Everyone has heard about LDL cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, diabetes mellitus and smoking in terms of heart disease risk. Unfortunately, most have not heard of Lipoprotein(a), also known as Lp(a) or the “sticky” cholesterol. Lp(a) is a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol particle with an added tail called apolipoprotein(a) that makes…

In medical school nearly 40 years ago I was taught that heart disease is mainly due to smoking, hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol disorders, and a family history of early heart events (Framingham risk factors). Most patients are still evaluated by obtaining information regarding these 5 factors. Missing from this approach are…

Making optimal decisions on your diet choices is one of the most important parameters of achieving and maintaining long-term health. Unfortunately, the media loves to twist poor quality data and a barrage of erroneous reports have claimed it is safe again to load your plates with meats, cheeses, butters, and…

Hundreds of years ago, English physician Thomas Sydenham taught that “a man is as old as his arteries.” We usually don’t think about the health of our arteries until a problem arises (like an emergency room admission, a heart attack, erectile dysfunction or sudden death). …

Lipoprotein(a) is a still largely unknown LDL-cholesterol like molecule. It is, however, the most frequent inherited risk factor for heart attack, stroke, and calcific aortic valve disease. Lipoprotein(a), also known as Lp(a), is inherited in 20–30% of populations tested suggesting that it is elevated in over 1.5 billion people worldwide…

The advice on heart health tips is abundant in February, traditionally celebrated as Heart Month. The constant reminders that cardiovascular disease is the #1 cause of death in the Western world are crucial. Educating the public on the research showing that up to 80% of heart deaths are preventable by…

This week a 59-year old woman traveled 2 hours to my office for a 2nd opinion. She was 5’3 and weighed 252 lbs., down from a peak of 320 lbs. a few years earlier. She had been diagnosed and treated for Type 2 diabetes mellitus since the year 2000 and…

It is that time of year. Gifts are exchanged in many cultures. The ugly sweater? The spice mix? The newest online game? If you have to give a gift, how great would it be if it was actually healthy and helpful for the year ahead. Here are some ideas. I…

What is a coronary artery calcium scan (CACS)? It is a simple CT of the heart performed without injection of any contrast dyes that permits the easy identification of calcification (plaque) in the three major heart arteries. By good fortune, the density of arteries is different than the fat they sit in and the muscle and blood that…