gave me a clean bill of health and does not even want me on a statin despite my high cholesterol.
đźđźđź I find it OUTRAGEOUS that some doctors refuse to write a prescription for a calcium scoring test!!! I am 100 lbs overweight, pre-diabetic and 57 years old. Normal cholesterol. My calcium score was zero!!! A friend of mine in his 70s had no symptoms of heart disease and normal cholesterol. His well respected cardiologist said a calcium scoring test was not necessary. My friend went to another doctor who agreed to write a prescription for it. Turns out his score was over 1,000!!! After that they did some invasive tests which revealed multiple blockages!!!! He ended up with a triple bypass!!!
I'm age 49 and I've been on (dirty) Carnivore for almost a year (with multiple points where I went off the rails , such as holidays and birthdays) and I've still managed to drop from 316 lbs. down to 256 lbs. (so far). The acid reflux which plagued me for years is gone. The aches and pains in my joints are totally gone. I sleep through the night now. My cholesterol and LDL went up during the past year (back when my doctor first recommended statins), but my triglycerides went down from 329 to 181. This year (only two short weeks ago - my annual), he was much more persistent about those statins. My cholesterol scores bothered him. I declined again, but recommended a CAC as a base to measure from. The results I just got through the medical portal, according to my doc, said 2018 and I'm in the 75th percentile. Thus, he's strongly trying to push the statins. I'm going to decline again, however, and continue on with carnivore (and a started exercise regimen) in hopes that I can get that score lowered. I don't know how long it might take, but... I'm going to stick with it, because I've heard horrible, horrible things about statins. Your channel, Dr. Berry, has been incredibly helpful to me, and I'm so grateful for it and for you. I recommend it to everyone I can, and I'll soon be sharing a substantial amount of the info (such as is in your channel and other studies I've come across) with MY own doctor. Wish me luck! :-)
Congratulations!
Good luck to you! Itâs been a a misconception to believe that you can lower your CAC score through diet. There are few if any verifiable examples. Your diet may, however, impact further progression. Much of it is unfortunately genetics. My wife is as far as one can imagine from a keto diet, is mildly overweight and has never exercised. Her CAC is zero. I eat like a saint, exercise (weight lifting and cardio) and my cholesterol has been in the 145-185 range over the years. My CAC score is 104. Go figure. Like hundreds of millions of people I have now been on a statin with no noticeable ill effects. I donât like the idea. Then again, the doctors I know who themselves have high cholesterol take statins themselves and some even take them as a prophylactic despite having normal cholesterol levels. Given your CAC score Iâd do a little more research and CZcams is probably not the best place. The main advantage of taking a statin when you have calcification is that it stabilizes the plaque. This lowers the risk of a rupture which is what leads to a heart attack. Do a little reading outside the meaningless anecdotes you find on social media. These âI had a grandpa who smoked 4 packs a day and lived to 110 years â may be comforting but not something Iâd base a treatment decision on.
Any update?
Iâm actually a cat scan tech and I do the calcium score test. Itâs a quick and easy test. Also I have been able to share my Keto lifestyle with some pts that are open and interested and I have pointed many of them to your videos to help them to learn how to live a healthy keto lifestyle. Incedently I have done the test and got a score of 6 and my dr still wanted to put me on statins but I declined. Iâm thinking I may need to find a new GP.
That's awesome. How do you gauge whether to start a discussion with someone about the Keto lifestyle?
Does your employer condone these discussions or is it something you have to do on the down low?
Same for me..score was 5 but he wanted to lower my ldl..I said nope
@Bladerunner2043 my husband was on statins for 20 years..finally quit them due to side effects
@Bladerunner2043 we don't agree
Bravo!! Well done! Iâm a nurse and I share keto all the time! If we donât do it, who will? My cardiologist shakes his head at me.
GREAT INFORMATION!!
THANK YOU DR. BERRY!!
Looking good doc. . thanks for the info I'm going to get one of those tests
Iâm 41, 5â7, and weigh 230lbs. I am a sugar addict and do not eat healthy. My CAC result was 15. This scared the crap out of me. I am going to start clean keto and get my score tested again in Jan 2025. I am hoping keto will help reduce it. Thank you, Dr. Berry, for your helpful information!
I am having this test done tomorrow I hope I get good news
15? that's very low for your age.... why you worrying? I'm a sugar addict too only 71yr old and my score was 6,300 with no blockage.
I don't think you can do anything to lower your CAC. Calcium buildup is permanent. You can only prevent it from increasing further.
Incorrect.
It IS reversible.
Thank you Dr. Berry! đđŒ
My functional med Dr. was completely on board and just ordered this for me!! Perfect timing on the video thx!
