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CT Heart Scans and Coronary Calcium Scores: A 3-Part Workshop

March 9, 2020 By Dr. William Davis

I shall be posting the first session of my 3-part Workshop on CT Heart Scans and Coronary Calcium Scores this Wednesday, March 11th, 2020 during our Undoctored Virtual Meetup at 8 pm EDT/7 pm CDT/6 pm MDT/5 pm PDT. This will be the first of a 3-part series that covers all the issues, concerns, questions that people have about this very important way to assess heart disease risk, better than any measure of cholesterol or other method.

The first session will also be hosted here for non-Members of the Undoctored Inner Circle, as well. The entire 3-part Workshop will therefore be posted only in the Inner Circle, however. I invite you to join our Undoctored Inner Circle for full access to our discussions and deeper content.

In this 3-part series, I shall discuss issues such as:

  • How does a CT heart scan work?
  • What is a coronary calcium score?
  • Why measure calcium–is it a reliable way to gauge risk?
  • How much radiation is involved?
  • Once you have a coronary calcium score, what happens to it? Can it be stopped or reversed?
  • Do statin drugs have any effect?
  • What is the effect of diet?
  • When should you repeat a score?

Anyone attending through the Undoctored Virtual Meetup who does wish to be videoed during the recording sessions, please disable your video and audio (left lower hand corner of the active portion of your screen). Just be sure to turn your audio back on after the presentation if you wish to post a question or comment.

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Filed Under: DIY Healthcare, Health Information, Latest News Tagged With: atherosclerosis, CAC, coronary, coronary calcium score, ct heart scan, diy health, diy healthcare, diyhealth, diyhealthcare, dr william davis, heart attack risk, heart scan, plaque, undoctored

About Dr. William Davis

William Davis, MD, FACC is cardiologist and author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Wheat Belly series of books. He is also author of the new Undoctored: Why Health Care Has Failed You and How You Can Become Smarter Than Your Doctor.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Charles Gudim

    March 11, 2020

    Dr. Davis………I’ve read both of your books (Wheat Belly & Undoctored). I’m interested because I was one of the many people who found out about the CT Scan and had one. I’ve never been obese or had any major problems. I thought I was pretty healthy considering I was a 72 yr. old male who exercised all my life. When I got the results of my CT Scan, I thought there had to be a mistake. My score was 2936. So I searched on the internet to find out what to do. The Medical Establishment wanted me to double my statins and blood pressure meds. The first Cardiologist I spoke to wanted me to go in for an angiogram. He said if they found less than 3 blockages they would do stents. Otherwise, they would have to do a Bypass. I felt fine and thought they must be out of their minds. So, between you and Dr. Ford Brewer, I did all the things, you two suggested. I followed your diet and dropped 20 lbs and I started taking Niacin like Dr. Brewer recommended, which brought my HDL up to 62. At 74, I had another CT Scan and my score was 2684, so I at least know I’m headed in the right direction. My main problem now is that I can’t find anybody with a score as high as mine to compare with. I went to the Mayo Clinic for tests and they said my plaque was probably stabilized. I’m not exactly sure what that means, but I worry most about inflamation. I wish I could find out where to get information on people like me with super high calcium scores and how long do they live.
    Thank you very much for the information you’ve shared with so many people like me.

    • Bob Niland

      March 11, 2020

      Charles Gudim wrote: «When I got the results of my CT Scan, I thought there had to be a mistake. My score was 2936.»

      That is high, and would be concerning, unless arrested (or, of course, reversed).

      re: «The Medical Establishment wanted me to double my statins and blood pressure meds.»

      Still on any of that?

      re: «…and I started taking Niacin like Dr. Brewer recommended…»

      The Undoctored program, back when it was TrackYourPlaque, used to suggest Niacin, but it’s been dropped. Apparently, although it does shove some markers around, it doesn’t shove outcomes with them, and it’s really annoying to take at typical dissident doctor doses. If you were taking it for Lp(a) in particular, the strategy adjustment for that is different now.

      re: «My main problem now is that I can’t find anybody with a score as high as mine to compare with.»

      The membership at the Undoctored Inner Circle appears to include a number of people, some dating to the TYP days, with high scores.

      re: «I went to the Mayo Clinic for tests and they said my plaque was probably stabilized.»

      Well, you’ve done what they think is impossible (reduce the score), so they had to think up something to say that didn’t confess ignorance.

      re: «…but I worry most about inflamation.»

      Is that due to elevated markers such as hsCRP, IL-6, -8, -10, -18, leptin, Lp-Pla2, MPO, and TNF-α? And do you know your ApoE status?

      re: «…people like me with super high calcium scores and how long do they live.»

