Video: Worried about cardiovascular disease? Let’s talk about CT Calcium Scoring.

I recently went in for a routine physical. I’ve always had high cholesterol, and my blood test results showed it was still out of range. 

Specifically, my low-density lipoproteins or LDL, which are known on the streets as the “bad” cholesterol, was higher than desired. So once again my doctor suggested statins to bring that number down. 

I was on statins many years ago and they made my muscles achy, and I just didn’t like how they made me feel. I figured I’d try other things, like a healthy diet and working out. I went off the statins and the pains went away.

“Why don’t you try this?”, my doctor said, and handed me a piece of paper that looked like a flier you’d staple to a utility pole trying to sell your car. All it said was,“CT Calcium Scoring”, with a phone number.

Then my doctor said, “I’ll make you a deal. You get this test and if your score is low. I’ll stop bringing up statins.”

I said, “sure!” But what’s crazy is that while researching the test, I found that doctors and hospitals the world over recommend this test, but NOT ONE PERSON I talked to had ever heard of it. All I could think of was spreading the word, so I wrote a short movie about my experience with the test.