Patreon supporter and am very appreciative of your continued low-carb-lifestyle content. Last visit to my GP, my total cholesterol and LDL-C were high and my GP went nuts, but didn't seem to care about the indications of hashimotos and unusual liver enzymes. He wanted to restart me back on statin. I told him that I would not, unless I had a calcium test that indicated substantial plaque buildup. He referred me to cardiologist and I see the cardiologist on Monday for the CAC test. Cholesterol runs high in my family. I'm rather anxious to see what CAC Score is. BTW, I've been keto since July 2021, losing 70 lbs, glucose stays around 80 (probably doesn't exceed 100 even after a meal), and my AIC is 4.5% Without a doubt I'm thriving in the low-carb lifestyle!!!
Due to having heard about the importance of the CAC store from one of Ivor Cummings CZcams videos and hearing over our work intercom last year that our local hospital was offering the test for $139 [without doctor order] due to it being February Heart month at the time.
I talked my sister into having it done same day with me and I'm glad we did, both being older. At that point, I had been keto for 6 months and my score was 0! My sister's was 140 and she is 2 years younger than me.
I am 70 and exercise 2x a week playing competitive badminton. My CAC was up from 350, 450, 750 at 1,2,4 years interval. I stopped taking this test after this. I started statin at 40 due to high level of Cholesterol. My dad died of heart attack at 66. Even with lots of exercise, my CAC score is sky high. I changed my diet, took lots of K2, fermented food, reduce fat meat intake etc. Now my LDL is 1.7, HDL is 1.2, Triglycerides 0.9. Recently I went for a Ultra sound check on my artery and was surprised that there are no blockages. I will continue to take my statin 40mg daily. I don't know or suffer from the statin side effect. I hope this information is useful.
You explained CACS very well. đ
Hello Dr. Berry!
Thank you for making this detailed and informative video! I am having this test done tomorrow at a imaging center in the state of Rhode Island. I learned about it from a naturopath doctor. Fortunately, my doctorâs PA was familiar with this test and approved it. Whether Iâm covered or not itâs well worth the cost, as you mentioned.
Perfect timing for us!!!
Our PCP has refâd 74 yr old hubby to a cardiologist for the possibility of having PCSK9 inhibiting injections.... he took himself off his statin -feels WONDERFUL - all the years of body pain disappeared- but she is furious and wants him on statins or equivalent. Sheâs adamant LDLs are bad!!!!! He has been keto/carnivore for 10 months -his triglycerides are Great!!! We are doing the cardio consult in two days...NO ONE HAS EVER DONE A CAC or suggested this!!!
Yes, he is long term Type 2 but had always following the recommendations of SAD- and his T2 has slowly continued to progress - until 10 months ago...
Just had a scan this morning... happy camper came back with a score of 0. Will watch what I eat and continue exercising.
My doc had never ordered one before. He agreed and I am waiting for my appointment here in Virginia.
There's an Irish fella named Ivor Cummins who's been pushing this CAC test. Y'all should check him out he's really good.
I just got my CAC results - 251 - evenly split between two arteries. If Keto can reduce the buildup of plaque or even reverse it that would be a blessing.
I had my very first CAC last week. Scored a 0!! Woo! Hoo! My pcp gave me the order and I paid $99. Results were ready in 2 days. I'm in S FL. One year on ketovore.
Zero CAC and cholesterol in the 300s. My cholesterol numbers give my doctors a heart attack not me đ
How much ldl
@@sheddkkhan6758 Itâs the density of the LDL that matters. Contrary to what people have been told, not all LDL is bad. But some is very bad indeed.
Me too !!!!
High cholesterol is all hype... not a risk factor.. look into Dr. NADIR ALI and Dr. Kendrick in this subject. You will be very surprised.
My LDL is 271. So, thatâs too high?
Thanks for your ability to communicate simply and clearly complex medical and health issues.
I asked my (new) doctor for an advanced lipid panel because my cholesterol is high (7.0 mmol/L). He said that was not available (Iâm in New Zealand), but suggested CAC score instead. Got it done, zero score, fed my numbers into the MESA calculator which came back at 1.0%, both of us now happy about my cholesterol.
Thanks for the good information Dr. Berry! Any window into a future problem that can be avoided is priceless. Love you and Neisha! :) I'm five weeks into Keto and have lost 20lbs.
I refused to take a statin so my doctor ordered this test. Havenât gotten it done yet. Thanks for the information!
