Dr. Robert Lieberman Discusses CT Calcium Scoring

[@rleproductions2834]

Please inform patients that it’s not high cholesterol that causes the plaque to stick to your arteries, it’s the ingestion of sugar and extreme inflammation that’s caused in the inner walls of your arteries which makes the Plaque stick. Your body regulates your cholesterol and increases your cholesterol (Protein) to repair damage in your body. That’s what it’s supposed to do. From personal experience, lower your sugar intake and you lower your cholesterol and the damage associated.

[@jettagliturbo]

Thank you Dr, go Vegan

[@bitcoinpirate3905]

Said the dumb ass who got a heart attack and cant get it up anymore to to save life.

[@paulbirkbeck1790]

Does sugar cause the inflammation?

[@jameslester6785]

@@paulbirkbeck1790 Absolutely!

[@Stephenzaffarano]

You are correct that cholesterol by itself isn't to blame...it is a combination of inflammation in the epithelial cell layer (or in any tissue) that creates an ideal environment for certain kinds of cholesterol to penetrate that layer of cells and stick to the walls. A new protective layer of cells will form over it and eventually the "soft plaque" will calcify. That's when it's visible on the CT Scan. Inflammation is responsible for nearly all of our bodies ailments but is necessary for the body to repair itself (increased blood flow to an area to repair damage...bruising, etc...that is inflammation!). There is much more at work here than simply cutting out sugar!

[@anthonyshaw8698]

Excellent video!! The best i've seen on youtube, concerning the coronary artery calcium score. Clear & concise 👍🤗👍

[@keithcarron7911]

Mine was 1270 3 years ago. They're all about low scores, but high scores seem to not matter to doctors. I had a stress test and was fine. In my opinion this test added unneccessary stress to my life.

[@Pat7629]

100% agree. Same here and I am healthy beyond belief.

[@Norm475]

I had a calcium score of 1,000 two years ago when I was 78. They wanted me to come back for more CT scans and talk to a Cardiologist and have more tests done. I refused, so we will see. My buddy had a score of around 2,000 he had the full workup with a Cardiologist and the Cardiologist basically said don't worry about it. My brother who is sixty just had one done and he had a score of 1,200, he also had the full workup and the Cardiologist said he was also fine and should not have any problems for another 20 years. Most insurance companies do not pay for this score, so hospitals will offer testing for $50.00, that is definitely a loss leader to get more patients in for treatment. I question how valid the calcium score is in predicting a future heart attack.

[@JT_70]

Had my first calcium score (Over 400) 5 years ago and follow-up CT scan showed 30% calcified blockage in the LAD artery. Two years ago it was 542 and this year it was 609. Cholesterol is low but I have been on statins for almost 40 years and am now on Crestor and Zetia (added this year). Neither my internist nor my cardiologist are concerned as Cardiac Stress Test results were normal several years ago. Am not overweight, exercise at gym every other day and walk around 3 miles/day. Age 70. But, I am concerned as I get short winded really easily and perspire heavily from any exertion. Cardiac disease runs on paternal side. I see my internist next month for 6-month check-up.

[@marvinfalikovic4177]

I have added vitamin K-2 supplement daily 240 mcg.

[@JT_70]

@@marvinfalikovic4177 Update: Internist told me this week that he has seen a number of false negatives from the cardiac stress test such that he no longer has confidence in it. One of his patients passed the stress test but had a calcium score of 1,200 so he ordered a heart cath. They found significant blockage and the patient had to have 5 bypasses! Five of his patients have had similar experiences. He referred me to my cardiologist for a heart cath and a carotid artery ultrasound.

[@PianoUniverse]

How did you make out with the cath?@@JT_70

[@Deanriley]

Eleven years ago when I requested a CT scan, the doctors hardly knew anything about it and only one radiology department in my suburban Philadelphia are offered it. What a change when this year at my physical my doc had me get my second; both were zero thanks to years of a very low carb diet.

[@bigswolletx]

Vitamin K2 mk-7.... I have been taking it for years my cholesterol levels combined or between 128 to 130

[@teresagerlach4185]

The beef isn't the problem. It's the bun/fries/soda

[@Buckshot1776]

sugar/ processed carbs.

