Own Your Heart Health with Dr. Regina Druz

Busting the LDL Cholesterol Myth: It is NOT What You Think!

“I look at cholesterol as a first responder. Once inflammation starts in the blood vessels and injury occurs, cholesterol is sent to patch it up—that’s the beginning of those plaques. If plaques are active and inflammation doesn’t subside, the immune system, of course, gets involved,” says Dr. Regina Druz, challenging the conventional view that LDL cholesterol is simply a villain in heart disease.
 
In this episode, Dr. Druz is joined by Dr. Ernst Schaefer, a leading expert in lipidology and co-founder of Boston Heart Diagnostics, to explore a more nuanced take on cholesterol and heart health. What if cholesterol’s role is more complex than we think? They discuss the hidden risks of small dense LDL particles, which can be far more harmful than LDL alone, and how these particles drive inflammation and plaque formation in our arteries. Together, they encourage listeners to look beyond traditional cholesterol measures and consider cardiometabolic health as a whole. 
 
With heart disease on the rise, how can we make sense of cholesterol management in a way that truly supports long-term health? Dr. Druz and Dr. Schaefer share fresh insights into personalized strategies, new risk assessment tools, and lifestyle shifts that can help you take charge of your heart health. This episode is a must-listen for anyone ready to rethink cholesterol and approach heart health with deeper understanding and practical tools.
 
Quotes
“The most important risk factor is high blood pressure, a disease that occurs on the arterial side of the system. Diabetes is also very important, but it only occurs in about 10% to 15% of the population. Smoking is very significant as well. LDL cholesterol really is the factor that allows us to distinguish between populations. We know that if we’re effective in lowering LDL, or if we look at populations with very low LDL, their risk is very low. You can markedly lower risk by treating high LDL through lifestyle changes and, sometimes, medications.” (09:42 | Dr. Ernst Schaefer) 
“I look at cholesterol as a first responder. Once inflammation starts in the blood vessels and injury occurs, cholesterol is sent to patch it up—that’s the beginning of those plaques. If plaques are active and inflammation doesn’t subside, the immune system, of course, gets involved. Cholesterol, in many ways, acts like a firefighter arriving at the scene, attempting to put out the fire, but sometimes the fire is too intense for resolution. It’s essential for adults to understand that, as you mentioned, high blood pressure is also a critical factor.” (11:04 | Dr. Regina Druz) 
“Almost all the risk associated with LDL is due to elevated small, dense LDL, which is very important. That’s the most atherogenic particle.” (18:16 | Dr. Ernst Schaefer)
“The best predictor of mortality for disease is disease itself. The coronary artery disease unfortunately will lead, if unmanaged or not mitigated, to heart failure or potentially a myocardial infarction, even a small one. And so, these are very sensitive measures. We don’t necessarily measure them on every single patient, but we measure them strategically to understand where our patients are on a continuum.” (56:37 | Dr. Regina Druz) 
 
Links
https://tools.acc.org/ascvd-risk-estimator-plus/#!/calculate/estimate/
PREVENT TM Online Calculator
http://www.reynoldsriskscore.org
www.mesa-nhlbi.org
 
Connect with Dr. Regina Druz:
Website: http://holisticheartcenters.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@holisticheartcenters
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

#RapidResponse: How Much Weight to Lose to Fix Your Blood Pressure

“One kilogram reduction in weight usually decreases systolic blood pressure, so that’s your upper number, by about one millimeter on average,” shares Dr. Regina Druz, pointing to research that shows how even small amounts of weight loss may have a measurable impact on blood pressure. So, how much weight does one really need to lose to see a difference in their blood pressure?
 
In this episode, Dr. Druz tackles that very question, breaking down the connection between weight loss and managing hypertension. She explains that it isn’t just about dropping pounds—it’s about targeting visceral fat, the kind that plays a key role in improving vascular health and reducing inflammation. Are you tracking your progress accurately? Dr. Druz emphasizes the importance of using tools like BMI and body composition measurements to clearly understand where you stand.
 
Beyond the numbers, Dr. Druz also explores the possibility of achieving remission from hypertension through lifestyle changes, without the need for medication. If you’ve ever wondered how weight loss could help you gain control of your blood pressure, Dr. Druz offers practical insights and real-life strategies to help you on your journey. Tune in to learn how the right kind of weight loss can transform your heart health!
 