Mine cost 50$ . I had a zero score and my doctor was good with it. I have been doing keto and intermittent fasting since 2018. My doctor even recommended keto for her mom. Iâm so happy I found a doctor that understands what Iâm doing. Thanks for your videos!âŠ. Iâm working out and blood pressure is ideal. 110/70
I had a CAC scan done a year and a half ago and it cost me $49 đ and I was pleasantly surprised to get a score of zero. I was 44 at the time. My dad had a heart attack at .... Are you sitting down .... 33. I run half marathons and been doing keto for a couple of years. âșđ
Ivor Cummings has been talking about this for many years. Because of him I had a CAC done in the UK last year. I had a clear score at the age of 65. He has a really good video produced with the Irish heart association called the widow maker. In the UK the test is quite expensive - around ÂŁ300. But I think it is worth it for peace of mind. I've also been low carb but I also take vitaminD3 and K2. K2 helps to move calcium from the arteries into the bones.
Cool. How/where do I get one in the UK?
Not assuming peace of mind at all judging by family history but would like to know.
@@ThePhilGrimm I had mine done here - www.pallmallmedical.co.uk/tests-scans-and-diagnostics/ct-calcium-score/ I also got a full range of blood tests done and Triglycerides to HDL was 0.6, which the doctor said was as good as a well trained athelite.
@@ThePhilGrimm :
Families eating the same diet tend to have the same medical conditions that aren't genetic per se.
I fortunately was fascinated with Ivor Cummins and his emphasis on the Calcium score. I just turned 70 but have always ran or rowed besides weights. I was shocked that my score was 1578. Went on a low carb diet and took the test again 6 months later and got 1760. Ivor also emphasized that if you have a score around 1000, you should not eat any carbs (fruits). Took the test 6 months later after cutting out all fruit and taking K2 supplements. My score was now 1665 and I am very content with this. Back to working out hard again, after the scare my Cardio doctor gave me. I refused STATINS and very angry he would not recommend this test earlier, since I had a 50% clogged jugular for over 8 years. He kept telling me I was in great shape. Who needs these guys.
Here in Ohio, USA University Hospitals will test oneâs CAC for free. They are the Cleveland Clinicâs competitor. All one needs is an order from a doctor to take the test. Both my husband and I have low LDL and I got a 100 on my score and he got a 499. I have a high HDL and very low triglyceride level.
thank you Dr. Berry
Have just found out I have aorta stenosis. My cardiologist has ordered a ct calcium scan. I am a type 1diabetic and had left sided breast cancer twice which ended with a mastectomy, not sure if the radiotherapy may have contributed towards this. Consultant wishes to check PTH side of things as I also seem to be gained lots of weight with no real reason. Just saying these things as sometimes I feel we donât really see any further than accepting a heart issue. This shows there can be a lot more to the problem as you also mention. So I agree really worth having this scan done. Thank you
Thank you Dr. Berry. Perfect timing for this video. I just had this test last Thursday and I am awaiting results!
How is your life now ⊠hope ur results are ok.
@@ahmedhussain3638 it was zero! Life is great!
I perform the CAC exams and do the scoring. Dr. Berry is correct in everything he said about the CAC scoring. What I found interesting is that it seemed like those who were thin, had a great family history and lifestyle (athletic and ate very clean) were the ones who were showing up at my door and paid the $200 to have the test and almost always they were negative those who smoke and drink could care less. đ My highest scoring patient was 3-4000!! His doctor told him âWeâll watch it closelyâ. He was dead within a year.
Had this test done last year. Now that you've explained the process, I intend to converse with my cardiologist about this information. Thank you.
I see a guy on the street in front of me who I can tell straight away heâs at risk of a heart attack!! His belly is nearly hitting his ankles!! Iâd love to get a CAC scan, I just watched a CZcams video from two carnivores who both had CAC & CT scans and they both got ZERO on their arterial plaque!!! Amazing! Iâm on keto so probably not as good, so I must save up for one!!
I live in Québec, Canada, and believe it or not, I first had to convince my doctor to have me do a CAC test, then I am stuck as I cannot find one place in the province where they actually do it. They appear to know better and must be because the LDL score is SO reliable. It is frustrating to say the least. Thanks Dr Berry for the information, I just wish you knowledge would cross over and convince some of doing this test....
My cholesterol is 265. dr wanted to put me on a Statin. I said no. Then I went and got a calcium score and it is 11.
Chaz not yet. See him a a few weeks. But I just put my info into some heart disease risk scorer and I have a 3.4% chance of heart attack risk in the next 10 years. I am 56
11 is way better than me, but you'll want to get after it for sure to try to keep that score from rising. Low carb for life would be my suggestion.
You Tuber I sent low a carb for long time and my
Numbers still
Didnât change. Also my right main and left main arteries scored a 0. Only only smaller artery off one of the main arteries had the 11. But I will definitely keep an eye on it. Thanks
@@jenniferbross1211 how much ldl you had
thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU.
Thank you Dr. Berry for truly taking you time to do this for me and everyone out there. I always share your videos and pray that people will open their eyes to their health. God bless you and your family.