[@paulira7407]

Of course beef is part of the problem in addition to the bun, fries & soda. Not because of the saturated fat & cholesterol content of red meat, but primarily due to the metabolic by products of red meat by the gastrointestinal microbiota and the protein composition of red meat. Protein is an essential macronutrient and is satiating, but after a certain amount, it can be rather atherosclerotic.

[@lesliepage1155]

Thank you for this informative video! I had my CT Calcium scan last week, and I'm following up with a cardiologist next week. This was the best explanation I've seen yet on this test and the results (My score was over 1000 and found significant plaque).

[@bigswolletx]

Wow, 1000 I hope you get help quickly

[@mojahidakbar6483]

সিটিসকিন

[@Hanover-ek4jy]

Please get a CIMT TEST to see if you have any soft plaque which is the unstable and most dangerous plaque!

[@rockymaivia787]

@@Hanover-ek4jy what’s that test?

[@Hanover-ek4jy]

@@rockymaivia787 it shows the soft plaque in both of the carotid arteries. It’s painless. Carotid intima media thickness test.

[@bobdec6665]

I do everything right except i am 58. I would never get this test. What good can come from it. I exercise everyday, I dont drink, I never smoked and I am not overweight. Why would I possibly put worry into my brain.

[@Pat7629]

I scored a 255 at age 46, which is in the 98th percentile for my age. I have exercised (1 hour of cardo + weights) 6-7 days/week for over 30 years religiously. I eat an extremely healthy diet, am extremely fit, never been overwieght. Blood pressure and cholesterol are both normal and I check them regularly. I had my lipoprotein a tested recently and it was only 14 which is optimal. There is literally no explanation whatsoever for the high score. My parents are both alive and well and in their mid-70s. My grandfathers lived until their mid-80s with no heart issues. I was shocked when I got the score. There is nothing in my lifestyle to modify so I don't even know what to do.

[@Geezerelli]

255? Mine is over 4000 so be happy 😂

[@buckshot4428]

Could too much vit D3 cause calcium to build up in the arteries?

[@aghafasih]

I had a score of 0 6-8 months ago but had an attack 1 month ago and I have been diagnosed with CAD. Don't understand why that happened with zero score.

[@tserevenad]

Have you had a CIMT performed? It will show soft plaque which is believed to be more dangerous than calcified plaque.

[@claudiacanales2662]

Wow seriously! How concerning!

[@JohnMcGovern-s5c]

This was not a good video, especially for those with a higher score...rather alarmist with no encouraging comments as far as ways to help the situation...

[@moshedayan2810]

Score should be correlated with age... Zero score is meaningful only in old persons

[@Paladino774]

Does a high Calcium in the Bloodstream result 10.9, correlate to having a high Cardiac Calcium Score?

[@cherylcampbell7495]

My chiropractor took X-rays. Could see high cholesterol/calcium. Advised me to start taking K2 vitamin. Has really helped. Not sure I want to go forward. I have a cough and not asthma.

[@mikeberger1688]

I have chronic insomnia and took calcium supplements for years before bed. No more as it doesn't relax me anymore. But concerned about any higher risk that may have been created ?

[@PianoUniverse]

I would guess nothing, but go get a CAC score. Cost is in the $75-$150 range. Peace of mind.

[@Cork_UO]

I had a chest CT angiogram. Would they be able to come up with a calcium score from that CT? Or would I need to get another CT?

[@geraldbrienza4474]

I had both so I would guess there’re separate.

[@keylimepie8426]

I've had both

[@keylimepie8426]

@@sheddkkhan6758 my chest ct Angiogram was as clean as a baby's (that's how the doctor explained it) my heart scan was 0.

[@keylimepie8426]

@@sheddkkhan6758 you have to do 2 separate test.

[@keylimepie8426]

@@sheddkkhan6758 is that cholesterol?

