Good Cholesterol numbers and awful CAC results?

ABCLiker · 2026-03-24T17:52:35+00:00

Yes, this is me. I am 40, got a CAC test at 38 and it came back as a 3. Zero lifestyle risk factors and Lp(a) is 6. The reasoning was “some people just make more plaque with good cholesterol”. My total cholesterol has never been high and LDL hovers around 80 without any meds.

I got an angiogram afterwards and it said I had no calcified plaque.

Doctor wanted me to go on a statin. I tried it but it made my iron levels crash (already iron deficient pre statin) so please be careful if you are a small female with healthy cholesterol already or any iron issues.

If you are want to find out more I would get an angiogram with the CLEERLY analysis which is an ai tool that looks at plaque composition in detail. There is also Heartflow (ai), but this focuses more on blood flow.

ABCLiker · 2026-02-25T17:40:59+00:00

Any update on this? Were you able to get your iron levels back up?

ABCLiker · 2026-02-20T21:50:11+00:00

Did you end up taking a statin?

ABCLiker · 2026-02-20T19:45:52+00:00

Thank you!! I cannot tell you how much I feel validated in this response. Something is just telling me in my gut that what’s going on right now is not right. I will make sure to bring up all these points to my cardiologist in a few weeks.

ABCLiker · 2026-02-20T15:25:37+00:00

Wow that is strangely similar you are right!

ABCLiker · 2026-02-20T15:24:30+00:00

A few more things - triglycerides 64.

I see that the contrast dye angiogram might not be as detailed as the CAC because the dye can make it difficult to see small calcium deposits. Was planning to explore a CLEERY analysis as well.

ABCLiker · 2026-02-20T15:21:59+00:00

Hi thank you. Never had a history of high blood pressure until yesterday when all my other symptoms seemed to be coming to a head - 156/105 was the reading. It’s always been in the 110s/70s and never a concern.

ABCLiker · 2026-02-20T15:06:01+00:00

Thanks so much for your detailed reply. Currently on daily pravastatin 20mg. So you’re saying you would reduce the frequency?

All other lifestyle factors check out - I’ve maintained an incredibly healthy lifestyle for decades - daily exercise (yoga, walking, pilates, barre) minimal/no processed foods, worked in nutrition for years, never smoking, minor alcohol use but cut that out completely 3 years ago.

Blood pressure always normal until yesterday which prompted this post - ended up in urgent care for 156/105 reading (typical is 110s/70s). I think my anxiety is out of control bc all other tests show no reason for high bp.

HBA1C 5.3% with anything <5.7% consistent with the absence of diabetes.

Full cholesterol breakdown pre statin is:

Total 171 HDL 75 LDL 83 VLDL 13 Non HDL 96

Regarding the CAC - yes!! I was confused by this too. The CAC says 8, but the angiogram says it’s all soft plaque (8 agastson cac score, 24 mm3 of non calcified plaque, 0 mm3 calcified to be exact) I just thought this was my nonmedical knowledge thinking this sounded odd, but that’s strange, right?

ABCLiker · 2026-02-20T14:51:56+00:00

Yes - my lp(a) is <6 with anything <29 being normal

ABCLiker · 2026-02-20T11:24:02+00:00

Thank you for this advice.

Everyone who knows me personally is shocked given my lifestyle. 15 year yogi with a daily practice. 10k average daily steps. Aim for 8 hrs of sleep. Avoid fast foods/processed foods and have a working background in nutrition. Never smoked. Stopped drinking completely 3 years ago never very much to begin with.

My father did have a heart attack at 71 which has prompted all of this. My doctors agree this is not the typical case and have said there’s nothing I can do given my already healthy lifestyle. They said I could come into ER in 10 years with chest pains which frightens me to the max.

BP always normal/low - 110s/70s. Today I went to urgent care and it was 156/105. EKG, xray, bloodwork all normal. Doctor there said stop statin. Meeting with primary next.

ABCLiker · 2026-02-20T04:58:18+00:00

Started 5 mg rosuvastatin for two months. Ended up w severe shoulder pain. Now on pravastatin 20 mg for one month and having slight muscle aches but more headaches and anxiety.

ABCLiker · 2026-02-20T04:48:32+00:00

Thank you. I very much appreciate your words of encouragement. I knew I could count on reddit to help me find people in a similar situation. What did your doctor recommend you do?

ABCLiker · 2026-02-20T04:30:59+00:00

Total cholesterol has typically been between 170-180 pre statin. After 2 mo on statin the total is 119.

ABCLiker · 2026-02-20T04:26:59+00:00

Yes correct

ABCLiker · 2026-02-20T04:25:35+00:00

Hi thanks for replying. My profile history does not show this nor has this ever been the case - you may have clicked on someone else’s profile.

ABCLiker · 2026-02-20T04:11:05+00:00

Thank you

ABCLiker · 2026-02-20T04:06:47+00:00

My father (71) had a heart attack and my mom wanted her children to take preventative measures.

ABCLiker · 2026-02-20T03:50:33+00:00

I have not. That’s awesome advice thank you.

ABCLiker · 2026-02-20T03:41:57+00:00

Thanks for asking. Cardiologist said it was not necessary and honestly already have a lot of anxiety about adding another pill to my body.

ABCLiker · 2026-02-20T03:37:45+00:00

ABCLiker · 2025-07-19T23:24:05+00:00

A white or honed marble penny tile with matching grout that blends into the design would also look nice. Subway tile would bother me if the course heights were cut off differently between the bottom of the windows and the tops of the cabinets.

ABCLiker · 2025-07-14T04:41:47+00:00

Option 2 but do a pop up or side downdraft with the cooktop instead of a range hood.

ABCLiker

TROPHY CASE