Thank you Dr. Berry, I had a stent in 2002 and 2 more in same artery this past December. Started Keto on July 1st, Iâm down 21 lbs, 25 more to go! Starting Carnivore diet on October 1st. Had brain fog for 6 years and itâs about 90% gone, only feel when Iâm tired.
Hi unsisgraziato, which artery do you have problem? And what was the score of each one ?
edson montibeller it was my circumflex artery. I have yet to do my cac test.
If you have stents you will not be able to take this test as l was told. The stents mess up the scan. I wish I wouldâve known about this prior to my heart attack and seven stents. Maybe it could have helped me try to figure out things sooner.
My cholesterol is 330.
My CAC is 0.0.
The local heart hospital offers the test for $60 out of pocket, no order required. What a bargain!
scottinokc Wow, what state is that in? My cholesterol is 335, triglycerides 33. Iâm getting my CAC done next week đ
scottinokc that is great
Looking at the link I posted, the test is only $50. It took a whole 5 minutes and I walked out with the results immediately.
@@2tzus I'm just guessing that he is in oklahoma city.
In Australia cost $255..my score 662.I been on keto before it for 3 months but i smoked for 40years.dont smoke
This is great info. My calcium is high and my cholesterol jumped 20 points since December. Today I have the CT scan. My insurance does not pay for this and the cost is $150.
Thank you! I just had an EKG and I have been referred to a cardiologist. I was told I had heart murmur in 2001. Not sure if there is a change but it showed of course in the EKG. Appreciate today's information! I have done Carnivore and Keto. The last two months more Keto. Hoping to make myself get back to more of a Carnivore plan. Daughter is coming for a visit soon and she is Vegetarian. So, interesting for sure! I do like avocado a lot!
A heart murmur doesn't specifically show up on an EKG. A doctor can hear a heart murmur, or your EKG may show a heart chamber may be enlarged, which can be a sign of heart valve problems. When you see the cardiologist he'll probably want to do an Echocardiagram. This will look specifically at the mechanical workings of the heart, like the valves, pumping action, flow, etc. Good luck!
I did one at a local imaging center, walked in and got it done but results had to go to my Dr. It was only $47.
Thanks for this info Dr. Berry. I'd like to ask your opinion on the studies done on vitamin K2 in reducing calcium from the arteries? If anyone commenting reads this & has first hand experience I'd love to hear your story. I have went mainly carnivore for the last 6 months & dropped about 50 pounds. My blood pressure has dropped ALOT & I feal alot better after following Dr. Berry. I truly believe he cares about people. Unlike other doctors that go after the $ and not your well being.
Vitamin K2 works. I was able to lower my score by using vitamin K2, I P6 and garlic. Iâm pretty consistent with taking them. There was 22 months between my two calcium tests and I went from 60.53 to 58.95. Even the heart surgeons and everyone that Dr. Berry has on his channel say that thatâs not possible but donât believe it. You CAN lower your calcium score. I love Dr. Berry and all of the people he brings on. But donât let anyone tell you that you cannot lower this. It is slow and it takes time but you can do it. I wish I could post the photo of the score on this thread, because it clearly shows where it was 22 months ago and where it is at now. Iâm so thrilled I didnât listen to all the people who say you canât lower it.
Just had the test yesterday and my number is 1558. I'm in the 90th percentile for a woman of 66. Did said my low carb lifestyle has probably helped keep an event from happening thus far. My family history is rife with stents and hearts attacks. Thank God I found your channel 7 years ago. I've lost over 60 pounds, and kept it off over 3 years, exercise every day and feel great. Low carb is saving my life. God bless.
I paid $50 both times for this valuable test here in the Midwest. No doctors order.
I'm a 66 year old man doing Keto after 3 heart attacks the last one I had quad bypass and I feel great!
@Chaz probably exactly why people have recurring heart attacks. The medical nutrition sector needs a change
@Chaz Your absolutely right!
Yep. My brother-in-law has been currently brain washed by his cardiologist to be vegan. Vegan!!
@@TheCinder24 God bless him!
@@TheCinder24 Come on, you can do vegan the right and healthy way. There's plenty of vegan success stories. Mine is one of them. I was doing Keto for almost 2 years and when I had my Lipids checked my totcal cholesterol was 238 and LDL was 130, I said NO FUCKIN WAY and did some research, switched to a low saturated fat plant based diet consisting of mostly vegetables and a clean VEGAN protein source, no sugars bla bla bla and guess what? Total Cholesterol 145, LDL 60 and HDL 95!!!!! Not only that but A1C went down from 5.2 on Keto to 4.6 on vegan! BUN scores also improved. So don't give me this Brain washed crap. My advice for people is experiment with what works best and get tested, tested and RE-tested to see what actually DOES work.
