The questions patients ask most — answered by Dr. Druz.

Integrative cardiology combines conventional cardiology with evidence-based complementary approaches — nutrition, targeted supplementation, lifestyle medicine, and mind-body practices — to treat and prevent cardiovascular disease. Dr. Druz evaluates the whole patient, not just the numbers on a lab report.

Dr. Druz is a board-certified cardiologist and nuclear cardiologist with additional training in integrative medicine. Unlike a standard practice that focuses primarily on medication and procedures, HHC identifies and addresses root causes — inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, stress, nutritional deficiencies, and hormonal imbalances — alongside conventional treatment.

We accept most major insurance plans for standard cardiology services including office visits, ECGs, echocardiograms, stress tests, and nuclear imaging. Some integrative consultations, functional medicine panels, and Fit in Your GENES® Toolkit testing may be out-of-pocket depending on your plan.

Yes. Dr. Druz offers virtual cardiology consultations nationwide. Our Second Opinion service is fully virtual and designed for patients who want a specialist review of their existing cardiac workup without traveling to Roslyn, NY.

Fit in Your GENES® is Dr. Druz’s proprietary approach to precision cardiovascular care. It integrates genetic testing, advanced biomarker profiling, and functional medicine diagnostics to create a personalized plan built around your specific biological blueprint — not a population average.

Fit in Your GENES® is our structured cardiovascular care pathway: Step 1 Explore (comprehensive assessment), Step 2 Deep-Dive (advanced cardiac and functional medicine testing), and Step 3 Engage (your personalized treatment and monitoring plan).

Patients with known risk factors (high cholesterol, hypertension, family history, elevated calcium score), those seeking a second opinion, anyone with unexplained symptoms like palpitations or shortness of breath, and patients who want a comprehensive cardiovascular longevity assessment.

At-home advanced testing kits that measure markers conventional labs miss — LDL particle size and number, Lp(a), oxidized LDL, inflammatory markers, omega-3 index, CoQ10, hormone panels, and biological age markers. Results are reviewed by Dr. Druz in the context of your full clinical picture.

A structured virtual review of your existing cardiac workup — test results, imaging, medications, and clinical history — by Dr. Druz. Available nationwide, designed for patients who want an expert integrative perspective before proceeding with a proposed treatment or surgery.

Cardiovascular Assessment is a 90-minute comprehensive visit. It includes point of care carotid ultrasound with carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), echocardiogram, abdominal aortic scan, and arterial stiffness assessment.

High cholesterol has multiple causes: genetic, dietary, metabolic (insulin resistance, hypothyroidism), and inflammatory. Standard panels often miss the most important markers — LDL particle number, ApoB, Lp(a), and oxidized LDL are far better predictors than total LDL alone.

Partially, with the right approach. Calcified plaque cannot be dissolved, but the inflammatory, lipid-laden components of soft plaque can stabilize and even regress with aggressive risk-factor management. We use calcium scoring and CIMT to track actual arterial wall changes over time.

Usually benign — common causes are PVCs, PACs, anxiety, caffeine, magnesium deficiency, and thyroid dysfunction. But palpitations with chest pain, fainting, severe breathlessness, or those occurring during exercise warrant prompt evaluation. Dr. Druz checks magnesium, thyroid, and extended ECG monitoring first.

A low-radiation CT scan measuring calcified plaque. A score of 0 indicates very low near-term risk; above 100 indicates significant plaque burden. Recommended for most patients over 40 with any risk factors — it changes treatment decisions in roughly 40% of patients.

A genetically determined LDL-like particle that is an independent, causal risk factor for heart attack, stroke, and aortic stenosis. Not on a standard panel and largely unaffected by diet or statins. ~20–25% of people have elevated Lp(a); Dr. Druz checks it on every new patient.

Many have strong cardiovascular evidence, but some interact with medications. Nattokinase, omega-3, aged garlic, and vitamin E affect platelet function or coagulation — relevant on warfarin, aspirin, or a DOAC. Dr. Druz reviews all supplementation against your full medication list before recommending.

Berberine reduces LDL ~18 mg/dL via PCSK9 inhibition and AMPK activation — comparable to low-dose statin in magnitude. But statins have decades of outcomes data that berberine lacks. For low-to-moderate-risk statin-intolerant patients it’s well-evidenced; for high-risk established disease, statins remain standard of care.

No one-size-fits-all approach. She reviews your metabolic markers, genetic variants, preferences, and goals first. In general she favors an anti-inflammatory pattern — Mediterranean or plant-forward — low in ultra-processed foods, rich in omega-3s, polyphenols, and fiber, tailored to your risk profile.

Often, yes. Magnesium is a cofactor for cardiac contraction and conduction; up to 60% of adults are insufficient and deficiency is a common trigger for benign palpitations. Dr. Druz checks RBC magnesium (more sensitive than serum). Glycinate and threonate are preferred; oxide absorbs poorly.

For most patients, appropriate exercise is one of the most powerful interventions available — reducing inflammation, improving endothelial function, lowering BP, improving insulin sensitivity. The key word is appropriate: prescription should be guided by diagnosis, medications, and functional capacity.

Roslyn, New York on Long Island. We also offer telehealth consultations nationwide, including our Second Opinion service and follow-up consultations.

The best starting point for most patients is a Step 1 Explore consultation. You can schedule a free discovery call to discuss your situation. Use the Speak with a Human button at the top of any page, or call 877-511-5166.

Absolutely — we encourage it. Bringing prior bloodwork, imaging, ECGs, echocardiograms, and medication lists lets Dr. Druz review everything in context rather than repeating tests. For Second Opinion patients, your existing records are the foundation of the consultation.