What is a CAC Score? (Coronary Artery Calcium) Clogged Arteries? - 2024

What is a CAC Score? Very few tests give you a look at how much calcium build-up you have in your heart arteries. Your coronary artery calcium score gives you a realistic view of your heart attack risk over the next 10 years.

More doctors are ordering CAC scores for their patients and more insurance companies are paying for them. Here's the info you need about this important test. Share it with your doctor and a friend.

*** Higher score than you wanted? Do 12 months of KETO or Carnivore then repeat***

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Ken D Berry, MD, is a Family Physician and has been practicing Family Medicine in rural Tennessee for over 20 years, having seen over 25,000 patients in his career so far.
Consult your doctor. Don't use this video as medical advice.
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[easypeasy]

My LDL is 285, but I scored zero on CAC scan. I was on statins a few years ago, and they almost crippled me. Never again. Ketovore for the win!

[tmcg]

My 2 keto friends and I went and had this test done together one afternoon and then went out to eat. 1 friend has been keto for 10 years and we had been keto for 4 years. Everyone was telling us that the way we eat was going to kill us so we went for the scan.
All 3 of us had a score of 0!!!!
Our ages are 65, 51, and 38😎

[debbies]

Just a few months ago I completed a CAC test with a result of 1485. A catherization showed 90% blockage of 2 arteries and 85% in another. Had no symptoms, eat healthy, and weigh 110 lbs. Six weeks ago I had a triple bypass. I would recommend everyone get a CAC test. It saved my life!

[ritaromney]

I am almost 70 years of age. Been Keto for 7 years. My CAC score = 0. I was over the moon with my results! Particularly because my total cholesterol score is over 300. Just goes to show....

[catherinehutton]

My Dr was so worried about my high LDL, she sent me to see a Cardiologist so he could convince me to take a statin. My HDL is very high and my Trig are very low. I have been low carb/ Keto for over 4 years. I have normal A1C, perfect CRP, and excellent blood pressure. Not as easy to get a CAC test in Canada without a Cardiologist referral, but he agreed to do one. My CAC test is 0! I was so pleased. I am 61 years old, and never felt better.

[jackikeys]

Hey Dr Berry
My husband just got a CACS done. His score was 14800!! I didn’t even think they went this high. Emergency intervention required. I eat a low carb/keto lifestyle, my husband has refused to follow me. My CACS is Zero. Needless to say, he’s listening now 😮

[tomwiles]

Last year at age 64 I had a CAC scan and had no idea of what score to expect. I was surprised when my CAC score came back as zero. I'd been doing low carb only about 4 to 5 months when I had the scan. I'll do a follow up scan in the future to stay on top of it. My weight was 185 to 190 when I cut the carbs. Now over a year and a half later my weight has seemed to stabilize at about 147. I'm beyond thrilled to say the least. Losing upwards of 40 pounds at age 65 so painlessly is kind of a big deal.

[denisrusso]

My cholesterol is 380
My CAC is Zero!

[susankitchin]

I asked my new Cardiologist for a CAC test, all the while he's bleating on about statins, since I said I'd had high LDL in the past.
Lipid test showed TC 353 - LDL 247 - HDL 93 and Trig 67 - When the Doc's office called with the results, they said they wanted me on statins beginning that day. I said No Thanks, and
that I'd talk to the Doc when I saw him for a follow up next month.
The next day, I got my my CAC score, which was 7.15
According to the MESA study, which by the way doesn't include LDL, my risk of developing CHD in the next 10 years is 4.64%. I can live with that.
I'm printing out that assessment and taking it with me next month.

[LocoJuan]

Thank you Dr Berry for everything. I’m a 52 year old male and have been low carb/keto/carnivore for the past 2 years. I just had my CAC test results and was zero!!!! My doctor had been pushing a statin in previous visits. Today he told me to just keep doing what I’m doing. No mention of my high cholesterol anymore and no mention of taking a statin! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

[velikijoxotnik]

Patreon supporter and am very appreciative of your continued low-carb-lifestyle content. Last visit to my GP, my total cholesterol and LDL-C were high and my GP went nuts, but didn't seem to care about the indications of hashimotos and unusual liver enzymes. He wanted to restart me back on statin. I told him that I would not, unless I had a calcium test that indicated substantial plaque buildup. He referred me to cardiologist and I see the cardiologist on Monday for the CAC test. Cholesterol runs high in my family. I'm rather anxious to see what CAC Score is. BTW, I've been keto since July 2021, losing 70 lbs, glucose stays around 80 (probably doesn't exceed 100 even after a meal), and my AIC is 4.5% Without a doubt I'm thriving in the low-carb lifestyle!!!

