Reddit Heart Health Analysis

Hi there! We're a heart-health based longevity company, and our mission is to empower you to achieve your optimum heart health so that you can live your longest, healthiest life.

We're an avid follower of the r/Cholesterol subreddit and we're always inspired by the support the community provides to each-other to live a long, heart healthy life.

In this article, we analyzed a few recent reddit posts concerning elevated LDL and sharing personalized insights from our internal tech on how the user can live an assured, healthy life.

u/handyperson: High Cholesterol but 0 Coronary Artery Calcium score

Summary of the Post

A 50M redditor recently got lab results showing high cholesterol (total cholesterol 248, LDL 170). His doctor ordered a CAC scan, which fortunately returned a score of 0. He's made significant dietary changes—cutting out most saturated fats and fried foods, and incorporating more fruits, nuts, fiber, and oatmeal—to help lower these numbers. He's now wondering if a CAC score of 0 means he's in the clear despite high cholesterol levels, and whether he might relax his diet slightly if blood tests in six months show improvements, or if he should remain strict long-term.

Main Takeaways from Reddit Comments

A zero calcium score suggests low short-term risk of coronary events, but it does not rule out soft, non-calcified plaque, which can be problematic.
LDL-C of 170 is high and likely has a genetic component. Diet can help modestly, but such elevated LDL levels often warrant further testing (ApoB, Lp(a)) and possibly medication, particularly if lifestyle changes aren't sufficient.

What We Like from Reddit Comments

Highlight the limitations of CAC in ruling out: The comments correctly highlight that CAC scoring misses soft plaques and that plaque composition matters as much as presence.
Emphasis on informed prevention, not reactive treatment: Acting on your diet now, even if it helps a little bit to avoid plaque buildup in the future.

Our Personalized Longevity Recommendations

Since the OP is middle-aged, it could be good news that the CAC is zero. We'd start a more personalized risk assessment: This includes getting ApoB and Lp(a) numbers in the context of any additional known factors (more details below).
If your LDL / ApoB number is high, chances are that it was high for several years. The best way to know if you're in the clear is to get a non-invasive angiogram, which can provide a fairly accurate assessment of plaque severity and specificity (more details below).
If your angiogram is clear, that's great news! Your heart is in great health. Otherwise, based on your angiogram results, you can work with your doctor to take proportionate measures to minimize your future risk, starting today.

u/Mobile_Leadership190: Atherosclerosis Symptoms

Summary of the Post

A 41M UK redditor is recently diagnosed with severe hypercholesterolemia (LDL 213, total 317) despite being slim and health-conscious. He's been experiencing troubling symptoms—dizziness, fatigue, limb numbness, occasional chest discomfort—and is worried they could be signs of atherosclerosis. The emergency visit showed normal ECG and bloodwork, but he's concerned if it's already late for prevention and wonders if others have seen symptom improvement after starting treatment like statins.

Main Takeaways from Reddit Comments

Importance of proper medical evaluation and lipid-lowering therapy: Multiple users emphasize statin therapy (and possibly other medications) to manage very high LDL levels and prevent further plaque buildup.
Recommendation for diagnostic imaging and other biomarkers: Redditors mention tests like coronary calcium scans, angiograms, and checking Lp(a) to assess plaque burden and evaluate the extent of cardiovascular disease.
Role of anxiety and lifestyle factors: Some point out that stress and anxiety can contribute to higher cholesterol and exacerbate symptoms. They also stress on the need for consistent dietary changes (e.g., limiting saturated fat) and routine blood pressure monitoring.

What We Like from Reddit Comments

Proactive approach to further testing: Advising imaging (specifically, angiogram) and Lp(a) testing which can identify whether there is actual plaque buildup and guide more targeted treatment.
Holistic view of cardiovascular risk: Several commenters highlight diet, stress management, and monitoring blood pressure as complementary to medication in reducing CAD risk.
Encouragement and realism: They balance the urgency of seeking medical treatment with reassurance—e.g., pointing out that bringing LDL down can stabilize (and sometimes even regress) plaque.

