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High Blood Pressure: Why the Number is only the Starting Point

Know Your Numbers! Week, which runs from 7 to 13 September, is Blood Pressure UK’s annual blood pressure testing and awareness campaign. It exists for a simple but important reason. Around 4.1 million people in England are estimated to be living with high blood pressure without knowing it. Getting a reading is the essential first step.

But for many people, knowing the number is only the beginning. The more useful question is what is causing blood pressure to be elevated in the first place, and what can be done about it.

Why blood pressure becomes elevated

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is often described as a silent condition. It rarely causes noticeable symptoms, yet over time it places sustained strain on the heart, arteries, kidneys and brain. It is one of the most significant modifiable risk factors for stroke, heart attack and heart failure.

For most people, blood pressure is influenced by more than one factor at a time, and these factors interact in ways that a single reading cannot capture. Detection and control also remain a challenge at population level. A BMJ Medicine analysis of hypertension trends across England from 2003 to 2021 found that the proportion of people with hypertension who were undiagnosed fell from 32.6% in 2003 to 23.7% in 2011, but had risen back to 32.4% by 2021. In the same analysis, only 38.3% of people with hypertension had adequately controlled blood pressure in 2021.

Common contributors include excess body weight, particularly visceral fat around the abdomen, which is closely associated with insulin resistance and low-grade inflammation. Dietary patterns high in salt and ultra-processed foods and low in potassium-rich whole foods influence vascular tone and fluid balance. Chronic psychological stress is associated with sustained sympathetic nervous system activation, which can raise blood pressure over time. Poor or disrupted sleep, including undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnoea, is a recognised and frequently overlooked contributor. Physical inactivity and excess alcohol also contribute independently.

Understanding which of these factors are most relevant for an individual patient requires looking beyond the blood pressure reading itself.

The limits of measurement alone

NICE guidance (NG136) recommends offering lifestyle advice to everyone with suspected or diagnosed hypertension, and continuing to offer it periodically, alongside medication where indicated. This reflects a broad consensus that blood pressure is best managed by addressing the conditions that produce it as well as by treating the number.

Standard clinical assessment is designed to identify, classify and treat hypertension, and it does this well. What a longer cardiometabolic consultation can add is time for a more structured exploration of the contributing factors, including body composition, markers of insulin sensitivity, inflammatory markers such as hs-CRP, sleep quality and levels of psychological stress, considered alongside conventional cardiovascular risk assessment. These additional measures are used to inform lifestyle discussion and shared decision-making; they do not replace guideline-based diagnosis and treatment.

This is particularly relevant for patients whose blood pressure remains difficult to control despite medication, or who want to understand what is contributing to their risk alongside, rather than instead of, guideline-based treatment. Decisions about starting, changing or stopping medication should always be made with the doctor responsible for your care.

A cardiometabolic approach to hypertension

Dr Grosser’s consultations at KentCardio consider blood pressure as one element within a broader cardiometabolic assessment. Rather than looking at the number alone, the aim is to build a fuller picture of the factors shaping an individual’s cardiovascular risk and to agree a practical, individualised plan for managing them, in line with current guidelines and in partnership with the patient’s GP.

For a more detailed look at the underlying drivers of blood pressure, book a private consultation with Dr Konrad Grosser at KentCardio: https://kentcardio.com/book/

This article is for general information and does not constitute medical advice. If your blood pressure is significantly raised, or you experience symptoms such as chest pain, severe headache or visual disturbance, please contact your GP urgently or call 111. In an emergency, call 999.

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The Gut-Heart Connection: Microbiome and Cardiovascular Health

The idea that the bacteria living in your gut might influence the health of your heart sounds counterintuitive. Yet the science behind what researchers call the gut-heart axis has been building steadily, and it is now one of the more actively studied areas in cardiovascular medicine.

Understanding this connection, what it means, what it doesn’t mean, and what you can actually do about it, is increasingly relevant to anyone thinking seriously about their long-term heart health.

What is the gut microbiome?

The human gut is home to trillions of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, viruses and other microbes, collectively known as the gut microbiome. This community is highly individual, shaped by diet, lifestyle, genetics, medication history and early life environment. It is also metabolically active, producing a wide range of compounds that enter the bloodstream and interact with organs throughout the body, including the heart and blood vessels.

