The Most Valuable Thing You Own

At the date of this article posting, I have lost 200 pounds starting from September of 2020 and have complete reversed type-2-diabetes and am regularly improving all blood markers. About 6-7 months ago, I decided to start looking at my heart health much more seriously and so I had a CAC Scan performance. This stands for Coronary Artery Calcium and provides you with a “CAC Score”, which, tells you how much calcification or coronary plaque build up you have in this specific area.  Plainly stated, the score determines your risk level for a heart attack or stroke. I paid $80 cash for this; I highly recommend everyone over 40 years old to get this test – 10 minutes can save your life.

Just like diabetes, at one time, the medical community believed that you could not reverse calcification in the arteries, you could only stop it from continuing and today we know different. My CAC score was a 128, which is considered low risk, however, still technically qualifies as coronary artery diseases or “heart disease”. I wish I would have gotten the test done when I was 485 pounds, that would have been a good benchmark comparison.  In any event, I will be doing it again in April, let’s hope to see a lower number than 128. 

The reason that I am writing this is because, we never really know when it’s our time to go – to leave this earth. The CAC score and other test and markers can help to guide us and to operate at maximum capacity, “sucking the marrow out of life” as Dr. John Keating taught us in 1989. I paid $80 at Baylor Scott White in Plano, TX – you can find this same price range from coast to coast – again, if you’re over 40 years old, you owe it to yourself and to your loved ones to get this test done.

Life is unpredictable, and we never truly know where our journey will take us. At least, that's what I used to think. Through my journey, I've learned that we have much more control over our lives and health than we realize. And while we can't predict the future, we can take steps to shape it. I'm grateful for the progress I've made, and I know that my journey is far from over. But I'm committed to continuing down the path of wellness and taking control of my health, no matter where life takes me and I encourage you to do the same – fight for it, declare it and work it out day to day.  

Just three weeks ago as of my writing, I met a gentleman over a nice dinner at one of the city’s best steak houses; I was being introduced through a mutual friend.  This gent was 2 years younger than me and in what many would consider ordinary shape for a middle aged, successful business owner who likely travels a lot and discusses business over fancy meals and good wines. He could have stood to lose maybe 40-45 pounds, but he wore it well, as he was a tall and broad fellow. It was a great dinner, we talked about life, kids, business – and when he learned of my recent health journey, he was intrigued and spoke of needing to prioritize his own health journey. 

Unfortunately, this sweetheart of a gentleman passed away the very next day due to a heart attack. Shocked is an understatement, I was devastated. Seeing a man who was in a similar position to that of myself and having his journey end before it could even begin crushed me. 

The tragedy of this man’s story has forced me to reflect on that of my own and on those friends and family members around me, in this same age range. It is in this reflection that I understand how many lives could be saved had the information and resources that I sought out be made common knowledge to everyone. In this case, knowing your CAC score could have prevented such an event. 

As I approach the latter half of my life, I've made it my goal to ensure that every minute, every hour, and everyday count for something. I recently listened to Dr. Peter Atia on one of his podcasts, and the underlying message was clear - the lifestyle choices we make in our 40s and 50s will determine the quality of life we experience in our last 10 years on this earth. This includes everything from physical strength to mental health, and the research behind it is astounding. 

My heart truly goes out to the family and loved ones of the gentleman whose tragic passing has imposed a sense of responsibility in me. And so, I say again, please be responsible and know your CAC Score for starters, get intimate with of the other blood markers and be deliberate in taking control of these aspects of your body – it’s your temple and the only one you have, it’s the most valuable thing that we all have.

Yours truly,

Alejandro “AROD” Rodriguez