Revisiting the Coronary Calcium Score

Recently my cardiologist asked me to retake the "Coronary Calcium Score."  It has been a full two years since my first CT Score was taken.  For those of you who are new to this test, it is basically a simple procedure that uses " Cat Scan" technology to view any calcium deposits located in the Coronary Arteries.  Plaque formation in these arteries in the chief cause of blockages requiring stints or Coronary Bypass Surgery or in many cases sudden death, as these soft, inflamed, and unstable plaque burst causing clotting in these arteries with the resultant heart attack.  Over time some of this plaque calcifies and becomes visible with the CT Scan.

My first CT Score was taken in August 2014.  I scored 900.  Anything over 400 is considered serious Coronary Artery Disease (CAD).  Although I did not have any other symptoms, I chose a new lifestyle treatment.  It was at that time that I converted to a fully vegan lifestyle for hearth reasons.

It has now been two years of not eating any meat, dairy, processed food or oil.  Research has shown that CAD can be halted and sometimes reversed on Plant based nutrition.  Now that it has been two years of eating this way, my cardiologist felt it was time to take another look.

The logic of another Scan suggests that one could have another scan taken and determine if in fact the calcification has slowed down or halted.  Well, my follow up scan showed a 256 point increase in calcification.  Needless to say, I was very discouraged.

Having visited The Cleveland Clinic and studies with Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn Jr. in the well known Wellness Institute, I decided to drop him an email and ask his advice and for his perspective on this new information related to the new CT Score.

Amazingly, and true to his style, he called my cell phone within twelve hours.  I was not available so he left a detailed message which I have transcribed.  He explained the increased Calcium score this way.

• There is nothing for you to worry about! (Since I am doing 100% Plant Based Nutrition)
• There is no diet that is more "anti-inflammatory" than plant based nutrition.
• A high number of calcified plaque also reveals a high amount of uncalcified plaque.
• It is the soft, uncalcified, unstable, inflamed plaque that causes most heart attacks.
• Plant based nutrition removes inflammation from these soft, unstable plaques and the body jumps in on the healing project by dumping calcium into these soft unstable plaques and thereby making them stable, non-inflamed and resistant to rupture.  This is how one becomes "heart attack proof," even though they have a lot of plaque build up.  
• Therefore, one who is eating a Whole foods, Plant Based, No oil diet (wfpbno) is actually converting their softer, unstable, inflamed plaque into stable, non-inflamed, calcified plaque.

A higher Coronary Calcium Score, after a couple years of eating Plant Based Nutrition, doesn't mean that your condition is worsening.  It actually means that you are stabilizing and are much safer.

Bottom line:  Continue to eat your veggies!  Oil still corrodes the coronary arteries.  Animal foods and dairy products are converted through protein synthesis to highly inflammatory compounds that cause plaque to grow.

Coronary Artery Disease is still the number one killer of men and women in America and everywhere the Standard American Diet is consumed.

Diet makes all the difference!

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Caldwell B. Esseltyne Jr. Book:  Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease.