Following on from our article on the concept of functional medicine and how it benefits the patient, we now look at which patients could benefit from a functional cardiology approach. And, the short answer is, everyone with a chronic condition.
Acute emergencies are – and will remain – the domain of traditional medicine. If you break your leg you will need an orthopaedic surgeon. However, most disease is chronic and inflammation is at the heart of most problems. That is where functional medicine comes in.
Coronary artery disease – one of the biggest killers in the UK, is caused by a chronic inflammation of your coronary arteries. There are estimated to be 7.6 million people living with heart or circulatory disease and many more at high risk of developing cardiac conditions.
It is evident that many patients could benefit from a functional cardiology.
Who would benefit from functional cardiology
Patients with a family history of heart disease: it’s proven that if there is a history of heart disease or related conditions, such as high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol, running through your family then you are much more likely to develop heart disease yourself.
Inherited conditions are caused by a fault in the genes and are inherited from your parents, whereas a family history can also be a combination of shared genes and environments that affects one generation to the next. Your genes do however not determine your fate – lifestyle does!
The genes load the gun – lifestyle pulls the trigger.
If you want to learn how to generate health, call 01622 538 103 and arrange an appointment with Dr Grosser.
Patients with early atherosclerosis: atherosclerosis is a hardening of the arteries and is caused by a build-up of plaque in the inner lining of an artery that reduces blood flow and oxygen supply. Plaque is composed of fatty substances, cholesterol and cellular waste products. Risk factors include high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, smoking, Type 1 and 2 diabetes, fatty diet and obesity and a sedentary lifestyle, which can be addressed by a functional medicine approach.
Patients with autoimmune diseases: cardiovascular disease is a major risk factor for patients that suffer from chronic autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, sclerosis and psoriasis. Inflammation is the body’s response to injury or infection, but chronic autoimmune conditions lead to an abnormal inflammatory response that can lead to significant organ damage and is associated with an increased chance of having a heart attack or stroke.
Patients with diabetes and pre-diabetes/insulin resistance: high blood sugar levels can damage your blood vessels and cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in people living with diabetes. Diabetes is also commonly linked to other conditions such as high blood pressure and people with diabetes are twice as likely to suffer a stroke than those without diabetes. For advise how to reverse your type 2 diabetes call 01622 538 103 and arrange a consultation with Dr Grosser to start your health-creation journey.
A plethora of scientific evidence exists that clearly shows that it is a continuum from normal to insulin resistance to pre-diabetes and finally to full blown diabetes.
It is unwise to wait until the end before acting. To find out whether you are affected from insulin resistance call 01622 538 103 and arrange an appointment with Dr Grosser.
Patients with disordered cholesterol metabolism: if you have a lipid disorder, it means you have high levels of LDL, known as ‘bad cholesterol’ or of fats called triglycerides. You may also be deficient in HDL or the ‘good cholesterol’. These are among the most common risk factors for heart disease or stroke as these substances can narrow and harden your arteries.
For more advice on functional medicine/cardiology and to learn how you will benefit call 01622 538 103 to arrange a consultation with Dr Konrad Grosser and become the CEO of your health.