Iâm 74 y.o., been eating keto/ketovore for 7 years. Just had a CAC done and my score is 0!! I have moderately high LDL and refused statins, so my dr referred me to a cardiologist who ordered the scan. Iâm VERY happy!!! Thanks for all your good info, @KenDBerryMD!
Outstanding! đ
Thanks for explaining this test and what it looks for. Even with keto and carnivore my blood pressure was high. Maybe the CAC will help figure out why.
I'm 29, and found out at 15 I have aortic stenosis. Family physicians just said it was a murmur. And at 27 had an endoscopy turn up a unicuspid valve. Im on 0 meds. The best thing I have found for myself in terms of feeling great has always been exercise. Primarily weights. And some ssc but it's boring and prefer hiit.
Dr. Berry is godsent. You have no idea how much better I feel after having followed his advice on diet and the concept behind lowering insulin. I've lost 20 Kgs and feel like Muhammad Ali in his prime after battling obesity.
Paid $150 for this test 2 years ago (63yo) and had score of 50 with plaque in aorta and LAD. Started K2 maybe 7-8mo ago & had better cholesterol scores and surprising drop in A1c to 5.0 from 5.3-5.4. Have been on rosuvastatin 20mg for years and MD suggested going up to 40mg. I refused just like I did over 20yr ago. Plan on redoing CAC test maybe in another year to see where I stand.
Sumner Regional Radiology, TN, I pd 65$ (March 2020) and it included a disc. Patient referred, only listed a PC to have results sent to.
Both the Fractionated Lipid Panel AND CAC score (if CAC score is interpreted correctly based on your patient population) are useful! Do NOT throw out the lipid checks because as Dr. Berry said on this video, plaque can come from cholesterol deposits, vessel damage, inflammation, AND calcium deposits (which is worse than cholesterol deposits). Check BOTH!
3rd Year, Doctor of Clinical Laboratory Sciences Student
I just recently had what was referred to as a mini stroke. I was feeling normal within hours of the incident. The Dr at the ER told me that the scans showed no blockages. I did a follow up at a clinic, where they requested bloodwork done. My results:
Triglycerides 80
HDL 51
Total Cholesterol 333
VLDL Cholesterol 12
LDL Cholesterol 270
Aside from having a very difficult time staying away from sweets, I have primarily been eating Carnivore, with routine intermittent fasting. Mostly one meal per day.
The Clinic is very insistent that I must accept being on a high dose of statin, a blood thinner for the remainder of my life, and immediately start seeing a Neurologist, and Cardiologist.
I said ok, to end the phone call, but have no intentions of any. I would like to get the CAC test. How do I know if the is any plaque from Cholesterol in my system?
I'm a 68 yo partially retired colorectal surgeon ( still do some consults and see pts with my partners and NPs ). Have been on low carb/keto and statin for 20+ years...because of family history and increase in TC to 204. Probably insulin resistant though BS has always been normal. Hgb A1C normal. TC less than 150, LDL less than 100, TG 60-70. Excellent health ( never been hospitalized ) with only issue being FH and elevated cholesterol as noted prior to starting low carb and lipitor. Have been physically active my entire life. Exercise 7 days a week...biking/Arc trainer and competitive senior softball. Decided to stop my statin several months ago due to questionable evidence of benefit from statins and my age. LDL went to 181 and TC to 234 after stopping statin. Awaiting results of NMR lipid/insulin resistance profile and had coronary artery ca score of 661! Needless to say, my primary care doc has made a cardiology referral. I was wondering your thoughts given that I have developed what appears on CACS to be significant, but asymptomatic disease despite my lifestyle, including diet?
Have you made any other changes?
I watch you and appreciate you ty
2-3 years on keto/carnivore Just got a calcium score of 1525. LDL is 180, C-peptide 2.4. Iâm following up with an Insulin resistance Kraft score. Testing glucose over 3-4 hours. Platelets are 450. I think resistance lifting is in store for me.