Changes in gut microbiota composition have been linked to cardiovascular health, with numerous studies pointing to the role that gut microbiota and its metabolites may play in the development of conditions including heart failure, stroke, hypertension and atherosclerosis.

How the gut and heart communicate

Three areas have attracted particular scientific attention.

The first is trimethylamine N-oxide, or TMAO, a compound produced when gut bacteria metabolise certain dietary components, particularly those found in red meat and processed foods. Several studies have shown associations between gut microbiota and atherosclerosis, heart attacks, high blood pressure and diabetes, with researchers funded by the British Heart Foundation actively investigating whether changing gut bacteria could help reduce atherosclerosis. TMAO is one of the key metabolites under investigation in this area.

The second is short-chain fatty acids, particularly butyrate, produced when gut bacteria ferment dietary fibre. These compounds appear to have anti-inflammatory effects and are associated with improved vascular and metabolic markers, which may partly explain why high-fibre diets are so consistently associated with lower cardiovascular risk.

The third is the relationship between gut dysbiosis, an imbalance in the microbial community, and systemic inflammation. Dysbiosis has been linked to cardiovascular diseases including hypertension, heart failure and atherosclerosis, with key microbial metabolites implicated in mechanisms involving endothelial dysfunction, systemic inflammation and metabolic dysregulation.

How diet plays a key role in cardiovascular health

What is well established is that the dietary patterns most consistently associated with a healthier gut microbiome are the same ones associated with lower cardiovascular risk. A higher intake of vegetables, fruit, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds supports microbial diversity. Fermented foods such as natural yoghurt, kefir and sauerkraut may also play a role. Limiting ultra-processed foods, refined sugars and excess alcohol is associated with a more favourable microbial environment and with better cardiovascular outcomes independently of gut health.

These are not experimental recommendations. They align with guidance from the British Heart Foundation, the NHS and the World Cancer Research Fund. The gut microbiome may be one of the mechanisms through which these dietary patterns exert their cardiovascular benefit.

What this means in a functional medicine consultation

A cardiometabolic consultation that incorporates functional medicine principles considers dietary patterns, gut health, inflammation and metabolic function as part of an integrated assessment alongside conventional cardiovascular risk factors. For patients who want to understand how these systems interact in their own health, this can offer a more complete picture and a more personalised basis for intervention.

Dr Grosser’s consultations at KentCardio bring this approach together with cardiology assessment, looking at the full range of factors that shape long-term cardiovascular health.

This article is for general information and does not constitute medical advice.

Book a consultation with Dr Konrad Grosser at KentCardio: https://kentcardio.com/book/

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Why Poor Sleep is a Cardiovascular Issue

Sleep is often the first thing to be sacrificed when life gets busy. Most people accept tiredness as an inconvenience rather than a health concern. But the evidence tells a more significant story, one that has been building steadily over the past decade and is now firmly embedded in mainstream cardiovascular medicine.

In 2022, the American Heart Association formally added sleep to its Life’s Essential 8 framework, the eight factors most strongly associated with long-term cardiovascular health. Sleep now sits alongside diet, physical activity, weight, blood pressure, blood lipids, blood glucose and nicotine exposure. That decision reflected a substantial body of evidence that sleep is not simply rest. It is an active biological process with direct implications for heart and metabolic health.

What happens when we don’t sleep well

During sleep, the body carries out processes that are essential to cardiovascular function, including regulating blood pressure, managing inflammation, balancing hormones and supporting immune function. Chronic insufficient sleep is associated with increased risk of developing heart problems, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, as well as interference with metabolism and elevated risk of obesity.

The relationship works in both directions. Poor sleep raises cardiovascular risk, and cardiovascular conditions in turn disturb sleep. Obstructive sleep apnoea is a particularly important example, a condition in which breathing repeatedly pauses during the night, fragmenting sleep and placing repeated strain on the heart. It is strongly associated with hypertension, atrial fibrillation and heart failure, and is significantly underdiagnosed. Loud snoring, unrefreshing sleep, witnessed pauses in breathing and persistent daytime tiredness are all worth discussing with a GP.

