Rigved Tadwalkar, MD

03/20/2026

Match Day doesn’t always feel the way you thought it would.

If this moment feels exciting, uncertain, or somewhere in between, this is for you.

03/18/2026

The updated cholesterol guidelines have generated a lot of discussion over the past few days, and for good reason.

I spoke with Healthline about what’s changing, and one theme that stands out is how much more intentional our approach to risk has become.

“We’re moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach and toward more individualized risk assessment” - Rigved Tadwalkar, MD of the Pacific Heart Institute

That shift is subtle but important. For a long time, lipid management often centered on a few core numbers and fairly uniform treatment pathways. What we’re seeing now is a more layered approach that brings together clinical risk, imaging, and biomarkers to better understand who is actually at risk.

In practice, that means fewer assumptions and more precision. It also means earlier conversations, and in some cases, earlier intervention.

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/aha-updated-cholesterol-guidelines-early-intervention

The American Heart Association (AHA), American College of Cardiology (ACC), and nine other leading medical organizations have released updated guidelines for cholesterol and lipids, focusing on earlier screening and treatment.

03/14/2026

A small habit at the table may have a bigger impact than many people realize.

“There’s basically a sodium epidemic in this country, along with most western diets, so very few people are immune to the effects of sodium,” Rigved Tadwalkar, MD, of the Pacific Heart Institute, told Prevention Magazine.

In the study highlighted here, researchers followed more than 500,000 adults and found that people who regularly added salt to food that was already prepared had a higher risk of premature death and shorter life expectancy compared with those who rarely added salt. The findings highlight how total sodium exposure, including salt added at the table on top of what is already in packaged or prepared foods, can meaningfully influence long-term cardiovascular health.

https://www.prevention.com/food-nutrition/healthy-eating/a70339227/added-salt-shorter-life-expectancy-study/

You may want to set aside that shaker for your next meal.

03/05/2026

From the cath lab—

One of the more interesting things about practicing cardiology in the social media era is watching debates about atherosclerosis from people who have never actually seen a coronary artery on the inside, whether by angiography or intravascular imaging.

Seeing the disease directly has a way of sharpening your perspective.

Which is why so much of modern cardiology focuses not just on treating events with plaque modification, angioplasty, and stents, but on reducing risk before those events ever occur.

Atherosclerosis is driven by apoB-containing lipoprotein particles.

Lowering those atherogenic particles — whether with statins, siRNA therapies, PCSK9 inhibitors, ACL inhibitors, or other newer therapies — slows plaque progression, stabilizes vulnerable plaque, and in some circumstances can even lead to modest plaque regression.

These therapies aren’t magic, and they don’t eliminate plaque.

BUT decades of randomized clinical trials consistently show that lowering LDL and other atherogenic lipoproteins reduces cardiovascular events.

Stopping heart attacks remains the goal.

…and the evidence always matters.

03/04/2026

02/19/2026

An important reminder to know your numbers and prioritize heart health! ♥️🤍

02/17/2026

Part II: Organic vs Conventional- “Clean 15” and the “Dirty Dozen” 🍍🥔🛒

In this clip from my talk at the 13th Annual Women’s Heart Symposium with Have A Heart, Save A Heart, I discuss how not all fruits and vegetables carry the same pesticide burden, which means smarter prioritization can reduce exposure without adding stress.

Does this change how you shop? 🤔

02/14/2026

Grateful that this spontaneous conference conversation turned into something more! Appreciate the work HeartLife Foundation is doing to keep patients at the center of care-- and thanks to Marc Bains for such a thoughtful conversation. These are the discussions that move things forward! 🙏

02/11/2026

Broken Heart Syndrome is real 💔

Severe stress or emotional shock can temporarily weaken the heart. It can look and feel like a heart attack.

If you’re having chest pain or sudden symptoms, please go to the emergency department — don’t wait it out.

With proper care, recovery is very possible.

This is your reminder to take care of both your emotional and physical health.

02/09/2026

Part I: Organic vs Conventional- it’s not as simple as you think 🥬

In this clip from my talk at the 13th Annual Women’s Heart Symposium with Have A Heart, Save A Heart, I talk about how most people assume organic automatically means “better for you” but the reality is more nuanced.

Is this how you think about organic food? 🤔

01/27/2026

TV loves the trope where someone has a heart attack and keeps working like nothing happened.

Your heart needs pauses, recovery, and balance. Life isn’t about never stopping, it’s about caring for your heart along the way.

Use the link in the Pacific Heart account bio to check out Life’s Essential 8, which can help make sense of what balance actually looks like.

01/21/2026

In part I we talked about what triglycerides are and why they matter. Today, we’re talking about what science is finally doing about them. 🧬🩺

From new pathways to targeted therapies, the field is changing faster than it has in decades.