Quotes
“Blood pressure, or hypertension, is actually a chronic disease that carries significant cardiac risk. So, do we have any information on not just controlling or improving blood pressure, but actually putting it into remission so that a person has optimal blood pressure without the use of medications?” (04:23 | Dr. Regina Druz) 
“Hypertension or elevated blood pressure, unfortunately, is actually quite prevalent. So, if we’re looking at the thresholds of 130 over 80 or reported use of hypertensive medications, it’s about 46%, so almost half of the adult population… As individuals age, the prevalence of hypertension increases.” (14:59 | Dr. Regina Druz) 
“One kilogram reduction in weight usually decreases systolic blood pressure, so that’s your upper number, by about one millimeter on average.” (21:28 | Dr. Regina Druz)
“Studies have shown that a five to ten percent reduction in body fat, specifically visceral fat (the fat stored within and around the organs), is what drives the relationship between weight loss and blood pressure reduction. This makes sense because fat loss reduces inflammation in the body. Fat loss reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are internal components secreted by our fat. It decreases insulin resistance, and it both improves our vascular tone and reduces peripheral resistance.” (26:00 | Dr. Regina Druz)
“Resistance training alone can lower blood pressure by three to four millimeters systolic and diastolic even though significant fat loss may not have occurred.” (28:28 | Dr. Regina Druz)
 
Links
Connect with Dr. Regina Druz:
Website: http://holisticheartcenters.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@holisticheartcenters
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

You’ve Got Coronary Calcium: Now What?

“Calcium is the end stage of the inflammation that happens in the coronary arteries,” explains Dr. Regina Druz, a holistic cardiologist, in this inaugural episode of Own Your Heart Health. Dr. Druz explores heart disease from a different angle, shifting the focus from cholesterol to the deeper role inflammation plays in cardiac risk. What if understanding and addressing inflammation could be the key to better heart health? Dr. Druz unpacks this idea and emphasizes the value of the coronary artery calcium score—a diagnostic tool that measures calcium deposits in the arteries, reflecting past inflammation and helping predict future heart disease risk.
 
While calcium buildup in the arteries is permanent, Dr. Druz reassures us that it’s not the end of the story. She emphasizes that by targeting the root causes of inflammation through lifestyle changes, we can lower our overall risk of heart disease. Dr. Druz encourages us to have open, informed conversations with our healthcare providers about the coronary artery calcium score and other preventive steps for heart health. Combining holistic practices with conventional medicine, she empowers patients to make choices that will not only extend their lives but will also enhance their quality of life.
 
Quotes
“Why do I put heart health and longevity in the same sentence? You may potentially be thinking of these as two different things and let me tell you that they are absolutely not. The aging process first and foremost is reflected in our cardiovascular system.” (02:44 | Dr. Regina Druz) 
“Cholesterol has been at the center of cardiovascular risk factor continuum used in all sorts of different risk estimators or equations, and the cholesterol-lowering hypothesis has dominated cardiovascular thinking for decades. Now, we do however understand that the primary driver of coronary artery disease is actually not the cholesterol but the injury to the arterial wall and the inflammatory process, the inflammation that starts in the arteries that actually then gets exacerbated with cholesterol coming in trying to patch or repair the inflamed spot. And so, this is how coronary artery plaques start.” (17:00 | Dr. Regina Druz) 
“Coronary artery disease is a lifelong process. It starts at birth.” (21:45 | Dr. Regina Druz)
“Calcium is the end stage of the inflammation that happens in the coronary arteries.” (23:58 | Dr. Regina Druz)
 
Links
MESA Calculator: https://internal.mesa-nhlbi.org/about/procedures/tools/mesa-score-risk-calculator
Holistic Heart University: https://holisticheartcenters.com/holistic-heart-university/
Heartwell Toolkits: https://shop.holisticheartcenters.com/collections/heartwell-toolkits
Practice Power Hour: https://www.dr.mba/
 
Connect with Dr. Regina Druz:
Website: http://holisticheartcenters.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@holisticheartcenters
Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Own Your Heart Health with Dr. Regina Druz - Trailer

Expert insights and actionable steps to reverse and prevent heart disease. Dr. Regina Druz (Cornell/Duke trained MD) is the leading holistic cardiologist, who brings clinical practice wisdom to the science of medicine, enabling listeners to take ownership over their heart health. The episodes focus on the root cause drivers of heart disease, delving deep into metabolic health, hormonal changes, inflammation, toxicities, stress and sleep, and the lifestyle strategies to achieve optimal health, longevity and vitality.