Sleep quality, not just quantity

Most adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep per night, but duration alone does not capture the full picture. Sleep architecture, the pattern of light sleep, deep sleep and REM sleep across the night, matters considerably. Deep sleep is when blood pressure dips, tissues repair and growth hormone is released. REM sleep supports memory consolidation and emotional regulation. Disruption to either, whether from stress, alcohol, shift work or an underlying sleep disorder, affects these processes even when total hours look adequate.

A cardiometabolic assessment can also consider sleep quality and regularity alongside duration, looking at the factors that may be disrupting restorative sleep and how these interact with the wider metabolic and cardiovascular picture.

What supports better sleep

Several lifestyle factors are consistently associated with improved sleep quality and, by extension, better cardiovascular outcomes. A regular sleep and wake time, including at weekends, is one of the most effective adjustments most people can make. Limiting alcohol in the evening is important. While alcohol can help some people fall asleep, a 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis in Sleep Medicine Reviews found that even low doses disrupt REM sleep, the restorative stage associated with memory consolidation and emotional regulation, with effects worsening at higher doses.

Reducing bright light and screen exposure before bed, keeping the bedroom cool and dark, and avoiding large meals late in the evening all support the body’s natural sleep signals.

Managing stress and anxiety also matters significantly. Research consistently shows that chronic psychological stress is one of the strongest disruptors of sleep quality, with a 2024 peer-reviewed study confirming that stress has both a direct and indirect impact on sleep across multiple biological and behavioural pathways.

Sleep as part of a complete cardiovascular assessment

Dr Grosser’s consultations at KentCardio consider sleep alongside conventional cardiovascular risk factors including blood pressure, lipid biology, insulin sensitivity and body composition, as part of a complete and individualised assessment. Where obstructive sleep apnoea or another primary sleep disorder is suspected, onward referral to a sleep specialist or NHS sleep service is part of the standard pathway.

This article is for general information and does not constitute medical advice. If you have symptoms suggestive of a sleep disorder, please discuss them with your GP.

Book a consultation with Dr Konrad Grosser at KentCardio: https://kentcardio.com/book/

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How Does Stress Affect Your Heart?

Most of us recognise stress when we feel it. Fewer of us realise how directly it shows up in cardiovascular health. Stress is not simply a state of mind – it has measurable effects on the heart, blood vessels and metabolic function, and chronic stress is now recognised as a genuine cardiovascular risk factor alongside the more familiar ones of high blood pressure, cholesterol and smoking.

The physiological pathway

When the body senses a threat, whether physical or psychological, it triggers a cascade of hormonal responses. Cortisol and adrenaline rise, heart rate increases, blood pressure goes up and the body prepares for action. In the short term, this response is entirely normal and adaptive.

The difficulty arises when stress becomes persistent. Sustained elevation of cortisol is associated with higher blood pressure, increased inflammation, insulin resistance and changes in lipid profile – all of which contribute to cardiovascular risk over time. The British Heart Foundation notes that chronic stress can also drive unhealthy behaviours. For example, poor diet, excess alcohol, physical inactivity and disrupted sleep, which compound that risk further.

A recent study published in The Lancet (Tawakol et al., 2017) provided evidence supporting a biological pathway. Researchers found that heightened activity in the amygdala, the brain’s stress-processing centre, was associated with increased bone marrow activity, arterial inflammation and a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular events, independently of other known risk factors.

The American Heart Association recognises psychological health as foundational to cardiovascular health in the presidential advisory that introduced its Life’s Essential 8 framework (diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, sleep, weight, lipids, glucose and blood pressure).

Why stress is often underestimated

Unlike high blood pressure or raised cholesterol, stress is not routinely measured in a standard health check. It tends to be treated as a background feature of modern life rather than something with clinical significance. Yet the evidence suggests it deserves considerably more attention, particularly in people who already carry other cardiovascular risk factors.

Stress and cardiovascular risk also interact in ways that are easy to miss. Chronic stress disrupts sleep, and poor sleep itself raises cardiovascular risk. It drives inflammation, which accelerates atherosclerosis. It affects insulin sensitivity, which influences metabolic health. Looking at stress in isolation underestimates its true impact.