[@katieb1932]

Nothing said about gender or age. BOTH are major factors relating to your score. Risk is measured against others with similar age and gender. You simple can’t lump everyone into the same parameter

[@Ted...youtubee]

So I spoke to my GP over doing a CAC. NOT necessary he said. I have done both, 24 hour heart monitor, and later treadmill stress test with ultrasound before and after. Results=normal. So why not CAC? He said CAC is useful IF a patient cannot do any stress test eg, bad knees, hips. Also CAC only shows when calcium has hardened. Prior to that hardening it will be softer(my interpretation of how he described it in his drawings) , and CAC won't pick it up. So I guess, if you can, do the stress treadmill test with ultrasound.

[@tsshea1]

find a new gp

[@chaz6399]

Look for a video titled "Coronary Artery Calcium: Finally Endorsed in Major Guidelines (Michael Blaha, MD) October 1, 2020" After watching it myself I'd say your doctor is misinformed, or at the very least his information is outdated. Also, I don't have a citation for you but I've seen multiple reports that a stress test won't give a positive result until one of your coronary arteries is 70% (or more) occluded. I'm not sure if this statistic includes stress test _with ultrasound_, so maybe having the U/S involved gives an earlier indication. Even so, I'd be willing to bet CAC gives an earlier indication of ASCVD than stress test. A 45 year old man with a CAC score of 100 is already well on his way with ASCVD but can probably pass a stress test with flying colors.

[@sheddkkhan6758]

@@chaz6399 how much ldl you had

[@tserevenad]

Your GP is incorrect. you can push him harder or get another doc.

[@gulag8735]

I had all that from my "gp" Score back today but all he text me was "normal".........can't wait for the number.

[@YouTuber-ep5xx]

I had this done. I was given 2 scores - a CAC score and an Agatston score. What is the distinction between these scores?

[@geraldbrienza4474]

I believe they are the same. We’re those scores different?

[@marvinfalikovic4177]

Can you lower a calcium score or it only gets higher on future tests? Can you dissolve the existing calcium on the artery walls with medication? How accurate is CT calcium scoring diagnostic testing?

[@palimpsestransparent]

From what I know: 1. If you're not making any specific changes to your lifestyle, CS increases by a steady 25% each year. However, by targeting nutrition and stress you can stop it and even reverse it. 2. Never heard of medication that dissolves the calcium walls. I doubt it exists, given that stenting is still the unblocking procedure that is used. 3. It's totally accurate for the hardened plaque, thus the name calcium, but it gives no info on soft plaque. If you need a really thorough and precise test that gives you ALL the possible info, you can get an angiogram. However, it's a highly invasive procedure that carries its own risks.

[@victoroneill7924]

The only thing bad for you in a Whataburger is the bun made from white flour. If you get a Whataburger meal the sugary drink and white potato fries are much worse for you than the bun.

[@mcgragor1]

I have a bicuspid aortic valve that is heavily calcified, if I got this test done, would it be able to differentiate? I don't want a false high reading if its only reading the calcium on the valve. I'm concerned with calcium in other areas. Thanks

[@bitcoinpirate3905]

Sounds like ur fucked!!!!!!

[@randyrogers8568]

In merely two years I went from trace calcium to moderate calcium. How is this possible?

[@rogerg4916]

What is not mentioned is that a physician's order is not required for this test. Any adult can request and get the test. It will be interpreted by a cardiologist and if there is any positive finding the patient will be advised to consult a physician. Interestingly, although the test is much more specific for coronary disease than a cholesterol test it is not paid for by Medicare.???

[@tserevenad]

A doctor's order is required and the test/report is provided by the Radiologist. Your ordering doctor will review it and it that is a GP he may refer you to a cardiologist depending on your results and other cardio markers. I have had the test done multiple times and a doctor order was required. Additionally, generally insurance won't pay, but definitely worth the money.

[@tserevenad]

@@Rob__James I think I paid $130. No fear of radiation, dose is low and you don’t get this imaging done very frequently.

[@crazysox305]

statins and other lipid lowering drugs can actually increase calcification...i suppose its a matter of balancing the two.

[@mercercraft7224]

The statins cause the soft plaque (BAD) to harden so the lesions won't burst and cause a heart attach.

[@crazysox305]

that's interesting, thank you!@@mercercraft7224

[@jamesstevenson6086]

That’s cheap $75. Here in Northern Ireland it costs £417 which is $573.72 cents.