So, after fairly good lab results: fasting insulin 6.1, HDL 75, Triglycerides 90, LDL 203, while abstaining from grains/any sweetener, alcohol/starchy veggies for 4 years and going between carnivore and LCHF. Kaiser is sure I need to be on Statins immediately. NO thank you. I asked for a stress test and before I even got on the treadmill the tech said OH you need to be on statins. I aced the stress test. Next, I will be doing a Coronary artery calcium scan, per my request. It isn't scheduled yet but Kaiser did put in the order for me (at my expense). Today I got in the mail a bottle with 2 pill of metoprolol tartrate 50mg with the instructions to take pm before the test and in am after the test. Why? No explanation. Well, of course I am not going to just take something because it showed up in the mail. Oh dear...oh for a functional doctor to work with. I read all the side effects and the reasons one might take this med. I don't have any of the reasons that are listed. I must go meditate now. The reason I even did the labs and these other tests are because my older brother just had 2 stents put in his arteries. He has been dedicated to egg whites only, chicken and all the low fat advise but eats the boxed plethora of goodies that line the grocery isles. I sent him Dr. Ken Berry's newest book and another one I love "eat the yolks" sooooo funny. He was trying to embrace some of the information prior to his surgery but after he told the cardiologist that he thought it was diet related he was shot down. No it is genetic. He was eating egg whites when I spoke to him last. oh dear....sorry for such a long note. Venting to folks who get it. Thank you
My doc was happy to order a CAC, but cautioned me that there are a lot of false-positives that could prompt further, unnecessary testing...I opted to not get the scan.
Thank you đ
I called our local Mercy hospital and scheduled one for me and hubby for $50. Going tomorrow. We didnât need a doctorâs order!!!
Haven't yet seen your whole video yet but just came back from my cardiologist and he suggested I get a CT Calcium score which I just scheduled! Not covered by insurance but imaging company is offering it for $75.
Chuck Vee I did same; glad they offer it - it was the $45 Special. I earned a zero! So no statin! đ
@@jmom5735 ,
That's Wonderful đ
J Mom where
Good luck - it is good to know your score, whether bad or good.
Money well spent.
Dr. B.
Thank you for the advice you are sharing. Iâve reduced my visceral fat by 2% and my weight by 27 lbs in just 10 weeks by employing ethics youâve exposed on your channel. Iâve also brought my HbA1c down to 6.2, reduced insulin usage and needs for BP meds. Thank you and please keep up the great work.
Fantastic!
Thank you! I knew I had heard one of my podcasters talking about this a long time ago so I dug it up and you answered my scary questions! My LDL 158 Dr wants a APOB test first then possibly the calcium scan. Iâm not worried đ carnivore for a few years stopped for a while but back to it now. Feel better than ever 56 years young not over weight.
Excellent content! I have had two with zero score both times 3 yr apartâŠâŠ
My dad however has a score off the chart at 8749âŠâŠ. Highest the cardiologist has ever seenâŠ. My dad didnât mama his diabetes when diagnosed and now pays the price for that in macular degeneration and blockage in right carotid and the LDA widow makerâŠ.. I tell everyone to get oneâŠ.. thanks for your videos Dr!
Iâm 63 now and been diagnosed diabetes since 2016 and keep my a1c at 5.6-5.7 by keto carnivore as suggestedâŠâŠ
My Cholesterol is high at 9 (in Australia). Just got a zero CAC score. My local doctor was shocked. đ
My last bloods my LDL is 12.5. Just had a particle subfraction test and know nothing about the result yet but I was in range.
How did you go about a CAC scan in Aus? Was it difficult? I'm in Brisbane.
I'm not far into my keto diet and had bloods done through my doctor. I'm mid 6s at the moment but I had an urgent call from my doctor wanting me to start statins immediately so I had to search for a low carb doctor. She looked at my blood work, chuckled and said everything is perfect đ going to get my CAC done eventually and go back to my original doctor and see what he says
@@mbedsor Well done for educating yourself and not just doing what the doctor thinks is right. :)
I think this is about 348
@@WillowTube get a referral from your doctor to an imaging place... mine was $190 last year.
I had this test done yesterday as a walk-in at an imaging center. $50 in Murfreesboro, TN. My score was 6.
the test is $145 in Houston and requires a dr. prescription.
What center? I'm in murfreesboro too
Which clinic in Mâboro??
Thanks
Dr. Berry, here in Northeast Ohio, University Hospitals give the CAC at no cost with an order from a doctor. They are the Cleveland Clinicâs competitor. Even an order from a Cleveland Clinic doctor will still get one a free CAC. So, the biggest defense measures of keeping a low score is to avoid inflammation (C-Rp) and keep a low HbA1C in the 5 level range? Plus, take K 2 supplements? The focus on these factors can reverse our CAC scores? How often is it advisable to get a re-test. Thank you and I enjoyed your book!
Excellent presentation! Please consider allowing reference notes and images to appear on your screen for a longer period of time. I could neither read the complete text or easily identify the calcium in arteries.
Pause the video!!
I tried a low carb diet and my calcium score and LDL cholesterol went through the roof. I told my cardiologist that I eat bacon eggs and cheese for breakfast almost every morning and he told me to stop immediately and stick to a plant based diet. Even though I lost a lot of weight he said I was at a higher risk for heart attack now than I was before I started Keto. He upped my dosage of crestor to lower my LDL. He told me that he doesn't trust keto and highly recommended cutting bacon, red meat and cheese out of my diet as much as possible. I'm not sure who to believe. I'd like to get a second opinion from a keto friendly cardiologist but I don't know of any in my area.
