A Functional Medicine Approach to Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death globally, yet much of it is preventable. Conventional care often focuses on diagnosing disease and managing symptoms, typically with medication. However, this approach may overlook the complex, interconnected factors that contribute to cardiovascular decline.

I adopt a functional medicine approach to cardiovascular disease and have developed a specific 1:1 program for those with or at risk of cardiovascular disease called ‘Beat the Cardiovascular Clock’.

My approach means moving beyond surface-level symptoms to understand the root causes and modifiable drivers of heart disease. If you are searching for a more personalised, preventative strategy, our approach and the use of functional medicine for heart disease offers an empowering way forward.

Why Cardiovascular Disease Often Goes Undetected?

One of the greatest challenges with cardiovascular disease is that it can be a “silent killer”. Many people are unaware they have an issue until a significant event like a heart attack or stroke occurs. The disease may develop over years, slowly damaging the heart and blood vessels without causing obvious symptoms.

This is why early detection, even in those without symptoms, is crucial.

What are the main risk factors associated to cardiovascular disease?

Cardiovascular disease can affect anyone, but certain groups face a higher risk:

• Males over 45 and females over 55
• Individuals of South Asian, African, or Caribbean descent
• Those with a family history of heart disease

While you cannot change your age or genetics, you can address many of the modifiable factors that influence cardiovascular risk.

Our primary focus in functional medicine is addressing the factors that you can change. These include:

• High blood pressure
• Elevated cholesterol
• Blood sugar imbalances, insulin resistance and diabetes
• Chronic inflammation
• Smoking and alcohol intake
• Unhealthy dietary habits
• High stress
• Poor sleep
• Excess body fat
• Physical inactivity
• Nutrient insufficiencies and imbalances

Can you reduce my cardiovascular risk despite my family history?

Yes, you can significantly reduce your cardiovascular risk even if you have a family history of heart disease. While genetic factors do play a role in cardiovascular health, lifestyle modifications and proactive healthcare can greatly diminish the impact of inherited risks.

This is why we focus on your modifiable risks, which are largely influenced by nutrition and lifestyle choices.

Even if you have had a past cardiac event, you can still reduce or even reverse some of the progression of cardiovascular disease.

Remember, our genes load the gun but our lifestyle habits are what pull the trigger!

What are the best ways to assess cardiovascular health?

As cardiovascular health has many influencing factors, a combination of detailed health and medical history, including family history, physical examinations like blood pressure, pulse, body composition analysis, waist circumference measurements, nutrition and lifestyle reviews and specific blood tests is a great starting point.

If imbalances are noted or someone has several relevant risk factors, additional screening with a cardiologist may be of benefit. This could include the likes of electro/echocardiograms, stress tests, CT calcium scans, carotid ultrasounds etc.

Performing appropriate testing provides data points that empowers the decision-making process and often supports the motivation to make change. Not only that, data can be reassessed to observe improvements relating to changes that you are making.

I use comprehensive assessments to identify root causes and map out a clear strategy for improvement. These assessments may include:

• Advanced lipid profiles (cholesterol, triglycerides, ApoB, lipoprotein(a) etc)
• Inflammatory and oxidative stress markers (e.g. hs-CRP, ferritin, uric acid etc)
• Glucose and insulin resistance metrics (e.g. fasting insulin, HbA1c, glucose, HDL, triglycerides etc)
• Nutrient testing (e.g. omega-3 index, magnesium, B vitamins)
• Homocysteine and methylation associated markers
• Hormones (sex hormones, stress hormones, thyroid hormones etc)
• Body composition analysis that includes fat mass and visceral fat
• Anthropometric measurements such as blood pressure, waist circumference and ratios.

This detailed insight allows us to personalise your strategy and track your improvements over time.

As we get to know you, we may also assess other more indirect factors that impact cardiovascular and metabolic health such as digestive health, toxin exposure and hormonal imbalances.

Should you be concerned by a high cholesterol and/or blood pressure diagnosis?

A diagnosis of high cholesterol or high blood pressure can be scary. You can feel like you are losing control of your health, perhaps even experience a sense of your own mortality, often resulting in increased anxiety.

Whilst these imbalances are important risk factors for future cardiovascular events, we help you use them as motivations for change.

The thing to remember is that there is so much within your control that will help to reverse these risk factors and ultimately lower your cardiovascular disease risk.

