Tag Archive for: cardiovascular health

An Interview with Dr. Jason Reingold MD, FACC, North Atlanta Heart and Vascular Specialist

 

Here at Longevity, we love partnering with like-minded practitioners in the community as we come alongside our patients on their wellness journeys. One of those practitioners is North Atlanta Heart and Vascular Specialist Dr. Jason Reingold. 

Dr. Reingold graduated from Emory University School of Medicine and trained at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School. His  clinical and research expertise focuses on the prevention and reversal of heart and vascular disease in both the young and the elderly and across diverse, multi ethnic populations. He also has a special interest in the overlap of cardiovascular disease with weight management, kidney disease, and diabetes with expertise in lifestyle interventions. He was recently featured in the Atlanta Jewish Times in an article about heart disease prevention in women, specifically during pregnancy, middle age, and during menopause. 

We interviewed Dr. Reingold to learn more about his practice, the integrative services he offers, and his holistic approach to cardiovascular health and overall wellness. 

 

What is the heart and mission behind your practice and the work you do? 

I started Georgia Integrative Cardiology to provide comprehensive and patient-centered care that promotes optimal heart health by combining conventional medical treatments with evidence-based complementary and alternative therapies.  We aim to address the root causes of cardiovascular issues and empower patients to take an active role in their own health. 

 

What do you think is the biggest health factor or risk facing people when it comes to their cardiovascular wellness?

Cardiovascular disease is often referred to as a “lifestyle disease” because it is strongly influenced by the choices and habits that individuals adopt as part of their daily lives. Lifestyle plays a significant role in the development and progression of many types of cardiovascular diseases. 

 

What do you wish more people understood when it comes to their heart health? 

The term “lifestyle disease” also underscores the potential for preventing and even reversing cardiovascular disease through positive lifestyle changes. Adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular physical activity, stress management, and avoiding harmful habits like smoking, can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular issues and improve overall heart health.

 

What are some simple holistic steps people can take today to support good cardiovascular function? 

The American Heart Association  lays out a list of recommendations entitled Life’s Essential 8™ 

 

Eat a healthy diet consistent with American Heart Association recommendations. 

  1. Get at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity (or a combination of both) each week.
  2. Don’t smoke, vape or use other tobacco products and avoid second-hand smoke. 
  3. Aim for an average of 7 to 9 hours of sleep a day. 
  4. Reach and maintain a healthy body weight (body mass index less than 25 kg/m2). 
  5. Get your cholesterol checked and talk  to your health care professional about your numbers and how they impact your overall risk.
  6. Keep fasting blood sugar less than 100 mg/dL or an A1C of less than 5.7%. 
  7. Keep blood pressure below 120/80 mm Hg.

 

Our practice takes a preventative approach to cardiovascular health, utilizing proactive testing to assess disease development and holistic detoxifying therapies to promote good vascular and lymphatic circulation. How can our practices work hand-in-hand to help our clients treat and get to the root cause of heart problems?

We can help identify the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis that is the precursor to heart attack and stroke.  We can measure biomarkers that contribute to the development and rupture of plaque that leads to cardiovascular disorders. 

 

 To learn more about Dr. Reingold and his practice, visit https://drjasonreingold.com/ 

 

Unmasking the threat: Cardiovascular Disease in Men

by Janelle Bertler, Traditional Naturopathic Practitioner

 

Despite medical advances and technologies the leading cause of death worldwide for both men and women is cardiovascular disease (CVD). Heart disease claims millions of lives each year! Although CVD affects both men and women, let’s shed some light on the unique aspects of CVD in men.

  • According to the World Health Organization, approximately 17.9 million men die from CVD each year, accounting for more than half of all CVD related deaths globally.
  • Men tend to develop CVD at a younger age compared to women. On average, men experience heart disease about 10 years earlier than women, often during middle age.
  • Globally, heart disease and stroke account for approximately 1 in 4 male deaths, with some regions reporting even higher statistics. 

 

Let’s look at cardiovascular disease risk factors, symptoms, prevention and management strategies specifically pertaining to men.