[DanButterfield]

Thanks for another informative video Ken. I used the MESA calculator you linked to this video. I think it misses on a key factor that’s readily available on many blood panel results and that’s triglycerides. I like to look at my triglycerides to HDL ratio. That’s one of the metrics where I score well (High HDL and low Triglycerides). But that is not considered on the MESA calculator. I am a former track athlete (800 M) and in good current cardio/metabolic health and work out daily. I did the CAC just to get a baseline. Shocker when it came back with a 354 score. I’m 67 so I did not expect a zero, but my cardiologist said my CAC was SEVERE risk and booked me for an eco-cardiogram and EKG/treadmill stress test. Thankfully, after that closer look, he gave me a clean bill of health and does not even want me on a statin despite my high cholesterol.

[saraguthrie-independentcol]

My functional med Dr. was completely on board and just ordered this for me!! Perfect timing on the video thx!

[donnataylor]

Due to having heard about the importance of the CAC store from one of Ivor Cummings YouTube videos and hearing over our work intercom last year that our local hospital was offering the test for $139 [without doctor order] due to it being February Heart month at the time.
I talked my sister into having it done same day with me and I'm glad we did, both being older. At that point, I had been keto for 6 months and my score was 0! My sister's was 140 and she is 2 years younger than me.

[ashleypaige]

I’m 41, 5”7, and weigh 230lbs. I am a sugar addict and do not eat healthy. My CAC result was 15. This scared the crap out of me. I am going to start clean keto and get my score tested again in Jan 2025. I am hoping keto will help reduce it. Thank you, Dr. Berry, for your helpful information!

[CrazyBearRocks]

I'm age 49 and I've been on (dirty) Carnivore for almost a year (with multiple points where I went off the rails, such as holidays and birthdays) and I've still managed to drop from 316 lbs. down to 256 lbs. (so far). The acid reflux which plagued me for years is gone. The aches and pains in my joints are totally gone. I sleep through the night now. My cholesterol and LDL went up during the past year (back when my doctor first recommended statins), but my triglycerides went down from 329 to 181. This year (only two short weeks ago - my annual), he was much more persistent about those statins. My cholesterol scores bothered him. I declined again, but recommended a CAC as a base to measure from. The results I just got through the medical portal, according to my doc, said 2018 and I'm in the 75th percentile. Thus, he's strongly trying to push the statins. I'm going to decline again, however, and continue on with carnivore (and a started exercise regimen) in hopes that I can get that score lowered. I don't know how long it might take, but... I'm going to stick with it, because I've heard horrible, horrible things about statins. Your channel, Dr. Berry, has been incredibly helpful to me, and I'm so grateful for it and for you. I recommend it to everyone I can, and I'll soon be sharing a substantial amount of the info (such as is in your channel and other studies I've come across) with MY own doctor. Wish me luck! :-)

[markguilbeau]

Mine cost 50$ . I had a zero score and my doctor was good with it. I have been doing keto and intermittent fasting since 2018. My doctor even recommended keto for her mom. I’m so happy I found a doctor that understands what I’m doing. Thanks for your videos!…. I’m working out and blood pressure is ideal. 110/70

[maverque]

I had a CAC scan done a year and a half ago and it cost me $49 😄 and I was pleasantly surprised to get a score of zero. I was 44 at the time. My dad had a heart attack at .... Are you sitting down .... 33. I run half marathons and been doing keto for a couple of years. ☺🙌

[bonniemillage]

Perfect timing for us!!!
Our PCP has ref’d 74 yr old hubby to a cardiologist for the possibility of having PCSK9 inhibiting injections.... he took himself off his statin -feels WONDERFUL - all the years of body pain disappeared- but she is furious and wants him on statins or equivalent. She’s adamant LDLs are He has been keto/carnivore for 10 months -his triglycerides are Great!!! We are doing the cardio consult in two days...NO ONE HAS EVER DONE A CAC or suggested this!!!
Yes, he is long term Type 2 but had always following the recommendations of SAD- and his T2 has slowly continued to progress - until 10 months ago...

[erniebeswick]

Looking good doc. . thanks for the info I'm going to get one of those tests