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Can Hypercalcemia Cause Heart Disease?

Posted on Thu, 23 Feb 2017

Question: It's sort of silly. I had one of those whole body scans and it reported that I had calcifications: 4 on my left anterior descending, 5 on my left circumflex and 1 on my right coronary. It said that I was in the 78th coronary artery percentile ranking. Said I had moderate non-obstructive coronary artery disease highly likely and was at high risk of a cardiac event over next 3 years. Am I going to die in the next 3 years?

Answered by Dr. Geeta Sundar (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Lately we have gone into an era of over supplementation.

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX welcome to Health care magic,
Good question.
Lately we have gone into an era of over supplementation.
Too much calcium in the blood accompanied by already roughening of blood vessels due to high blood pressure and cholesterol deposits, leads to calcium deposition and hardening of arteries. When this happens to blood vessels in brain, kidneys and heart it can be serious.
Even with normal calcium intake, if there is too much vitamin D calcium absorption is increased.
Please tell me about all the supplements you are taking?
From your previous query I see your medications, but there is no aspirin or blood thinner.
What is your cardiac capacity on 2D Echo?
Answer my queries so that I can advise you better regarding your question whether you are going to die in the next 3 years.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Geeta Sundar (15 hours later)

I do take a low dose aspirin every day. No one has asked me to take an echocardiogram, at least that I can remember. I've been told to do all the regular things -- lose weight, get more exercise, etc., etc. -- but the truth is that my 63-year-old brother died of a massive heart attack while driving, my father died at 83 of a heart attack (after having multiple bypass surgeries for the prior 10-15 years), and my younger brother already had a heart attack at 57.

What I was really wanting to know is: how effective are these whole-body scans in detecting heart disease? They also told me I had a couple of gallstones, but may never feel anything from them. :)

Don't worry about me---I see my internist every 6 months and my oncologists every 3 months (the surgical and the medical oncologist switch every other visit), and I see my neurologist once a year. So I think I'm on top of everything. I will mention the whole body scan to my internist and see what she wants to do.

Thanks!

Answered by Dr. Geeta Sundar (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
wish you the best!--regards

Detailed Answer:
Hi Dear,

Wish you the best of health!

Kind regards

Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee