Jonathan Vafai, MD, FACC, FASE

02/10/2026

If you have ever been worried about starting a statin because of the long list of potential side effects, a major new study in The Lancet has some very good news.

Researchers analyzed data from over 150,000 people in rigorous clinical trials and found that statins are not the cause of the vast majority of side effects often attributed to them—including memory loss, sleep problems, and depression.
While any medication can have side effects, for most people, the "risks" listed on the box are far more likely to be related to other factors rather than the statin itself. Meanwhile, the benefit of preventing heart attacks and strokes remains clear and significant.

Always talk to your doctor about your specific concerns, but this data confirms that statins are among the most thoroughly studied and safest tools we have for heart health.

Read more about the study here:

Adverse event data from blinded randomised trials do not support causal relationships between statin therapy and most of the conditions (including cognitive impairment, depression, sleep disturbance, and peripheral neuropathy) listed in product labels as potential undesirable effects. In light of th...

02/08/2026

02/05/2026

February 2, 2026– Cardiothoracic surgeon Melissa Levack, MD, joins the Palm Beach Health Network Physician Group. She is on staff at Delray Medical Center and Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center. […]

01/24/2026

I am pleased to report that my group and I are named Top Doctors for 2026 by Castle Connolly. Castle Connolly Top Doctors
https://www.castleconnolly.com/top-doctors/jonathan-j-vafai-cardiovascular-disease-128cc122260

01/15/2026

A study shows that, in the most sedentary people, small amounts of activity are linked to significant health benefits

01/09/2026

Amazing story of my friend and colleague’s recovery from a devastating problem.

A Delray Beach doctor survived a brain bleed, stroke, fall and major recovery. He says he nearly died 3 times. He now has a message to share, having seen long-term health care as a patient.

12/19/2025

For more than eighteen years, cardiology has been my sole focus and life’s work. I care deeply about my patients and approach every visit the way I would want my own family to be treated—with time, honesty, compassion, and respect.

My philosophy is lifestyle first whenever possible. Exercise, nutrition, and daily habits form the foundation of heart health, and medications or procedures are added thoughtfully when they truly serve your best interest. When I make a recommendation, it is never routine—it is based on experience, evidence, and a genuine belief that it is right for you.

My role is to educate, guide, and offer clear advice; your role is to make the decisions that feel right for your life and values. The best care happens when we work together through shared decision-making.

I have trained at leading hospitals in New York and Boston, and that experience continues to guide my care today. Even while practicing here in Florida, I rely on a broad national perspective and a trusted network of outstanding specialists. When referrals are needed, I send patients to people I trust and would confidently recommend to my own family.

I am deeply grateful for the trust my patients place in me. It is a privilege to care for you and to be part of your team.

12/07/2025

Statins: Safe, Powerful, and Life-Saving

The foundation of heart health is always a healthy lifestyle: regular exercise, smart nutrition, weight management, good sleep, and not smoking. These habits are essential, powerful, and non-negotiable. That said, for many patients, lifestyle alone is not enough to overcome genetics and long-term cardiovascular risk. This is where medications like statins become life-saving.

Statins are among the most thoroughly studied and effective medications in all of modern medicine. They don’t just lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol - they significantly reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death. I see these benefits every day in my own patients.

Like all medications, statins can have side effects. The reality is that most patients tolerate them extremely well, and when side effects do occur, they are usually mild, manageable, and reversible. For patients who truly cannot tolerate a statin, we now have excellent non-statin alternatives, including:
✅ Ezetimibe (Zetia)
✅ PCSK9 inhibitors (eg: Repatha, Praluent)
✅ Inclisiran (Leqvio)
✅ Bempedoic acid (Nexletol)
✅ Combination therapies

Another common fear I hear is about memory loss or dementia. The medical evidence is very reassuring:
🧠 Statins do not cause dementia
🧠 In fact, multiple large studies suggest statins may be protective against vascular dementia and stroke-related cognitive decline

One of the greatest threats to heart health today is not statin side effects - it is rejection of proven, life-saving therapy due to fear and misinformation. Untreated high cholesterol quietly fuels plaque buildup for years before a heart attack or stroke ever happens.

The solution is not avoiding medication. The solution is personalized, physician-guided care, built on lifestyle first and supported by the right therapy when needed.

If you have stopped a statin, are afraid to start one, or had side effects in the past - don’t give up on cholesterol treatment. There is almost always a safe and effective path forward.

Prevention works. Your heart health matters.

11/01/2025

Exercise: The Most Powerful Prescription for Your Heart ❤️

If there were a pill that could lower your blood pressure, improve your cholesterol, reduce stress, strengthen your heart, boost your mood, and help you live longer — everyone would want it.

That “pill” already exists. It’s called exercise.

Regular physical activity is one of the most effective, evidence-based ways to prevent heart disease and improve cardiovascular health. Just 30 minutes a day of moderate activity - like walking, biking, swimming, or even dancing - can make a lasting difference.

You don’t need a gym membership or fancy equipment. The key is consistency. Start small, move daily, and treat exercise like you would any other prescription - something you do for your long-term health.

Your heart doesn’t just need medication - it needs motion. ❤️

10/24/2025

We are again doing cutting edge work at Delray!

It's another medical milestone for Delray! ❤🎉👏 Today we completed our first TRICvalve implantation for tricuspid regurgitation - and we are one of only three sites in Florida to do the procedure. Congratulations to Tilak Pasala, MD, Medical Director of Structural Heart and his incredible team of clinicians!

TRICvalve implantation is a transcatheter procedure for treating severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) by inserting two self-expanding bioprosthetic valves into the superior and inferior vena cava (SVC and IVC). This minimally invasive approach aims to prevent the backward flow of blood, which helps improve quality of life and right heart function without the high risks of open-heart surgery. The implantation can reduce congestion, improve cardiac output, and lead to significant improvements in symptoms and quality of life for high-risk patients.

For more information on Dr. Pasala, click here http://bit.ly/4oweS7P

10/21/2025

09/17/2025

We are not exactly in an underserved area but this is more support to exercise regularly!

Walking quickly for 15 minutes per day was associated with a significant reduction in all-cause mortality and CVD mortality, according to a cohort study published in American Journal of Preventive Medicine.