      My understanding is that extra risk basically collapses with score growth of less than 10% per year, with extra credit for arrest, and reversal is outstanding.
      ________
      Blog Associate (click for details)

    • Roland Osborne

      March 12, 2020

      Well Greetings !
      I was over 1000 about 7 years ago. Up from 960 odd two years before that.
      I’m still alive at 79 yrs (in 3 weeks) and don’t worry about anything really. I gave up all meds about 7 yrs ago and statins as well about 2 years later. Currently I’m doing keto but break it every Sunday. Intermittrent fasting as well with a 6 hour eating window. This also gets interrupted Sundays with a Church lunch.
      I was with “Track Your Plaque” early on and went as “New From Down Under”.
      Might do another Score just for fun.
      Roland – New Zealand

      • Bob Niland

        March 13, 2020

        Roland Osborne wrote: «I’m still alive at 79 yrs (in 3 weeks) and don’t worry about anything really.»

        Super. Remain calm and do what you can to avoid COVID-19. Keep well away from US movie stars.

        re: «Currently I’m doing keto but break it every Sunday.»

        What are you doing for gut flora cultivation, which, by the way, is a topic that came into the program after 2013 (by which time, TYP had become Cureality, and is now Undoctored).

        re: «I was with “Track Your Plaque” early on and went as “New From Down Under”.»

        If that was the user name on the original TYP site, based on forum search-by-user, it doesn’t appear to have been replicated when the site migrated to the later Cliq2 engine. If you decide to re-join, use the Contact Us link on the UIC front page. HeartHawk is still the member advocate, and might be able to re-activate your old account (or you can just start a new one).
        ________
        Blog Associate (click for details)

      • Clara

        March 14, 2020

        Thank you for your information. It has relief some of my doubts. I am looking for solutions to my extremely high calcium score. I am a 73 female that feels good, exercise 5 days a week and try to do the Undoctored way of life. My mayor obstacle is the “web” . I am working on that as well. Again, that you for sharing and continue with your beautiful life.

        • Bob Niland

          March 14, 2020

          Clara wrote: «I am looking for solutions to my extremely high calcium score.»

          Well, step 1 is to stop increasing it, and it sounds like you are taking steps on that.

          re: «My mayor obstacle is the “web”.»

          Not just — consensus diets cause heart disease, doctors get basically zero nutritional training, but are taught that CAC scores can’t be controlled (so why would you want to know), and that anyone with a pulse is clearly statin-deficient.
          ________
          Blog Associate (click for details)

  2. Jerry WHITE

    March 11, 2020

    I could not get on. I kept getting asked for a meeting password.

  3. Joe Mikus

    March 11, 2020

    how do i watch? i just signed up for $14 a month and cannot see a video today Wed 3/11/2020

    • Bob Niland

      March 11, 2020

      Joe Mikus wrote: «how do i watch? i just signed up for $14 a month and cannot see a video today»

      For a full member of the Undoctored Inner Circle site, the way it’s supposed to work is:
      1. be logged into your UIC account
      2. click on the meetup link when it appears
      3. download and install any Zoom app needed (linked)
      4. it should auto-connect to the meet, no further password needed.

      If that’s what you did, and you still had problems, contact the UIC Member Advocate. When logged in, send a Private Message (PM). In any event, as a member, the recording that was made should be available at some point after the 3rd one airs.

      I have no role in membership matters, and have no idea what the plan was for how the special non-member first session access mentioned above was supposed to work (“The first session will also be hosted here for non-Members of the Undoctored Inner Circle, as well.”), so I’m afraid I can’t be of much help with that access.
      ________
      Blog Associate (click for details)

  4. karen

    March 11, 2020

    there was no way for non-members to sign on for this first ‘free’ session.

  5. Roni

    March 13, 2020

    How can non-members access Part 1 of this workshop? It says it was to be posted and free for non-members, right? Where is it posted?

    • Bob Niland

      March 13, 2020

      Roni wrote: «How can non-members access Part 1 of this workshop? It says it was to be posted and free for non-members, right? Where is it posted?»

      It’s not yet available anywhere. I’m guessing that once parts 2 & 3 are recorded, that all of it will be available to Inner Circle members, but that’s at least 13 days away.

      As I mentioned in an earlier comment here, I have no idea what the as-aired access plan was for non-members, nor what the plan might be for making any recording available.

      While we await further information, here are the CAC scan blog posts available to all:
      Why you should have a CT heart scan
      What is better than a CT heart scan?
      Scanned . . . or scammed?
      Do statin drugs slow or stop the increase in heart scan scores?
      How to Reduce Your Heart Scan Score
      ________
      Blog Associate (click for details)

    • Bob Niland

      March 17, 2020

      The video for Part 1 of the CAC series is now linked from this blog article:
      3-Part CT Heart Scans and Coronary Calcium Scores Workshop: Part I
      ________
      Blog Associate (click for details)

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