Because Good Medicine Deserves Better Explanations
He wasn’t exactly a poster child for heart health. He loved steak, hated vegetables, and didn’t care much for doctors. His LDL-cholesterol hovered around 200 mg/dL (5.17 mmol/L) for most of his adult life. Yet, at age 88, his arteries were clean—and his mind sharper than ever. Meanwhile, his neighbor—an avid cyclist with “perfect” cholesterol—underwent … Read more
He’s just poured his first cup of coffee. The house is quiet; the day just beginning. A minute ago, he noticed a light sweat along his back — strange but easy to ignore. Then it hits. A tightness in his chest, deep and growing. A wave of nausea. His skin turns cold and clammy. He … Read more
Most of what I write here on Doc’s Opinion sticks pretty closely to cardiology — that’s my usual beat, after all. But every now and then, a study comes along that pulls me out of that lane. This is one of those. The paper published recently in Nature Metabolism looks at how a mother’s diet … Read more
Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring has quietly become one of the most valuable tools we have in preventive cardiology. It’s quick, non-invasive, relatively inexpensive, and remarkably informative. For those unfamiliar with the test itself, I’ve written an overview explaining what CAC scoring is and how it works— you can read it here. When someone’s CAC … Read more
New medical studies make headlines daily, fill our inboxes, and circulate on social media, often with bold and conflicting claims. One study suggests coffee protects against heart disease; another warns it raises blood pressure. A new drug is hailed as a game-changer for weight loss—until a follow-up study questions its long-term safety. With so much … Read more