[@gulag8735]

I paid 200 euro today in the bons cork, for the scan and 60 euro to the gp for a referral letter. 260 paid in total

[@chuckruckus3648]

But but you have FREE FREE healthcare. And yet tell me it’s substandard or still tow the line it’s great? Not ripping but scared dumb liberal Americans are fighting for terrible healthcare to model yours

[@victoroneill7924]

LDL only attaches to inflamed arteries caused mostly by stress and a diet high in sugar and carbs that quickly convert to sugar. LDL is an anti-inflammatory just doing it's job.

[@BM-ms3gr]

Excellent clip, thanks for sharing ✌🏻

[@carlestridge423]

Can you get this scan.if u had a pfo

[@dailypolluk4803]

Vitamin K2?

[@mrbob4u495]

K2 directs calcium to the bones, not the arteries. That is it prevents or lessens calcium build-up. I take it with D3, L-Arginine and about 12 other supplements along with generic Crestor. My score was in the 500's. I am 70, so my cardiologist says that is not too bad for one my age. He is not worried...yet. I lift and ride a stationary bike about 4-5 times a week. Nothing beats a good sweat.

[@victoroneill7924]

@@mrbob4u495 Find a better cardiologist. My calcium score 10 years ago (I was 69) was 184. Your score of 500 is way to high for any age! Do some research on how to remove calcium from your arteries. MK-7 (Menaquinone ) is the Vitamin K you should be taking. Statins do nothing to remove or prevent calcium in your arteries, cause liver damage and make you more likely to have diabetes.

[@humblecourageous3919]

@@victoroneill7924 Statins increased my CAC score from 107 to 193 in two years. I stopped the statins and took K2 with D3. In two years my CAC score went to 164. At least it is in the right direction and I have no body pain and no problem doing any housework or yard work (age 73). I may be a one off. I'd like to hear that others lowered their CAC scores with K2. My cholesterol was 117 when the CAC score was increasing and 249 when it was decreasing. Nevertheless, I take 1 tablespoon of sunflower lecithin a day because it lowered my cholesterol 30 points and it keeps my doctor from urging me to take statins. Radiologist noted the improvement on the score papers.

[@pinaylife4242]

so no need to inject dye?

[@richardshupe5992]

I had it done yesterday. A couple probes taped on your chest, go in the machine feet first up to your chest, breathe, hold your breath,... No needles.

[@Hanover-ek4jy]

Calcium score is a great test BUT it does NOT show the most dangerous which is soft plaque! Get a CIMT test to detect soft plaque!

[@bartrobinson2103]

You must also be a fan of doctor Ford Brewer!!

[@Hanover-ek4jy]

@@bartrobinson2103 absolutely!

[@Stephenzaffarano]

Soft plaque becomes calcified plaque over time. Heart scores are performed typically every 5 years: about the time it takes for a positive calcium score to increase significantly as the plaque is most likely already there...but it hasn't all calcified yet. Heart Score is the 1st test, cheapest, and very easy to do!

[@mjs28s]

his language that he is using is problematic. In the introduction he said that CAC helps to find heart disease early in the game. No, your body can start to push calcium into plaques long after you are filled with soft plaques, or it might be earlier in the game. There are a number of contributing issues. You could be filled with artery disease and soft plaques that can rupture and kill you yet you have an artery score of zero. Calcium is also very hard to impossible to lower once it is in place, so you could have had a moderate amount of calcium in your arteries, then changed you diet and life style and reversed your soft plaques so you are better off but the calcium is almost always fixed. You go in and get your calcium score done and are told 400. Well, that 400 might mean nothing as you stopped progressing artery disease years before and you might actually have more open arteries that years before. Example: @2:08 - that person supposedly has a "moderate amount of plaque". Maybe. Maybe not. Less you have a history of scans for that person you cannot know that. And, again, calcium artery scores only show calcified plaques and not the much more dangerous soft plaques that can kill you when they rupture. heart attacks are almost always caused by ruptured plaques that are NOT where your arteries are calcified. That person that is at an "increased risk" might not be. Again, less you are looking at a series of images over the years you have no idea. For all you know, that person, after that calcium was deposited, had changed their diet and lifestyle and stopped any progression of hardened plaques and even reversed the more dangerous soft plaques. No way to know that from that one image. Ca artery score CAN be an indicator, it isn't telling you the full story by a long shot. Clearly he knows better but him dumbing it down for what he thinks people need to have it told to them to be understood is actually giving bad information.