What can be done

Stress is not something that can be resolved with a single intervention, and there is no suggestion that it can. But it is modifiable, and there is reasonable evidence that several approaches are associated with meaningful improvements in both stress physiology and cardiovascular markers.

Regular physical activity is one of the most consistently studied modulators of the stress response, with benefits for blood pressure, sleep quality, mood and sleep regularity. Disrupted sleep amplifies cortisol output and worsens the cardiovascular effects of stress. Mind-body practices such as mindfulness-based stress reduction, yoga and breathing exercises have shown modest but consistent reductions in blood pressure and perceived stress across multiple trials. Limiting alcohol is also relevant, as it can intensify rather than relieve the physiological stress response.

A functional medicine approach

Dr Konrad Grosser is a consultant cardiologist and one of the very few interventional cardiologists in the UK certified by the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM). His consultations consider stress as part of a broader cardiovascular and metabolic assessment – looking at sleep patterns, lifestyle, autonomic balance and inflammatory markers alongside conventional risk factors, rather than examining each in isolation.

This approach is complementary to conventional care, not a replacement for it. For patients whose cardiovascular risk feels difficult to explain through standard metrics alone, a more complete picture of how stress, sleep and metabolic health interact can be a genuinely useful starting point.

If you are experiencing chest pain, palpitations or new symptoms, please contact your GP or call 111. In an emergency, call 999.

This article is for general information and does not constitute medical advice.

Book a consultation with Dr Konrad Grosser at KentCardio: https://kentcardio.com/book/

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Alcohol and Your Heart: What The Evidence Tells Us

The Alcohol Awareness Week (6–12 July 2026), coordinated by Alcohol Change UK is a timely moment to look honestly at where the science currently sits on alcohol and cardiovascular health.

The picture has shifted meaningfully in recent years.

What the evidence says now

For decades, observational studies suggested that moderate alcohol intake might be associated with a slightly lower risk of coronary heart disease. This was the basis of the so-called J-shaped curve, the idea that light drinkers fared better than both heavy drinkers and non-drinkers.

More recent research has complicated that picture considerably. Newer studies using methods designed to reduce the effect of confounding factors suggest that the apparent benefit of moderate drinking seen in earlier research may have been overstated. A 2025 scientific statement from the American Heart Association, published in the journal Circulation, concluded that the relationship between alcohol and cardiovascular health is complex and that significant uncertainties remain, particularly around light to moderate intake. It noted that heavy drinking is consistently associated with worse cardiovascular outcomes, and that reducing intake or abstaining is likely to be beneficial for many people.

What is not in doubt is the evidence for harm at higher levels of intake. Heavier drinking is consistently associated with raised blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, cardiomyopathy, stroke and a higher risk of certain cancers.

UK guidance

The UK Chief Medical Officers recommend that adults drink no more than 14 units of alcohol per week, spread over three or more days, with several alcohol-free days each week. There is no level of drinking that carries zero risk, but risk rises as intake increases.

For people living with existing cardiovascular conditions, particularly atrial fibrillation, hypertension or cardiomyopathy, even modest amounts of alcohol can have noticeable effects on symptoms and management. Reducing intake is often a sensible step, and one worth discussing with a GP or cardiologist.

Alcohol as part of a wider picture

In a cardiovascular consultation, alcohol is one factor among many. Sleep, stress, physical activity, diet, body composition and metabolic health all interact to shape an individual’s overall cardiovascular risk. The purpose of exploring these factors together is not to pass judgement on personal choices, but to give patients a clear, individualised picture of how their lifestyle affects their heart health – and what practical changes are most likely to make a difference for them specifically.

Dr Konrad Grosser is a consultant cardiologist and one of the very few interventional cardiologists in the UK certified by the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM). His consultations take this whole-picture approach, assessing lifestyle factors alongside conventional cardiovascular risk markers to build a complete and personalised assessment.

If you are concerned about your drinking, support is available from your GP, Drinkaware (https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/advice-and-support/) and Alcohol Change UK (https://alcoholchange.org.uk/).

This article is for general information and does not constitute medical advice.

