The Functional Medicine Approach to Cardiovascular Wellness
Advanced Lipid Panels and Cardiovascular Risk Biomarker Testing
Cleveland Heart Lab – Information on the advanced testing I use to help identify and reduce risk for stroke, heart attack and peripheral vascular disease (aka CVD or Cardiovascular Disease).
Metabolic Syndrome + Measuring Cardiometabolic Risk
MyHealthyWaist.org – The International Chair on Cardiometabolic Risk Website provides excellent information for patients and clinicians on cardiometabolic risk (heart attack, stroke and other associated complications of metabolic syndrome).
How to Self-Measure Waist Circumference – PDF
Know the Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease
As per the The American Heart Association (AHA), these are the risk factors for heart disease:
Age – Your risk increases as you get older.
Gender – Men are at higher risk if over 45 years of age and women if over 55 years of age.
Family History – Your risk is higher if members of your family have had cardiovascular disease (heart attack, bypass surgery, a stent, or stroke) at a young age; before age 55 years for men or before age 65 years for women.
High Blood Pressure – Know your blood pressure. Ideally it should be less than 120/80 mm Hg when you are at rest, although somewhat higher levels are often OK with your doctor when you’re older.
High Blood Cholesterol – Your risk for heart attack is lower if your LDL-cholesterol is less than 100 mg/dL and your non-HDL-cholesterol is less than 130 mg/dL.
Physical Inactivity – Sitting for long periods of time increases your risk. Even moving around for 5-10 minute periods throughout the day can lower heart attack risk.
Obesity and Overweight – Risk for disease is related to those extra pounds around your waist line. Losing 5-10% of your body weight reduces health risk.
Smoking – Research has shown that every 5 cigarettes a day smoked increases heart attack risk. Quitting smoking reduces heart attack risk immediately.
Diabetes – It is very important to KNOW your blood sugar level. Normal blood sugar levels are under 100 mg/dL.¹