[@lalitbisht2050]

Can any one tell me whether CT coronary Angiography and CT Coronary calcium test is same?

[@livinglou7140]

A CT coronary calcium test utilizes the fact that calcium deposition within the arteries will appear bright white. Calcium will deposit within damaged arteries (from years of smoking, bad dieting, diabetes, etc) indicating that there is plaque or will be plaque build up in those areas. It does NOT detect the plaque itself. It just shows that there is calcium there, which kind of acts as a "flag" to promote plaque development. This is a quick and easy assessment and a general SCREENING tool to assess for atherosclerosis. A CT coronary angiogram uses an injectable dye that will show a very clear picture of your arteries and any areas that might be narrowed by the presence of plaque. This is more of a DIAGNOSTIC test that might follow a significant CT calcium test. It is more invasive, more expensive, and takes more time, but many people may never have had an angiogram if they didn't get the CT calcium test to begin with and detect heart disease earlier enough, before a massive MI. Hope this helps!

[@sagarsaraf821]

In india once you ask for CT angio, by default calcium scoring is done within same procedure.

[@philthayer4087]

My score was 0 2 years ago. Just had mild HA got 2 stents. So test is either worthless or was poorly done.

[@moshedayan2810]

It's meaningful only on old persons...

[@sarahmccoy1941]

How much radiation is a patient exposed to during a CT calcium scoring procedure?

[@jameslester6785]

Very low dose.

[@Stephenzaffarano]

About the level of a routine chest x-ray, with most modern CT scanners. Today's scanners use AEC or Automatic Exposure Control, to determine the precise amount of radiation needed to adequately penetrate a body part and produce diagnostic images. Even though solar radiation is on a different level, spending an hour in the Sun will tan your skin! This should never happen with medical imaging!! It has, however, happened in the past on older CT equipment, where a patient experienced hair loss and an erythema dose (reddening of the skin) after a CT Perfusion study of the brain. This is a scan that is performed while IV Contrast is being administered at the same time; anticipating a range of IV uptake in to and out of the brain, to evaluate blood flow for strokes, etc. The scan table moved back and forth for over a minute while scanning one block. The overall standard for any medical imaging using ionizing radiation is ALARA: As Low As Reasonably Achievable. This is why imaging technologists require schooling of at least 2 years in a regulated program to learn and apply principles of radiation safety while achieving best imaging results.

[@davidboyd374]

my score was 2786. true. shown the results to both doctors that I go to. both had NO CONSTRUCTIVE ADVICE TO GIVE ME. The test was about 4 years ago. and I have no idea what to do about this situation. also had a quadruple bypass 12 years ago I'm now 78

[@JustMe-999a]

What are they going to do when you're 78?

[@bruceferry3825]

It should be a required routine scan starting at about 50 years old and yet, I was told that I would have to be on statins to get the scan.

[@jameslester6785]

That sounds like an insurance issue. I just got a scan and I'm not on statins...yet. :( The scans are relatively inexpensive so just pay out of pocket if you can.

[@edjohn4590]

Had mine yesterday here in nz… $730!!

[@leonardschofield9913]

$95

[@chuckruckus3648]

USA 20$ co pay that my wife’s secondary insurance covered. But we don’t have AWESOME GREATEST UNIVERSAL healthcare in America so what do we know?

[@thaidomain]

Having a catheterization solely based on a calcium score ? Is this the present standard ?

[@ARAImaging]

No, that is only one of the routes a doctor and patient might choose and the patient would have more detailed scans to see if this was necessary and to plan the procedure if it was.

[@santiagosteven6105]

@@ARAImaging What other scans are you able to do to check for how much plaque you have in your vessels ? Can you check the whole body?