Book a consultation with Dr Konrad Grosser at KentCardio: https://kentcardio.com/book/

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Functional Medicine Supporting Men’s Health

One of the most pressing men’s health concerns is prostate health. According to NHS data analysed by Prostate Cancer UK, prostate cancer officially became the most common cancer in England in January 2025. The National Prostate Cancer Audit (NATCAN) reported that 58,218 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in England in 2024, a 9% increase on 2023.

Cancer Research UK projects that UK prostate cancer incidence rates may rise by a further 14% between 2024–2026 and 2038–2040. These numbers make it clear that prostate health can no longer be something men put off thinking about.

Understanding prostate cancer risk and the role of PSA

Prostate cancer typically develops gradually and is often asymptomatic in its earlier stages. PSA (prostate-specific antigen) testing is one of the tools used in primary and secondary care to help assess prostate health, but PSA alone has well-known limitations. Levels can be influenced by age, ethnicity, certain medications, certain physical activities and other benign factors. National guidance (NICE NG131) emphasises that PSA results need to be interpreted in a clinical context, ideally by a GP or urologist, and that decisions about further investigation are individualised.

Dr Grosser does not provide prostate cancer screening, diagnosis or treatment. Men with prostate symptoms or who wish to consider PSA testing should see their GP or a urologist.

What is increasingly clear from the wider literature is that several modifiable lifestyle factors are associated with overall metabolic and cardiovascular health, and there is growing interest in their relationship to prostate biology and progression.

The role of diet and lifestyle

The evidence linking diet and metabolic health to prostate cancer risk is growing. Research published in JAMA Network Open (2024) followed over 2,000 men diagnosed with non-metastatic prostate cancer and found that individuals with the highest intake of plant foods had a lower risk of prostate cancer progression compared with those with the lowest intake. The findings are consistent with broader dietary research linking plant-predominant patterns to favourable cardiometabolic markers, although as an observational study it cannot prove causation.

General guidance from NHS, Cancer Research UK and the World Cancer Research Fund consistently supports:

  • maintaining a healthy weight
  • regular physical activity, including resistance training
  • eating a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds
  • limiting highly processed foods, processed meats and excessive alcohol

These are also among the most consistent recommendations for cardiovascular health.

The role of stress and sleep in prostate health

Chronic stress and poor sleep both have meaningful implications for prostate health and cancer risk.

Chronic psychological stress triggers sustained elevation of cortisol and other stress hormones, which can suppress immune function, promote inflammation, and disrupt hormonal balance. These are conditions that researchers have associated with increased cancer risk, though the mechanisms in prostate cancer specifically are still being studied.

Poor or disrupted sleep further elevates inflammatory markers, impairs immune surveillance, and affects hormonal regulation, including melatonin – which research has linked to prostate cancer risk.

How Dr Grosser’s consultations can help

Dr Konrad Grosser is a Consultant Cardiologist and IFM-certified Functional Medicine Practitioner. His private consultations focus on cardiovascular and metabolic health, including:

  • comprehensive cardiovascular risk assessment
  • lipid biology and inflammation
  • insulin sensitivity and body composition
  • sleep, stress and lifestyle factors

He does not provide cancer screening, diagnosis or treatment. Men concerned about prostate cancer specifically should see their GP, who can arrange appropriate investigations and onward referral if needed.

For men who want a broader look at their cardiometabolic health and lifestyle profile, a consultation can offer a structured, individualised assessment alongside their existing NHS or specialist care.

This article is for general information and does not constitute medical advice or screening. It is not a substitute for assessment by your GP or specialist.

Book a consultation with Dr Konrad Grosser at KentCardio to take a more complete look at your health.

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GLP-1 Medications, Diabetes and Weight Health: What The Evidence Tells Us

GLP-1 medications have reshaped how we think about type 2 diabetes and obesity.

GLP-1 medicines such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, now widely available in the UK, have transformed treatment. For people with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular risk, evidence from major clinical trials supports cardiovascular and renal benefits alongside meaningful weight loss. But something worth considering, are we treating the number on the scales, or are we supporting long-term metabolic health?

