Arteries in Harmony

08/22/2025

Look what fat is doing to our bodies.

Excess internal fat inside our bodies IS the reason why many of us suffer from so many cardiometabolic and other chronic diseases (diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer).

Look at these two MRIs, side by side. On the left, fat deposits are crowding internal organs, pushing on them and making it, not only harder for them to function properly but it directly poisons them. Fat is a bad and dangerous neighbor. Look at the heart: it is encased in fat, causing it to pump harder to "keep up". Then look around the neck, where your carotid (brain) arteries are. I could tell you with complete certainty that this patient, is a low hanging fruit for developing one or more cardiometabolic diseases.

Simply put: There is NO place that fat will not build (it's only the fat under the skin that is normal for humans). And there is no escaping what that fat can do to us.

Now, look at the scan of the person to the right -- we see a healthy amount of fat that protects the body. Do you see how the internal organs are not as crowded? How the heart is not encased in fat? I can tell you, just from this image, that this patient is unlikely to suffer from any cardiometabolic disease.

This is a prime example of how body fat affects our internal systems! And it’s a great reminder that taking care of our bodies is the best form of prevention.

The MRI comparison shows that at 250 lbs, a woman has significantly more subcutaneous and visceral fat, which crowds organs, limits lung expansion, strains joints, and increases risks for heart disease, diabetes, fatty liver, and sleep apnea.

At 125 lbs, fat layers are thinner, organs have more space, joints bear less load, and overall metabolic, cardiovascular, and respiratory health risks are much lower.

08/08/2025

You’ve got the first six keys 🔑 Now it’s time to complete the picture.

In Part 1, we talked about simple, powerful ways to lower your risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, cancer, Alzheimer’s, COPD, and diabetes.

In Part 2, we’re diving into the other six steps that can help protect your health, add quality years to your life, and make prevention feel achievable... not overwhelming.

Small changes now can make a huge difference later 💪

Read Part 2 here:

In Part 1, we covered six essential steps for reducing your risk of chronic disease — from maintaining a healthy weight to keeping blood pressure and cholesterol in check. In this second installment, we explore the remaining six keys that can help protect your health, extend your quality years, an...

07/22/2025

Did you know that chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, stroke, Alzheimer’s, COPD, and diabetes are responsible for 7 out of 10 deaths in the U.S.? 😬

Even though that is an alarming rate, the good news is that most of these diseases are preventable (especially before the age of 80!) -- which means that most of us have an opportunity to make some positive steps forward for our health!

There are 12 key things to consider, and in this first of a two-part blog post, I share six that you can start working on today.

Read it here:

Chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, stroke, Alzheimer’s, COPD, and diabetes are responsible for 7 out of 10 deaths in the U.S. They cause immense suffering, disability, and a staggering financial burden on both patients and the healthcare system. But here’s the hopeful truth: most chron...

06/11/2025

Whether you visit your doctor once a year or more often, you deserve more than a rushed conversation and a prescription.

I created a FREE Wellness Checklist to help you feel fully prepared when seeing your doctor so you can take charge of your health — before, during, and after your appointment.

Download it now 👇🏼
https://www.arteriesinharmony.com/wellness-checklist

05/27/2025

If your parents, grandparents or siblings have ever been diagnosed with heart disease, you might wonder "What about me?"

Having a family history of heart disease doesn’t mean it’s your destiny. It means you’ve got a heads-up — and that’s a gift!

If your parents, siblings, or grandparents had or have heart disease, it’s not uncommon for my patients to wonder: Am I destined for the same fate? Heart disease is influenced by a combination of genetics, lifestyle, and environment. And the good news is, you have control over more than you thi

05/09/2025

If you heard that you could prevent, treat, and even reverse many chronic diseases with lifestyle medicine, would you do it?

Read my latest article about Lifestyle Medicine!

We’ve all heard it: Eat better. Exercise more. Get enough sleep. Almost every doctor agrees that a healthy lifestyle is critical for preventing and managing chronic disease. But here’s the problem: most doctors aren’t actually talking about it in your appointments — at least, not enough. Eve...

11/10/2023

Never miss your annual wellness visit with your primary care provider! It’s an important opportunity to get insightful health information.

To get the most benefit out of your visit with your primary care provider, go prepared to ask these key questions:

1. Do I have any specific health conditions I need to worry about

2. What are my numbers (LDL cholesterol, blood pressure, A1c/blood sugar, kidney function/creatinine/UACR)

3. Do I need any vaccinations or screening tests?

10/29/2023

Smoking, obesity, inactivity, alcohol abuse, diabetes are not only risk factors for heart disease and stroke (both artery diseases) but also increase the risk of several cancers, serious COVID-19, COPD, Alzheimer's, and chronic kidney and liver disease.

10/22/2023

How the health of our Arteries (keeping our Arteries in Harmony) is related to our overall Wellness

Part 1: What are we trying to prevent: the top 10 Killer Diseases in the US

09/01/2023

Visiting an “old colleague” 🩺

This year, I fulfilled a promise I gave myself as a medical student almost 40 years ago: to visit the birthplace of Hippocrates, the “Father of Medicine” who has also contributed to the Hippocratic Corpus and the Hippocratic Oath (although not all historians agree on the details.)

So, in a hot midsummer afternoon I set foot in the Asclepieion on the beautiful Greek island of Kos, where Hippocrates is said to have received his medical training some 2,400 years ago. Asclepieia were the hospitals of the time. They were shrines dedicated to Apollo, the god of healing and his demigod son, Asclepius. The place is relatively well preserved today and is in a beautiful and serene environment that was thought to be conducive to the healing of disease.

Standing in such a historical place is a unique, moving experience. The remnants of the building have almost nothing in common with the technologically advanced hospitals of today. Yet, it is mind boggling that in these ancient times, when medical knowledge was so limited, the practice of medicine was considered holy, in stark contrast with the scientific but a little too much business-like modern medical practice.

05/06/2023

Can you believe it? 😄 I’ve been prioritizing my exercises after work so much that the cable broke! (Don’t worry, it’s getting fixed and I still have my treadmill!)

Moving your body is so important, so I encourage you to make movement a priority in your day 💪🏼 What’s your favorite way to exercise?

04/30/2023

Determinants of Health
Inflammation
Anti-inflammatory diet
LDL and high blood pressure
The transformative effect of substantial positive lifestyle change: you can do it if you are determined and consistent!