Can I support people who have had a heart attack / stroke?

Yes, whether you are at risk of cardiovascular disease, have progressed cardiovascular disease or have had a past cardiac event like a stroke or heart attack, I can help.

My focus is to deal with root cause imbalances that ultimately lead to cardiovascular disease progression.

If you have had a past cardiac event, and are anxious about your future health, know that you still have significant control over your destiny.

I love to work as part of a team where we all have a clear vision, which is to help you minimise your cardiovascular risk.

With that in mind, I am more than happy to work alongside your existing medical specialist such as your Doctor and Cardiologist.

I believe that I offer a unique role in your prevention or recovery from a cardiac event. My role is to provide a more holistic approach, one that works on root causes but equally can complement any medical treatments you are having.

I often find that conventional treatments are quite one dimensional and clients of ours are frustrated by the lack of awareness and support associated to making lifestyle changes that can help to transform your cardiovascular health.

That is where I come in. I want to complement advice and guidance given to your already but offer up an integrative approach that both accelerates your results and creates significant improvements in both health and lifespan, not just the management of single risk factors such as lowering cholesterol.

What is the best diet for cardiovascular health?

Diet plays a significant role in managing cardiovascular health.

Diets such as the Mediterranean Diet, DASH Diet, Plant-based, Paleo Diets have been well researched in relation to their impact on cardiovascular disease. Adopting a diet that helps to lower inflammation, reduce blood pressure, manage your cholesterol and triglyceride levels is crucial.

What I do is personalise a diet plan based upon your dietary preferences and the goals that you have. I then help you implement those changes at an appropriate pace, ensuring that the changes you make are both realistic and effective.

You might be wondering, “Do I need to give up my favourite food and drink to improve my cardiovascular health?”.

Improving your cardiovascular health DOES NOT mean you have to completely give up your favourite foods and drinks. The key is moderation and making informed choices about how often and how much of these you consume.

Making more gradual changes is typically best for long term cardiovascular outcomes.

Which lifestyle factors increase cardiovascular health risk?

Beyond diet, other lifestyle factors that have been linked to cardiovascular risk include, poor sleep, high stress levels, tobacco use, physical inactivity.

My holistic approach to cardiovascular health means that I look at all these areas. Once I have highlighted areas that could be improved, with your help, we put together a strategy to help reduce their influence on your cardiovascular health.

I can help you plan for moments of indulgence and flexibility. This means you can have the least possible disruption to areas such as your social and family life. Planning in these moments can also make the other broader changes you are making more sustainable and reduce any feelings of restriction.

Can I improve my cardiovascular without medication?

Yes, as we know most of the risk factors are driven by nutrition and lifestyle choices. So, as well as adapting your nutrition and lifestyle, you can also look at proven natural therapies / ingredients that also help to improve your cardiovascular health.

However, it is worth noting, that in some instances, more conventional interventions are required to manage your short-term risk.

I work with you to develop a strategy that both aligns with your end outcome goals but also acknowledges that we all have different preferences when it comes to treatment strategies.

My approach not only works on direct symptoms and imbalances that you are experiencing, it also works on root cause issues.

This approach typically complements any conventional treatments. I am on hand to ensure that any natural solutions are not contraindicated with other treatments.

I help you cut through the misinformation so that you can make the most informed choice that is right for you.

Take Control of Your Cardiovascular Health

If you are ready to adopt a proactive, personalised approach to heart health, I am here to guide and support you. Whether you are managing high cholesterol, have a family history, or simply want to prevent future issues, functional medicine provides the framework to move forward with clarity and confidence.

I offer a few entry points when it comes to managing the cardiovascular health.

Beat The Cardiovascular Clock

If you have had a cardiac event in the past or have been told you have heart disease already, I recommend my Beat The Cardiovascular Clock 1:1 program. This is an initial 3 month program with intensive accountability and support to help you transform your cardiovascular health.

Functional Health Assessment

If you are unsure or your risk levels, I offer a Functional Health Assessment, a one-off assessment and consultation session. These tests and the consultation allows me to help establish your risk and the need for you to develop a strategy to help slow or even reverse your risk of cardiovascular disease.

Free Discovery Call

Still not sure where to start? Why not Book a FREE discovery call with me to discuss your unique situation further and get clear on your starting point.

My functional medicine approach for heart disease is about regaining control over your health and making meaningful, lasting improvements.