What GLP-1 medications do – and what they don’t

GLP-1 medications work by mimicking a natural gut hormone. They enhance glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppress glucagon, slow gastric emptying, and reduce appetite. This improves HbA1c and supports clinically meaningful weight loss in many people. For those with type 2 diabetes, this can be genuinely life-changing.

However, a 2026 review published in Diabetes.co.uk highlighted that informed use matters. The most common side effects are gastrointestinal and often manageable, but there are important edge cases around gallbladder disease, thyroid cancer risk in susceptible groups, and eye complications in certain individuals.

Weight loss is not the same as weight health

One of the most important shifts in this conversation is the distinction between losing weight and improving metabolic health. Patients can lose weight without improving their overall metabolic health. Weight on its own is a number – body composition, muscle mass, bone density, inflammatory markers, and metabolic function tell a far more complete story.

This matters particularly in the context of GLP-1 use. Addressing underlying metabolic drivers – rather than focusing on the number on the scales alone – helps ensure weight loss translates into lasting health improvements.

Reviews from the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) and broader clinical literature highlight that dietary patterns such Mediterranean, DASH, and low-carbohydrate patterns are associated with improved metabolic parameters. There is also evidence that combined aerobic and resistance training improves body composition, lipid and glucose metabolism, and physical function in people with type 2 diabetes.

In other words, medication is one tool. Supporting overall metabolic health – nutrition, movement, sleep, stress and the wider drivers of insulin resistance and inflammation – helps make weight loss meaningful for long-term wellbeing.

How functional medicine supports people with diabetes

More than four million people in the UK live with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, with an estimated further 1.3 million undiagnosed and over 6 million people at increased risk (Diabetes UK, 2024).

Dr Konrad Grosser is a consultant cardiologist and one of the very few interventional cardiologists in the UK certified by the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM). His approach to diabetes goes beyond blood sugar management to examine the root causes of metabolic dysfunction, including connections with insulin resistance, inflammation, gut health, hormonal balance, and cardiovascular risk.

For patients already taking GLP-1 medication, this kind of integrative consultation can support a more comprehensive approach to long-term metabolic health, alongside, and not as a replacement for, the care of the prescribing clinician and GP.

This article is for general information and does not constitute medical advice.

Book a consultation with Dr Konrad Grosser at KentCardio to explore a personalised approach to your metabolic health: https://kentcardio.com/book/

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Functional Medicine for Chronic Fatigue

Chronic fatigue is often misunderstood. Feeling tired after a busy week is one thing, but myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is very different. It is a complex, long-term condition that affects energy production, immune function, and overall quality of life.

For many people living with ME/CFS, the experience is frustrating. Symptoms can be severe and persistent, yet standard tests often come back normal. During ME Awareness Week (11–17 May 2026), it is worth taking a closer look at why this happens, and how a functional medicine approach may help as a complement to specialist care.

Please note: this article is intended to provide information only. If you are living with ME/CFS, specialist NHS care is essential and should remain the foundation of your treatment. Functional medicine is an adjunctive approach, not a replacement.

Understanding ME/CFS as a whole-body condition

ME/CFS is not simply fatigue. It can involve post-exertional exhaustion, cognitive difficulties, disrupted sleep, muscle pain, and heightened sensitivity to stressors. What makes it particularly challenging is that these symptoms often do not point to a single, clear cause.

Instead, ME/CFS appears to involve multiple systems working out of balance – including energy production, the immune system, and the gut. This complexity is one of the reasons conventional approaches can sometimes feel limited.

Emerging research suggests that in people with ME/CFS, mitochondrial function may be impaired, meaning the body may struggle to generate energy efficiently. This could contribute to the persistent fatigue and reduced resilience that many people experience.

Functional medicine looks at what may be affecting mitochondrial performance. Nutrient deficiencies, oxidative stress, inflammation, and toxin exposure can all play a role. Identifying and addressing these factors is one way in which this approach may offer additional support.

Gut health and the microbiome connection

Another area gaining increasing attention is the gut microbiome. Studies have found significant differences in the gut bacteria of people with ME/CFS compared to healthy individuals. These differences may act as potential biological markers for the condition.