[@chaz6399]

​@@santiagosteven6105 I'm not an expert, but one possibility is a CT Angiogram (CTA). It's more expensive than CAC, exposes you to more radiation, and I think it requires an IV contrast agent, but gives the doc more information than the CAC. They way I understand it, the CAC sees the calcified plaque but tells you nothing about the blood flow. The CTA gives a pretty good idea of the blood flow because the lumen of the arteries are lit up by the contrast agent. This means it also sees the combined net effect of hard and soft plaque on the blood flow. Catheterization is probably the gold standard, but it's also very expensive and invasive. I suspect it's reserved for patients with unique history, cardiac symptoms, or with extensive calcification, i.e. someone with a reasonable likelihood of needing a stent.

[@santiagosteven6105]

@@chaz6399 Thats interesting to know. Are you a doctor? Have you got one done? I have thinking of getting something check like test and doing another to see if results have changed.

[@chaz6399]

​@@santiagosteven6105 I'm not a doctor or even a health professional. My "qualifications" are that I have a science background and I've consumed a lot of content about the CAC scan and other imaging methodologies related to ASCVD. I did have a CAC scan one year ago and I'm going for my second one next week. Last one was 132. Hoping for 150 or less on the upcoming one. We'll see. I actually had to research CT Angiogram because when I asked my doctor for the CAC order, he wrote me an order for a "CTA". That didn't look right to me, so I researched it and found out the CTA was a different test. I then called his office back and got it squared away. I suspect he didn't even know of the CAC test until I came in asking for it. Surely every cardiologist and radiologist knows about the CAC scan by now, but I think many PCP's still haven't even heard of it. Of those that have heard of it very few are ordering it. From what I can gather it's mostly informed / educated patients asking for it that's moving it forward. ICYI: I'm in Florida and it seems like to get a CAC scan here you need a doctors order. I called several imaging centers and every one of them required a doctors order. Apparently in some states you can order it yourself. The scan last year cost me $100 and when i called to make appt for the next one they said it's still $100.

[@sbkpilot1]

I have never heard of any procedure for $75.. the concern is that they will tell you $75 then send a bill later for $3000

[@livinglou7140]

actually this is generally paid only out of pocket, so the upfront cost is what it actually is. There's no submissions to insurance and no further payments.

[@Stephenzaffarano]

It's $49 here in Indiana. No hidden costs. Patient receives their score same-day and a courtesy-read from the radiologist. They receive a report for any incidental findings plus their score. You can have it every 5 years without a Dr.'s order. Self-pay only but some flex spending accounts will cover the cost.

[@victoroneill7924]

I paid $100 for one 10 years ago because I wanted to start running and my score was184. I had a nuclear stress test right after the scan and got a good result. I started running (not jogging) for 30 minutes every day keeping my heart rate between my training rate and my maximum (ok per my Cardiologist). I recently had another nuclear stress test and the test result numbers were exactly the same as the first test. I need to get another test to see if my calcium score has improved.

[@TheWiahead]

$50 in Oklahoma

[@Ann-fn4vc]

$50 in TN

[@cametientaucoeur]

73 year old paid $99. Neither Medicare nor BC BS Federal paid for it. Very high level family history, High Cholesterol, Overweight, HTN…Recent widow. My Left widow maker 0. My right 1 Jeanne ( retired RN)

[@nebojsa1976]

Wow, she loves him sooooooo much. You can see it. She wants him 100%. Maybe they have kids by now.

[@jamesparks3968]

Don't vilify whataburger.

[@chipsnotchunks2620]

🍔🍔🍔🍔

[@JohnMcGovern-s5c]

Really bad video...lots of bad news and no help for those with higher scores...hope your presentation skills improve...

[@patrickfowler3703]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@bobdec6665]

We are so into detection of everything instead of prevention. Makes no sense

[@jettagliturbo]

Yikes, I feel bad for him, having to deal with this dullard..

[@richardparis8738]

I want niacin

[@Baba12xr56]

$75 for a CTA!!!!

[@brucehutchinson9527]

$75

[@annechico8631]

Is this test helpful to someone who has already had stents, and past heart attacks?