 

Understanding Heart Disease:

Cardiovascular Disease encompasses a broad range of conditions that affect any part of the cardiovascular system: heart, blood vessels (including arteries, veins, and capillaries), or circulation of blood throughout the body. The most common types of CVD are coronary artery disease, heart failure, stroke, peripheral artery disease, arrhythmias, heart valve disorders and congenital heart defects. 

 

Risk factors associated with CVD in men include:

  • Age: especially for men 45 years or older
  • High Blood Pressure: In 2019 according to the WHO, around 35% of men age 18 and older have hypertension worldwide. 
  • High Cholesterol: Imbalanced LDL to HDL increases plaques, inflammatory response, and formation of blood clots.
  • Smoking: Damages blood vessels, promotes clots, and reduces healthy cholesterol levels.
  • Obesity and Poor Diet: Leads to elevated blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, insulin resistance, and inflammation.
  • Diabetes: Due to its potential to damage blood vessels and nerves
  • Physical Inactivity
  • Family history of CVD, especially if a close male relative ie: a father or a brother experienced heart disease at an early age.
  • Stress: Unmanaged psychological factors can lead to coping mechanisms, such as poor dietary choices and increased alcohol consumption, both of which increase risk of CVD.

 

Symptoms:

Most people are aware of the classic symptoms of heart disease. The typical chest discomfort (pressure, tightness, squeezing or burning) with pain radiating to the arms, shoulders, jaw or back; often triggered by physical activity or emotional stressors. However, the symptoms can vary widely depending upon the specific condition involved. 

Here are some of the more mild and common symptoms connected with CVD:

  • Shortness of breath, especially during physical exertion or laying flat
  • Fatigue, even with minimal physical exertion
  • Weakness, caused by inadequate oxygen supply to the body’s tissues
  • Sweating excessively, unrelated to physical activity or external temperature, especially in conjunction with chest discomfort
  • Nausea or dizziness, sometimes associated by vomiting
  • Rapid or Irregular heartbeat 
  • Edema / Swelling, caused by fluid accumulation

 

Sometimes CVD symptoms are masked by other underlying medical conditions such as obesity, diabetes or chronic lung conditions. Other times, the symptoms are atypical and attributed to other non-deadly issues such as fatigue or indigestion. In the early stages of cardiovascular disease, there are usually no symptoms! Due to these factors a severe event such as stroke or heart attack may come without warning. The sudden event may be the first sign of disease – which is why heart disease is called a “silent killer.” 

According to the American Medical Association, the average age for men to have their first heart attack is around 65 years of age. Although disease processes could have begun as early as 40 years of age. Cardiovascular disease significantly impacts quality of life! However, many CVD’s are preventable or manageable through lifestyle modifications, regular monitoring and treatment by healthcare practitioners. It’s never too late to create change for improvement to the cardiovascular system. Let’s look at what you can control at home for a healthy heart and circulation system.

 

Prevention & Management Strategies:

Multiple cardiovascular disease risk factors are interconnected, one often affects the other. Which makes adopting a healthy lifestyle crucial in prevention and management. 

Lifestyle for a healthy cardiovascular system:

  • Engage in Regular Physical Activity: Physical activity maintains healthy blood pressure, cholesterol levels, weight, and overall cardiovascular fitness.
  • Quit Smoking: 88% of smokers worldwide are men
  • Maintain Healthy Blood Pressure
  • Maintain Healthy Cholesterol Levels
  • Maintain Healthy Weight
  • Maintain Healthy Blood Sugar Regulation
  • Manage Stress
  • Eat an Anti-Inflammatory Diet
  • Use medical professionals to monitor necessary blood markers for early detection and timely intervention

 

If you or a loved one are experiencing any of the symptoms above, it is time to be evaluated by your cardiologist! If you are ready for a protocol to move you towards further health resiliency, reach out to Longevity Health Center. We strive to support men to feel their best so they can show up in society with the strength to function at higher levels. Please share this with all the important men in your life.