In the colder months, maintaining cardiovascular health becomes crucial. Consuming antioxidant-rich winter fruits can significantly contribute to this goal by supporting heart health and reducing the risk of heart disease.
Many people think of cardiovascular disease in those who have had a heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure or cholesterol problems. And while these are major diseases of the cardiovascular system, it is important to broaden your understanding as YOU may be at risk...
Turmeric has shown effectiveness in lowering LDL cholesterol. The “bad” cholesterol, or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) gets a bad rap as a risk factor for atherosclerosis and increasing the risks of heart attacks and stroke, which together are the number one cause of death.
Mindfulness has been defined[1] as “awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgmentally,” that is “in the service of self-understanding and wisdom.” To this, since mindfulness is also a clinical tool[2] that has been...
Hypertension, or HTN, is a diagnosis for persistent high blood pressure. You may have received a diagnosis of hypertension (HTN) from your physician based on the numbers of your systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings. If there is no identifiable cause to...
These 4 lab tests for cardiovascular risk will give a better picture of what your risk factors for heart disease or stroke. Let's delve deeper into your true health - starting with your heart health. Your current blood tests may not be enough to give an accurate...
Metabolic Cardiology is a fairly new branch of Functional Medicine. Metabolic cardiology is a non-invasive, simple, integrative medical approach which addresses the prevention, management, treatment and monitoring of cardiovascular disease at the core basic level- which is the heart muscle cell. Functional medicine physicians are always concerned with addressing health issues at the root of the problem.
Heart disease has many contributors to its cause, and any of these contributors may indeed be the cause in any one patient. Contributors to heart disease include obesity, smoking, lack of exercise, genetics, periodontal disease, and other factors. No single factor might be the cause in any one case.
The Surprising Secret About Salt The health industry’s stance on salt since the 1950’s was that too much salt (sodium) caused hypertension (high blood pressure) and associated heart disease. Doctors and nutritionists advised against salt consumption for hypertensives...
Just hearing the word “heart” conjures up different meanings for different people- some think of romantic love, others think of having a generous heart, and some are reminded that a healthy heart prevents disease. A heart attack is the furthest thing from most of our...
Starting three years ago, it became routine to test all 9 to 11 year olds for cholesterol level. According to a December 2011 Pediatric News article, “…heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular problems in adulthood are often the end result of cardiovascular risk factors that went unrecognized throughout childhood…”
If you have bad breath and/or your gums bleed when you brush or eat, you may be at increased risk for heart disease. In fact, you may be at increased risk for many other medical problems such as premature babies or stroke, just because your gums are not healthy!
Calcium Supplements May Increase Heart Risk I have never been comfortable prescribing calcium supplements, so over the last 35 years of practicing integrative and functional medicine I have not generally recommended them. If my patients want to supplement with...