The gut plays a central role in immune regulation and inflammation. When the balance of bacteria is disrupted – a state known as dysbiosis – it can contribute to systemic inflammation and affect how the body responds to stress.

For some people, addressing gut health may form a useful part of a wider support plan. This might involve dietary adjustments, targeted nutritional support, and strategies to help restore microbial balance.

Inflammation and immune dysregulation

Chronic low-grade inflammation is another important piece of the puzzle. Research has found that the immune system may become dysregulated in people with ME/CFS, leading to ongoing inflammatory activity that contributes to fatigue, pain, and cognitive symptoms.

Functional medicine aims to identify what may be driving that inflammation – including possible roles for infections, gut imbalance, stress, or metabolic factors. Once these drivers are better understood, targeted interventions may help reduce the overall inflammatory burden.

How functional medicine may support patients with ME/CFS

Conventional approaches to ME/CFS often focus on symptom management, which remains important. Functional medicine can complement this by drawing together information from multiple systems to build a more complete picture of what may be happening in the body.

Dr Konrad Grosser takes a personalised approach to conditions like ME/CFS. Assessments may include metabolic testing, inflammatory markers, and nutrient status – looking for areas where additional support may be possible. This is offered alongside, and in full support of, any care already being provided by NHS or specialist services.

An integrative consultation with Dr Konrad Grosser can help explore the factors that may be contributing to fatigue and provide a structured, personalised plan to support recovery and long-term wellbeing – as a complement to specialist NHS care, not a substitute for it.

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How Functional Medicine Supports People Living with Arthritis

Arthritis is often thought of as a condition that comes with age, but the truth is it can develop at any time. According to Arthritis UK, more than 10 million adults, young people and children in the UK live with arthritis – experiencing stiff joints, persistent pain, and reduced mobility.

What if arthritis isn’t just about the joints themselves, but reflects deeper processes happening within the body? That’s what functional medicine can help determine.

This May, as we mark Arthritis Awareness Month, we explore the role of functional medicine in supporting people living with arthritis.

Looking beyond the joints

Conventional treatment for arthritis is essential, particularly when it comes to managing pain. Medications, physiotherapy, and specialist care all play a central role, and functional medicine works alongside these – not in place of them.

What it can do is help uncover what may be contributing to inflammation in the first place.

Conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are not purely mechanical problems. They involve the immune system, inflammatory pathways, and often wider metabolic factors. Addressing these underlying drivers as part of an integrated approach may help support how symptoms are experienced alongside standard care.

Functional medicine and the inflammatory picture

At the centre of many forms of arthritis is chronic inflammation. The immune system becomes overactive or dysregulated, leading to ongoing joint irritation and tissue damage.

Functional medicine focuses on identifying what may be contributing to that inflammatory load – which can include diet, gut health, stress, sleep quality, environmental exposures, and underlying metabolic imbalance.

For some people, there may be food sensitivities or gut-related factors influencing immune activity. For others, chronic stress or poor sleep may be playing a more significant role.

Reducing the overall inflammatory burden on the body may, as part of a broader treatment plan, help support joint health alongside conventional care.

What does the research say?

A study published in PLoS One (Droz et al., 2020, Cleveland Clinic), found that a functional medicine programme used alongside standard care was associated with statistically significant improvements in pain scores, physical health, and mental health in a group of 54 patients with RA or PsA who had not seen sufficient improvement from conventional treatment alone. The study was retrospective and relatively small, so its findings should be interpreted with appropriate caution. However, it does provide useful early evidence for functional medicine as an adjunctive approach.

A separate randomised study published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (Sköldstam et al., 2003) found that certain patients with rheumatoid arthritis who followed a Mediterranean-style diet experienced reductions in inflammatory activity, improved physical function, and increased vitality.

Taken together, these findings suggest that while medication is often necessary and primary, lifestyle and nutritional strategies may provide meaningful additional support.

Personalised support

There is no single diet or lifestyle plan that works for everyone with arthritis. That’s why a personalised approach is central to functional medicine.

For some people, focusing on anti-inflammatory nutrition can make a noticeable difference. For others, addressing gut health or correcting nutrient deficiencies may be more relevant. Exercise, sleep, and stress management are all equally important considerations.

