Listen to Dante.. get your calcium scores

[Black Beard]

5k got me to 45.2
10k got me to 63.8
20k got me to 84.9 once and 94.9 another time.
Some people need more.


If I don't take D3, I fall between 19-21.

Just gotta make sure people take it with fatty meal for optimal absorption. Many take on empty stomach or low fat meal .

 

[cdnyc85]

Many are confused by these. Not a "be all end all" Many with a "zero" die from the soft plaque anyways.
Many with high calcium scores, have zero blockages. (Go for a stress echo or nuclear stress test).
Lots of little "dots" of calcium, add up to your total score. If you have one giant-chunk, yeah, that's a problem.

People put way too much into that score, its the follow up tests that tell you where you are.
It does not measure soft-plaque, which is the killer...

Actually CT angiogram does measure soft plaque. That's precisely why they do it. It's not included in your calcium score but it's in the written report. Most people aren't getting CT angiograms. They're getting normal cardiac CTs, which only measure hard plaque. CTA is harder to get approved by insurance, more expensive, and exposes you to radiation, so many doctors won't even recommend it.

Oh and whoever said these tests aren't covered by insurance is also wrong. I had my CTA covered by insurance. Your doctor just needs to provide a valid reason to the insurance company that explains why you need it for the prior authorization. Just lkke an MRI. Get a better doctor.

 

[Real Steele]

That's a ton of D for long term. Is it D3? Are you trying to load it? And are you taking it with fat?

This has my D level at 80.

 

[Real Steele]

Actually CT angiogram does measure soft plaque. That's precisely why they do it. It's not included in your calcium score but it's in the written report. Most people aren't getting CT angiograms. They're getting normal cardiac CTs, which only measure hard plaque. CTA is harder to get approved by insurance, more expensive, and exposes you to radiation, so many doctors won't even recommend it.

Oh and whoever said these tests aren't covered by insurance is also wrong. I had my CTA covered by insurance. Your doctor just needs to provide a valid reason to the insurance company that explains why you need it for the prior authorization. Just lkke an MRI. Get a better doctor.

Im a self pay technically. I belong to a share program so I pay upfront and reimbursed on the back end. All of my welathy clients use this program. We had ine get a whole flight for life cardiac event procedure and they covered all but $500. Been pretty impressed

 

[Splitzz]

Had my doctor set me up for a calcium score. Scheduling for next week as long as there is an opening. Hopefully all is good but atleast I’ll know where I’m at.

 

[IFBBProDomCardone]

Just gotta make sure people take it with fatty meal for optimal absorption. Many take on empty stomach or low fat meal .

and take with magnesium...most people are deficient in magnesium. Magnesium helps "activate" vitamin D into its useable form. I naturally run very low on vitamin D and would need high dosages to get something out of it. Combining with Mag and with fat meal, levels stay at around 70-80 consistently

 

[cdnyc85]

Im a self pay technically. I belong to a share program so I pay upfront and reimbursed on the back end. All of my welathy clients use this program. We had ine get a whole flight for life cardiac event procedure and they covered all but $500. Been pretty impressed

OK understand...totally different for anyone who has a commercial PPO. In that case, you should be covered so long as it's been approved. Dr just needs to submit. I imagine a bunch of folks here have commercial PPOs through their employer

 

[Real Steele]

Had my doctor set me up for a calcium score. Scheduling for next week as long as there is an opening. Hopefully all is good but atleast I’ll know where I’m at.

Most important step! I hope yours is better than mine!

 

[johnjay06]

Did mine Friday and results came back at zero, wasn’t expecting that but I’ll take it! I’m 45 and my brother had a heart attack at 37 right before Christmas. Both my grandpas had them as well. Glad I saw this thread as it gives me a little bit of peace of mind. Debating on the next test to get ran now

 

[Swifto]

Did mine Friday and results came back at zero, wasn’t expecting that but I’ll take it! I’m 45 and my brother had a heart attack at 37 right before Christmas. Both my grandpas had them as well. Glad I saw this thread as it gives me a little bit of peace of mind. Debating on the next test to get ran now

Well done.

Now get an Echo.

