Evidence-based answers to your heart health questions.
Beyond the standard cholesterol panel — written and reviewed by Dr. Regina Druz, MD, MBA, FACC, FMCP-M, Board-Certified Integrative Cardiologist at Holistic Heart Centers, Roslyn, NY.
Browse by condition
Select a condition to see all related articles.
Most read articles
The most searched heart health questions on Google — answered by Dr. Druz.
Article collections
Curated reading lists on the topics patients ask about most.
High Cholesterol & Lp(a)
Articles on cholesterol, Lp(a), lipid optimization, and what standard panels miss.
BROWSE THE COLLECTION →Heart Attack Prevention
Preventing heart attacks before they happen — advanced testing, root causes, and integrative strategies.
BROWSE THE COLLECTION →Hypertension
What actually drives high blood pressure and how to address it beyond medication.
BROWSE THE COLLECTION →Latest from the blog
-
New Cholesterol Guidelines 2026: LDL Targets, Lp(a), and What Changed
Read more →: New Cholesterol Guidelines 2026: LDL Targets, Lp(a), and What ChangedCoronary Artery DiseaseHigh Cholesterol & Lp(a) The 2026 ACC/AHA Dyslipidemia Guideline introduces five major changes: a new risk calculator (PREVENT replaces Pooled Cohort Equations), explicit LDL targets reinstated (below 55 mg/dL for highest-risk patients), universal Lp(a) testing for every adult, formal Class 3 (No Benefit) ratings for dietary supplements, and CAC score tiers tied directly…
-
How Do I Decrease My Vascular Age?
Read more →: How Do I Decrease My Vascular Age?Vascular Aging Your vascular age reflects how old your arteries actually function compared to your chronological age. Someone who is 50 years old may have arteries that function like those of a 35-year-old or a 65-year-old depending on years of accumulated inflammation, metabolic stress, hormonal changes, and lifestyle factors. The encouraging reality is that vascular…
-
What Is The Best Way To “Unclog” Your Arteries?
Read more →: What Is The Best Way To “Unclog” Your Arteries?Coronary Artery Disease The idea of “unclogging” arteries is appealing but oversimplified. Arteries are not pipes, and plaque is not a blockage you can scrub away with the right supplement or diet. However, the body does have a remarkable capacity to stabilize, shrink, and in some cases partially reverse arterial plaque when you address the…
-
Can You Live A Long Life With Calcified Arteries?
Read more →: Can You Live A Long Life With Calcified Arteries?Coronary Artery Disease Yes, many people live long, active lives with calcified arteries, but the outcome depends entirely on what you do after discovering the calcium. Coronary artery calcium is a marker of atherosclerosis, indicating that plaque has been building in your arteries over time. It is a hallmark of arterial aging. The total amount…
-
How Do I Lower My Lp(a) Cholesterol?
Read more →: How Do I Lower My Lp(a) Cholesterol?High Cholesterol & Lp(a) Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is one of the most important and most overlooked cardiovascular risk factors. Unlike standard LDL cholesterol, Lp(a) levels are primarily determined by genetics, which means diet and exercise have minimal direct effect on the number itself. However, this does not mean you are powerless. While significantly lowering Lp(a)…
-
Can You Reverse Hypertension?
Read more →: Can You Reverse Hypertension?Hypertension Yes, hypertension may potentially be reversed when you identify and address what is actually driving it. This is fundamentally different from controlling blood pressure with medication, which manages the number without resolving the underlying dysfunction. True reversal requires sustainability in lifestyle efforts, and identification of root causes. For many people with hypertension rooted in…
-
What Foods Help Lower Hypertension?
Read more →: What Foods Help Lower Hypertension?Hypertension The foods that help lower blood pressure are those that address the root causes driving the elevation in the first place. This means foods that improve insulin sensitivity, reduce inflammation, support healthy endothelial function, and provide the nutrients your vascular system needs to regulate itself. A list of blood pressure lowering foods misses the…
-
What Is The Difference Between High Blood Pressure And Hypertension?
Read more →: What Is The Difference Between High Blood Pressure And Hypertension?Hypertension In medical terminology, high blood pressure and hypertension refer to the same condition: blood pressure that is persistently elevated above normal ranges. However, the more important distinction is between a temporary blood pressure elevation and the chronic metabolic dysfunction that keeps blood pressure elevated over time. Your blood pressure rises naturally during exercise, stress,…
-
How Long Does It Take To Reduce Hypertension?
Read more →: How Long Does It Take To Reduce Hypertension?Hypertension The timeline for reducing blood pressure depends entirely on what is driving it in the first place. If you are only addressing sodium intake and waiting for a medication to work, you may see numbers drop within weeks but never actually resolve the underlying dysfunction. If you address the real root causes, including insulin…
-
What Triggers Most Heart Attacks?
Read more →: What Triggers Most Heart Attacks?Heart Attack Prevention Most heart attacks are triggered by the rupture of vulnerable arterial plaque, not by severe blockages that gradually cut off blood flow. When an inflamed, unstable plaque ruptures, it exposes its contents to the bloodstream, triggering a blood clot that can completely block the artery within minutes. This is why many heart…
-
What Heals The Heart Naturally?
Read more →: What Heals The Heart Naturally?Heart Attack Prevention The heart has a remarkable capacity for healing when given the right conditions. Natural healing occurs when the factors that damage the cardiovascular system are removed and the factors that support repair are optimized. This includes reducing inflammation, restoring metabolic health, improving endothelial function, and supporting the body’s innate regenerative processes. While…
-
Can Diet Reverse Heart Disease?
Read more →: Can Diet Reverse Heart Disease?Heart Disease Diet can contribute to reversing heart disease, particularly when it addresses the root causes of atherosclerosis like inflammation, insulin resistance, and oxidative stress. Clinical trials have demonstrated measurable plaque regression with intensive dietary intervention. However, diet alone may not be sufficient for everyone, especially those with advanced disease, genetic risk factors, or significant…