Dr Grosser takes a whole-body approach to chronic conditions like arthritis. This includes assessing metabolic health, inflammatory markers, and hormone balance, to build a clearer picture of what may be driving inflammation.

Chronic inflammation doesn’t just affect joints – it also plays a role in cardiovascular disease and other long-term health risks.

An integrative consultation with Dr Grosser is intended to complement, not replace, the care of your GP or specialist. It can help explore the underlying drivers of inflammation and develop a personalised plan to support both joint health and overall wellbeing.

To find out more or to book a consultation, visit kentcardio.com/book/

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Obesity Linked with 70% Higher Risk of Serious Diseases

Obesity is closely linked to a significantly higher risk of serious long-term diseases – including heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. A major study published in The Lancet in early 2026 has now added to this picture, finding that people with obesity also face a 70% higher risk of hospitalisation or deaths specifically from infectious disease.

That statistic is striking, but it opens the door to a more useful conversation – one that focuses on understanding why weight gain happens, and what can be done about it in a sustainable, personalised way.

Understanding the factors that contribute towards obesity

Weight gain is often framed as a simple equation of calories in versus calories out. While energy balance does matter, this explanation rarely captures the full picture.

Hormones, metabolism, stress, sleep, and even the health of the gut, all play a role in how the body stores and uses energy. Two people can follow similar diets and exercise routines yet experience very different outcomes. That’s because underlying biology influences how the body responds.

Insulin resistance is one of the most important drivers. When the body becomes less responsive to insulin, it tends to store more fat, particularly around the abdomen. This same process also increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes.

Chronic stress can contribute too. Elevated cortisol levels influence appetite, fat storage, and blood sugar regulation. Poor sleep disrupts hunger hormones, making it harder to regulate food intake. Over time, these factors combine, creating a metabolic environment that promotes weight gain.

Why obesity increases the risk of disease

Adipose tissue, or body fat, isn’t just passively stored. It acts as an active metabolic organ, releasing inflammatory signals and hormones that affect the entire body.

Excess body fat, particularly visceral fat around the organs, is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation. This inflammation plays a key role in the development of atherosclerosis, insulin resistance, and cellular dysfunction.

It also places strain on the cardiovascular system, increases blood pressure, and affects lipid metabolism. Over time, this creates the conditions for heart disease, stroke, and metabolic illness to develop.

The Lancet study found this systemic impact extends to infectious disease too. Researchers followed over 540,000 adults for an average of 13–14 years and found a clear, graded relationship: the higher the BMI, the greater the risk of serious infection. Importantly, this was an observational study and cannot establish causation directly, but the consistency of the finding across bacterial, viral, parasitic, and fungal infections suggests broad biological mechanisms are at work.

This helps explain why the risks associated with obesity go far beyond appearance or mobility. The impact is systemic.

A functional medicine perspective

As a consultant cardiologist and specialist in integrated and holistic health, certified by the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), Dr Konrad Grosser focuses on identifying the underlying drivers behind weight gain.

This means looking at factors such as insulin resistance, inflammation, hormone balance, thyroid function, gut health, and lifestyle patterns. It also means understanding how these factors interact, rather than viewing them separately.

A functional medicine approach to weight management is highly individual.

Some people may benefit from improving blood sugar control through balanced macronutrient intake. Others may need to address the health of the gut, reduce inflammation, or correct nutrient deficiencies. Sleep and stress management are also often just as important as dietary changes.

When metabolism becomes more balanced, weight loss tends to follow more naturally, without extreme or short-term measures.

Small changes, long-term impact

One of the most encouraging aspects of a more functional approach is that even modest improvements can have a meaningful effect on health. Improving insulin sensitivity, reducing inflammation, and supporting cardiovascular function can lower the risk of disease, even before significant weight loss occurs.

This shifts the focus from quick results to long-term health. It also makes change feel more achievable. With the right understanding and support, many of the underlying drivers can be addressed.

An integrative consultation with Dr Konrad Grosser offers a more in-depth look at the factors influencing weight and metabolic health, along with a personalised plan to reduce risk and improve long-term wellbeing. Book an appointment today.

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