 

[seymoor77]

Did mine Friday and results came back at zero, wasn’t expecting that but I’ll take it! I’m 45 and my brother had a heart attack at 37 right before Christmas. Both my grandpas had them as well. Glad I saw this thread as it gives me a little bit of peace of mind. Debating on the next test to get ran

With ur family history (which is one of the most predicative factors) I would get a coronary artery angiogram which will pick up soft plaque - I would also be on crestor which will stablize plaque - calcifying it - making it much less likely to rupture, break off and travel to a smaller artery where it cannot pass - I would imagine this is what happened to ur brother if he wasn't experiencing and symptoms prior to his heart attack - a 0 calcium is a good start but in ur situation its best to be one step ahead of anything that is lurking

 

[buck]

Did mine Friday and results came back at zero, wasn’t expecting that but I’ll take it! I’m 45 and my brother had a heart attack at 37 right before Christmas. Both my grandpas had them as well. Glad I saw this thread as it gives me a little bit of peace of mind. Debating on the next test to get ran now

I would suggest a stress echocardiogram. Seems far better then getting them done separately. The last cardiologist i went to thought getting them done separately was sort of a waste as knowing what the heart is doing while working is far more definitive.

 

[j2048b]

With ur family history (which is one of the most predicative factors) I would get a coronary artery angiogram which will pick up soft plaque - I would also be on crestor which will stablize plaque - calcifying it - making it much less likely to rupture, break off and travel to a smaller artery where it cannot pass - I would imagine this is what happened to ur brother if he wasn't experiencing and symptoms prior to his heart attack - a 0 calcium is a good start but in ur situation its best to be one step ahead of anything that is lurking

I need this angio done… my cac was like a 1.5 in one area and the rest at 0… but ive had an ldl of around 177 for over 20+ yrs…

Only time i tried crestor… dvt within a couple weeks at only 5 mlg per day… now on ezetimembe and givin it a try… that dvt aftermath of using blood thinners destroyed me… lost 30 lbs in 30 days and it was all muscle… never gained it back and its sad…

 

[Brock456]

I am not going to type this all up again....this is what I have been recommending for years on the supplement front. So I am just going to cut and paste this email I sent to a bb named Chris a few years back that i usually just reform to people according to themselves but using this as a base so I dont have to type it all up again: below

------------------------


I am going to send you my recommendations and what i would do and also some proof to the pudding.


Anything over 300 coronary calcium score is listed as risk for heart attack for the next 5-10 years.


But lets regress this plaque to the best of our ability.


Things we need to stay away from. All orals especially anavar. THESE PEOPLE WHO SAY ANAVAR IS SAFE DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT! I have seen so many physique competitors and classic competitors bloodwork now where they used anavar chronically because their trainers told them it was safe and they all have huge buildups of plaque...it plummets hdl like no tommorow...so please stay away from all orals and especially anavar. I have seen 6 or so small time competitors over the last few years with CCS's of 350 plus and every single one of them did long durations of var. 2) do not plummet your estradiol. The reason women have less heart attacks than men pre menopause is because estradiol is cardio protective..so doing AI's in large amounts and such are detrimental if you drive estradiol too low. If you absolutely have to have an AI, use liquid version and microdose it if even using it at all....use the lowest dose you can. If i was you, in a generaly sense i would use predominantly a higher protein, fibrous veggies (mashed cauliflower etc etc) good fats diet with cashews and almonds being the good fats (and avocado etc) and lower carbs if you can. Post workout you can eat high protein high carbs and minimal fats because your body is like a sponge there but the rest of the day.....try to eat like the above.

I truly believe this...if you do 1-6 below i believe in 12 months youll be down pretty far plaque wise....at two years of doing all the below steadily and not missing any doses i believe you will be down pretty dramatically and years if you keep doing it i think youll get down to a very acceptable number but this will involve you being steadfast and not missing doses of supps and such. Ive done it with others and it will happen for you if you stay the course.


Im going to show you what i think you should do and then simple links (i am not going to list all) to the reasons we are doing it ok?

Below in these links CIMT is plaque for your reference ok

1) Nattokinase i suggest (right now anyway) doctors best version and 4000fus morning and night ok so 8000fus a day (thats 2 capsules morning and 2 more at night). Better yet i like 6000 and 6000 FUS morn and night Why? 36.6% reduction in plaque size!!!! Thats massive https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28763875/ This will regress plaque greatly over time.