Our Personalized Longevity Recommendations

Stay strong. Get an appointment with a specialist / cardiologist as soon as you can. It could be that your symptoms are because of other heart health related factors, which may not be as urgent. You'll get a clear picture only after imaging. We'd recommend you to ask your specialist / cardiologist for a non-invasive angiogram to find out if you indeed have plaque buildup, and if so, how much and where.
Your doctor would be the best person to recommend what's the best thing you can do to first mitigate any short-term risks and then work on improving your long-term heart health. It's best to be proactive in your case even if it turns out to be nothing.

u/SpecificConscious809: Can someone put LDL and CAC results in context

Summary of the Post

A 48M lifelong athlete on 20 mg atorvastatin for 4 years shared strong lipid numbers (LDL 64, HDL 68, Total 143) and a family history of severe CAD. Despite consistently decent cholesterol, his recent CAC score came back 14.3 (77th percentile), all in the LAD. Meanwhile, his older brother—with more body fat and a keto-ish diet—scored near zero. He's now wondering: Why is his CAC high despite never having high LDL? Why such a difference from his brother? Should he double down with stricter prevention—stay on statins, add ezetimibe, cut sat fat hard? Is there anything else he should consider?

Visuals

Graph showing LDL cholesterol reduction with statin use

Graph showing total cholesterol reduction with statin use

Main Takeaways from Reddit Comments

Several commenters highlight the importance of Lp(a) testing because it is genetically determined and can significantly impact cardiovascular risk independent of LDL levels.
CAC scores can have variability and may not perfectly correlate with traditional cholesterol values, which can be frustrating.
Family genetics are unpredictable—one sibling might have near-zero CAC while another shows elevated scores, illustrating that plaque development can differ widely within the same family.

What We Like from Reddit Comments

They emphasize broader lipid testing beyond LDL, especially checking for Lp(a).
They acknowledge genetic variability and do not over-simplify the relationship between diet and plaque formation.
They suggest practical, accessible options (e.g., paying out of pocket for certain tests if insurance doesn't cover them) to gather more complete data on cardiovascular risk.

Our Personalized Longevity Recommendations

Statin stabilizes plaque, resulting in increased calcification and reduction in soft, vulnerable plaque. So it's likely that your increased CAC score is because of calcification caused by statin, which would mean the medication is working!
You could get an angiogram to get a comprehensive picture, but we wouldn't recommend it. It may not add much value in your case since your medications and lifestyle changes have already brought LDL to under 70, where plaque buildup stops and even regression is observed in some cases.
There are a few measures that kill multiple birds with one shot: regular exercise, Mediterranean diet / Omega-3 supplements, and statins. They all reduce inflammation, reduce LDL, increase HDL, and reduce oxidative stress, which greatly enhances heart health. You can continue to incorporate these into your habit.

Notes

1. ApoB, Lp(a), and getting a more personalized risk score

ApoB measures the total number of LDL particles and is a better predictor of risk than LDL-C which only captures a part of it. It's especially useful in individuals whose LDL cholesterol appears moderately elevated but who may have a high number of small, dense LDL particles.

Lp(a) is a strong, independent factor–high presence of which can accelerate plaque buildup.

If you live in the US, you can get a free, at-home Lp(a) assessment via the FamilyHeart Foundation. It's genetic and doesn't change much with lifestyle or medication currently, so you'd only need to know it once.

Then, you can use online tools like the PREVENT Calculator to estimate your risk score. We can also provide it to you via our AI-driven assessment for free.

2. Getting an Angiogram

An angiogram (specifically, a non-invasive coronary CT angiogram or CCTA) provides a comprehensive picture of plaque burden in coronary arteries. Unlike a Calcium Score (CAC), which only measures the amount of calcium (calcified or hard plaque) in the coronary arteries, a CCTA captures both calcified and non-calcified (soft) plaques, including their location and extent (degree of stenosis).

It can help you find out how your heart health is today, reflecting the history of your risk factors since birth. This information can guide the scale of measures you need to take to ensure your heart continues to be healthy and fit.

Unfortunately, CCTA is often an out-of-pocket expense in the U.S. unless you have clear symptoms or indicators suggestive of a significant heart issue (like angina or a heart attack). It can also sometimes be challenging to get a referral from your doctor for a CCTA purely for screening purposes. Additionally, while the radiation exposure from modern CCTA scans is relatively low (and the lifetime risk is generally considered very small), it is non-zero. Therefore, it's wise to evaluate the risk-benefit tradeoff with your doctor before considering a CCTA.

Have Your Own Heart Health Story or Concerns?

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding your specific health concerns and treatment options.