Dr. Ford Brewer. Heâs on CZcams. Only virtual appts and no ins. However start watching his videos for a second opinion. May God Bless You.
Been carnivore for two years, left heavyweights , walk about 10,000 steps a day and feel like Iâm in great health in my late 40s but I had a CAC test done last year and this year and it actually increased. It was 103 last year and then This March it was 168. Iâm surprised it went up. Definitely nervous.
Vry great insight in manifestation of calcification in artery to check by CAC score emergency predictor of heart health base on score u can reduce ur risk by keeping low blood sugar insulin less inflammation vry informative vid
There is a huge difference in CAC testing! I had the basic one where they ultrasound your carotid arteries on each side of your neck and received a score of zero. Five years later I had a CT scan on my lungs ( not even for my heart) and the radiologist noted mild calcification in my coronary arteries with a score of 70! My doctor told me as long as I was having no chest pains and no shortness of breath, not to worry about it. What?! I requested to have a stress test and to be referred to a cardiologist, as I was working out at the time three to four days a week. You must be proactive and advocate for your own health!
Within that 5 year time span between tests, I did go through menopause. I feel the loss of estrogen is a major contributor as my ldl cholesterol and triglycerides also went beyond normal range and Iâm stage one hypertension. I am not overweight and 57 yrs old. Too, I started taking 2000iu of D3 daily for about 2 years WITHOUT K2 before the CT scan, and Iâm thinking that too may have attributed to the calcium buildup. I tell my girls to never take D3 without K2 now! I am on 10 mg statin, Omega 3 prescription, and 10 mg BP- all of which have brought me well into normal ranges quite quickly. I also take D3, K2, NAC, Coq10, B complex, and magnesium. I plan to change my diet to low carb ( breads are my weakness!) and get back to daily exercise so that I can possibly come off my statin and BP meds. I also had a nuclear stress test which showed my arteries were wide and clear with no blockages.
I suspect there are a vast number of people who are walking around, as I was, unaware they have coronary calcium. If it wasnât for the chance CT scan on my lungs catching it, I would have never known.
We upped our Vit D3 at the beginning of the pandemic, but added K2 with it, precisely because of the possible calcium build up issue.
@@susankitchin325 if vit d3 has a possible calcium build up issue then why take it ? why not just take k2 mk7 ?
f vit d3 has a possible calcium build up issue then why take it ? why not just take k2 mk7 ?
@@BRIANDER100 I was taking almost 10K IU of Vit D3 during early Covid, because we were in MA with minimum sunlight in the early Spring. I was working remotely, so was inside all day, and didn't get the benefit of sunlight, so to keep my Vit.D levels high I supplemented with the D3, and it was recommended to take the K2 along with that. I've lowered my D3 supplements because we're now living in the South, and were able to get out on sunny days, even in the winter, because the temps weren't so brutal.
@@BRIANDER100 D3 is to improve your immune system but it also increases absorption of calcium from the food source that's why the need for K2 just to be safe.
I have an appointment later in September with my cardiologist. I will ask about this test.
Emphasise that you don't want an angiogram.
You want the CAC test, coronary artery calcium.
Just do it Nancy. Get your CAC score. Even if your cardiologist says you don't need it, like mine did. You should know where you stand as to heart disease risk. The radiation is same as mammogram. Money very well spent.
I entered my numbers into your risk calculator, since I do know that my CAC is zero. My 10 year risk for CHD 1.9%!!!! That's using last October 2021 blood tests. Not too shabby for a 69 year old. But the first thing my cardiologist told me in October was that he was putting me on statins. He was floored when I told him that aint happening! My trig. are 92, hdl,69, VLDL 15 and LDL 207. Total Cholesterol 291. If you think I'm on the right track would appreciate your 2 cents. Bee on PHD since July 2021.
In DC, Maryland & Virginia, it seems that you do need a physician recommendation (a doctorâs order) to get one of these scans. I havenât found any local provider that offers them without it, regardless of whether you are offering self-pay or hoping to until or insurance coverage.
I have high cholesterol and high blood pressure which I didnât have before I was diagnosed with LADA at the age of 47. Iâm 49 now and Atorvastatin 40mg on & Perindopril 2mg od seem to keep me on an even keel. Still honeymooning, stopped insulin 6mo ago. Low carb diet for as long as I can keep doing it.,,, Dad died of brain aneurysm at 57, first heart attack at 47, mum has MS.. I think I may have cardiac/autoimmune stuff in my family?!
Diet doctor did an interview with Dr Agatston who the Agatston score is based on. He said that CAC scores cannot reduce. If the number has gone done itâs because the imaging angle was slightly different. Whatâs your opinion on this?