2) Citrus Bergamot i suggest jarrow version because its real... huge reduction of plaque over 6 months..massive! https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4702027/ you need at the minimum 1000mg morn and 1000mg night so thats 2 capsules morn and 2 capsules night


3) Berberine we need 1000mg morn and 1000mg night of this 2 caps morn and 2 caps night. I was going to list studies for this but there are so many Chris ill just list a link that you can look thru them https://www.google.com/search?q=ber...CCLACAfEFW8dmDSsVoo4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8


4) High EPA fish oil - Fish oil at over 4 grams of epa has been shown to reduce plaque...not as well as 1,2 and 3 up above but enough that i think it should be included. I use this version because i know its legit because i know one of the owners https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QHP2ZNQ?ref=nb_sb_ss_w_as-reorder_k0_1_8&amp=&crid=3SOJ0TNEQ991R&sprefix=fish+oil&th=1 I personally cannot take that many fish oils because i just cannot deal with it in large amounts due to it gives me the hiccups and such but i take 4 of these pre bed...and have no problem. One side note on these Chris you will see within a week is you will wake up a little fuller and rounder muscularly than usual. It really knocks down inflammation and youll also see that in your physique.


https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1161/circ.132.suppl_3.12007

5) Organic pomegranate juice (30% reduction after one year of IMT (plaque) huge! https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15158307/ Chris put about 6 ounces of organic pomegranate juice (NOT FROM CONCENTRATE)...in your intra workout drink ok https://www.researchgate.net/public...diabetic_patients_on_serum_and_on_macrophages


6) Aged garlic but this is more for soft plaque and i dont consider this absolutely necessary at this time Chris but only if you want to add it https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26764322/ https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160121122158.htm#google_vignette If i was you i would add it but i am going to leave it up to you.


Other options available but i dont think we need to do at this time Chris


https://www.researchgate.net/public...rogression_of_carotid_atherosclerotic_plaques


https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24452082/


https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2020.00512/full


1, 2, and 3 are the most important, 4, 5, and 6 are ranked just below them...but if you want the best bang for your buck...doing 1 thru 6 WILL reduce your plaque and you absolutely will not have to go on a statin because 1 and 2 will pretty much do everything a statin does without the side effects.

any questions on any of this Crhis let me know im here for you ( I think i covered the gamut but i might have forgot a thing or two if it comes to me ill send it over )


Dante

Could this also be used for overall heart health? Or As a preventative measure?
I’m assuming it can’t hurt. ?

 

[DOGGCRAPP]

Could this also be used for overall heart health? Or As a preventative measure?
I’m assuming it can’t hurt. ?

Ive been doing 1-5 year round for 5-20 years depending on the ingredient but hey thats me.. CCS in 2014 = zero CCS in 2025 = zero

 

[Splitzz]

Scheduled for the 31st, atleast I’ll know where I stand

 

[Rainmanisback]

I’m not going to lie—like a lot of people here, I’ve done some stupid things with PEDs. I also have a genetic predisposition to very high LDL; mine was over 300 for years. The men in my family tend to die from diabetes-related issues, not heart attacks, but I still knew I was taking a risk.


Three years ago, for my 47th birthday, I decided to give myself something that actually mattered: a calcium score test and an artery MRI. I was genuinely worried about what the results would show, even after years of training, a fairly decent diet, no alcohol, and no recreational drugs.


I got lucky. My calcium score came back at zero, and the MRI showed no visible plaque.


I turn 50 in May, and I’m making that same gift to myself again.

 

[xheavyx]

I’m not going to lie—like a lot of people here, I’ve done some stupid things with PEDs. I also have a genetic predisposition to very high LDL; mine was over 300 for years. The men in my family tend to die from diabetes-related issues, not heart attacks, but I still knew I was taking a risk.


Three years ago, for my 47th birthday, I decided to give myself something that actually mattered: a calcium score test and an artery MRI. I was genuinely worried about what the results would show, even after years of training, a fairly decent diet, no alcohol, and no recreational drugs.


I got lucky. My calcium score came back at zero, and the MRI showed no visible plaque.


I turn 50 in May, and I’m making that same gift to myself again.

That's amazing! How'd you do it?

 

[Rainmanisback]

That's amazing! How'd you do it?

I guess a lot is genetics, but if I have to point one specific I believe helped me all these years, is that I have been obsessed with keeping my systemic inflammation markers down and I have done it successfully with high quality omega 3 supps (like the expensive shite) and high quality K2/MK4 among other things.

 

[Splitzz]

Got my results today. Came back at Zero, my apob was at 98 in January which lead me to get tested.