Preventing Heart Attacks: Why Medication Alone Isn’t Enough

I often see patients who believe that because they are on cholesterol or blood pressure medications, they are fully protected from heart attacks or strokes. While these medications can certainly help manage symptoms, they often fail to address the root causes that lead to these life-threatening events. Even if your cholesterol and blood pressure seem “controlled” on paper, you could still be at significant risk. This is why taking a deeper, functional medicine approach is essential.

Cholesterol and blood pressure medications only tackle part of the issue—they don’t address the imbalances that take years to develop, like chronic inflammation, poor liver function, and hormone imbalances. The real goal should be to prevent the heart attack or stroke from happening in the first place, not just managing numbers on a lab report.

Risks Even With Cholesterol and Blood Pressure Medications

Many patients come to me on these medications, thinking they’re protected. But the truth is, studies have shown that these meds don’t necessarily stop the progression of underlying conditions:

1. Cholesterol Medications: While statins lower LDL cholesterol, they don’t always reduce the risk of heart disease for everyone. Some studies have shown that patients taking statins still have a significant risk of cardiovascular events due to other underlying issues, such as inflammation or insulin resistance.
2. Blood Pressure Medications: High blood pressure meds, like ACE inhibitors or beta-blockers, might control blood pressure readings but don’t address the underlying cause of why your blood vessels are under stress. Chronic stress, hormone imbalances, and organ dysfunction (like in the adrenal glands) are often ignored when only medications are prescribed.

Go HERE to download your Guide to Lowering Cholesterol Naturally

Studies Show the Importance of Looking Deeper

Research supports the fact that medications alone are not enough. Here are three important studies that show why focusing on the root cause is key:

1. The JUPITER Study (2008): This landmark study found that even patients with low LDL cholesterol were at risk for heart disease if they had elevated c-reactive protein (cRP) levels, a marker of inflammation. This shows that controlling cholesterol alone is not enough; inflammation must also be addressed.
2. The ASCOT Trial (2005): This study looked at patients on blood pressure medications and found that even those with “controlled” blood pressure were still at significant risk for cardiovascular events. The underlying inflammation and metabolic imbalances were often not addressed by the medications.
3. The EPIC-Norfolk Study (2011): This long-term study examined diet and lifestyle factors in heart disease. It concluded that people with higher markers of inflammation and poor metabolic health were at a much greater risk of heart attack, even if they were on medication for cholesterol and blood pressure.

The Functional Medicine Approach: Going Beyond Meds

In my practice, I take a functional medicine approach to identify and address the root causes of heart disease and diabetes. I don’t just look at your cholesterol or blood pressure numbers; I dig deeper into key lab markers like:

• LDH (Lactate Dehydrogenase): Elevated levels can indicate tissue damage and chronic stress, which contributes to heart disease.
• cRP (C-Reactive Protein): High levels of cRP indicate inflammation in the body, which can trigger heart attacks.
• Fibrinogen: High fibrinogen levels increase the risk of blood clots, which can lead to heart attacks or strokes.
• Sed Rate (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate): A high sed rate indicates systemic inflammation, which can damage your cardiovascular system over time.

These markers tell us what’s really going on in your body and help me create a personalized plan that targets the liver, thyroid, adrenal glands, and pancreas—four key organs that often go out of balance and lead to heart disease.

Go HERE to download your Guide to Lowering Cholesterol Naturally today!

Take Control of Your Heart Health—Now

Even if you’re on cholesterol and blood pressure meds, you could still be at risk for a heart attack or stroke. It’s time to take control of your health by looking deeper into what’s really causing the problem.

Schedule a consultation today to go beyond surface-level treatments and get to the root of your cardiovascular health. Together, we’ll review your critical lab markers and create a personalized plan that addresses the underlying causes, so you can truly prevent a heart attack or stroke. Don’t wait until it’s too late—take action now.