I have never seen so many people with a zero score as the comments here, keep up the great work folks!
Hmm heart issues run on my side and my husbandâs family. Gonna look into this. Hoping our insurance covers it đ€
I turned down statins twice over ten years, and finally proved to my âpreviousâ doctor through the CAC score of 0%.
A calc score of zero does not mean you are without risk. You could have a lot of soft plaque not detected by a calcium score and be at much greater risk of a black rupture and a cardic event or death. Statins aid in turning soft plaque into more stabilized calcified plaque which is far less likely to rupture and cause a clot/death. You may not be doing yourself any favors turning down a statin. Be careful.
does not mean you are arties are clean inside that scan only shows white against black it cannot see inside....... need a nuclear stress test and echo cardiogram done to really test.
@@johnnyd614 Which pharmaceutical company do you work for?
@@JM-er2yl Be careful. A low dose statin and an 81mg aspirin for those with known plaque verified by a CIMT or Ca Score might save your life.
Unfortunately heâs right.
I had a zero score, but, the dr still wanted me to take 2 statins because my cholesterol was high. I've been carnivore for 2 months and keto for 7 years. Needless to say I opted out of the statins. By the way, my cholesterol got as high as 425 6 years ago ,but I knew how good I felt, so no meds for me.
Iâve been on statins over twenty years, I have developed statin resistance, muscle pains, join pains, liver pains, you name it. I quit statins one year ago, then my cholesterol went up to about 500, LDL is almost 400. HDL Is 73. So I just took a CAV scoring test. My number is 16. Not as perfect as you guys. But I feel much better anyway. I am 62. Still young đ
Ok I am a test case. I have been keto for a year, went carnivore for a month, and just got a really bad report. My cholesterol numbers are very high, last year they were at the high range of normal, and my doctor had me get a CAC scan. Over 400. In the last year I started regular exercise and lost 40 pounds. But I must admit I'm worried about a cardiac event or stroke or TIA.
My CAC test revealed that I have an Aneurysm . . . something that does not show up in an EKG
My doctor was a reluctant one. I had to argue the issue with him for about 3 months before he approved the Coronary Calcium
In my mind, who has diabetes or sleep apnea needs to get this text . . . Before itâs too late.
Husband had this test done in 2019 with a result over 750. Our drug-dealer doc said he'd be dead inside of 5 years unless he took more of her horrible drugs, and that there was NOTHING he could do to reverse the score, only slow it down. We fired her. We now have a REAL doctor who believes in reversing these scores. It's 2023 & he's better than ever. Looking forward to the next CAC test, however I didn't know until now (because the hospital lied right to my face) that they use radiation. So, we'll have just one more to see if our efforts have led in the right direction, and then no more. Thanks for your video.
The radiation is extremely low on this machine compared to MRI and X-ray đ
@@55Mimi I was told higher than Xray.
impossible to reverse plaque..... you need to read more and listen to the doctor.
Whatâs the update?
@@WillCarrot We haven't repeated the CAC yet, but I'll be sure to let y'all know.
The fact that there is such a disconnect between cholesterol and actual CAC scores, where someone with low cholesterol and low LDL can have a high CAC, while someone with high cholesterol and high LDL can have a CAC of zero, should put the nail in the coffin of the this antiquated emphasis on LDL and cholesterol as an accurate barometer of heart disease risk.
Iâm 60, had the scan done, 0! Had my lipid test done couple weeks later, my ldl is high & doc wanted me on statin. I said, why? my cac came back good? he said, well, I have a pt that was 0 & 2 yrs later he had a heart attack. I was like , nah, Iâm good. I think its time to find another doc. He been pushing statin on me for 5 yrs & Im been on ketovore for a year. đ€·đ»ââ
I've been to 2 cardiologists now and neither one wanted me to get the CAC scores test even though I told them that I knew I had to pay for the test and I was ok with that
Risk score and statens. For the first time in 10 years my total cholesterol is less than 200. My doctor said that was good but the current measure is the risk score. Of course the risk score indicates statens are advised. So I installed the ASCVD and Framingham risk calculators to track myself. At age 76 I found that even with perfect numbers the score is still recommends statens. So I reversed engineered their formulas and found that even with perfect numbers statens will be recommended if you are older than 60 your risk score will be greater than 5%. The ASCVD app states that the risk calculator is only valid for age 40 to 59. I track 25 health stats every morning before my workout. Risk percentage is not one of them. I am going to request a NMR lipid panel prior to my next annual physical and discus with my doctor who by the way provides the care I have ever received.
Low cholesterol can cause heart attack. Look into this info, do your research. The cholesterol myth!!!
What is an NMR lipid panel?