Heart & Lung Health

Women’s Heart Health: A Deep Dive with Jane Jansen, Part 1
June 18, 2024
Although cardiovascular disease is usually thought of as a man’s disease, almost as many women die each year of heart problems. Jane Jansen, a naturopathic practitioner from the Tree of Life Wellness Center in Massachusetts brings a unique perspective with her extensive background in cardiovascular labs and non-invasive cardiology. She sheds light on the gender disparities in cardiovascular research, the critical periods for women's heart health, especially during perimenopause and menopause, and the evolving understanding of hormone replacement therapy. The episode highlights the importance of early diagnosis, lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise, and the benefits of specific supplements like aged garlic extract. Jansen addresses the underestimation of women's cardiovascular risks compared to breast cancer and offer practical advice on managing stress and improving sleep quality. This comprehensive conversation aims to break stereotypes and provide actionable insights for better heart health among women. Click HERE for part 2.

Women’s Heart Health: A Deep Dive with Jane Jansen, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Naturopathic Practitioner, Jane Jansen of the Tree of Life Wellness Center in Massachusetts. Click HERE for part 1.

ENCORE: How Big Pharma Corrupts American Healthcare, Part 1
June 4, 2024
According to today’s guest, Dr. John Abramson, Americans are getting less bang for their buck when it comes to ever more pricey pharmaceutical drugs. Despite enormous expenditures—17.7% of our GDP—Americans are less healthy and life expectancy lags behind other developed nations. Dr. Abramson, formerly a family practice physician, turned his attention to critiquing the pharmaceutical industry when he realized over-the-top marketing of drugs was at odds with his patients’ interests. He wrote Overdosing America, and became an expert witness in a landmark class action lawsuit over the now-withdrawn drug Bextra. His new book, "Sickening: How Big Pharma Broke American Health Care—And How We Can Repair It," exposes the sleight-of-hand involved in studies that gain approval for new drugs, and how the profit motive distorts optimal drug and device development. Dr. Abramson cites the example of statins as drugs that, while helpful for some, have been vastly overhyped and overprescribed on scant evidence. He takes aim at physician education—both in medical school and post-graduate—as indoctrinating doctors to prescribe drugs with questionable efficacy and undisclosed harms. Dr. Abramson offers an insider’s critique of the medical provisions of the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act—which in fact does little to cap Americans’ skyrocketing outlays for prescription drugs. Click HERE for part 2.

ENCORE: How Big Pharma Corrupts American Healthcare, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. John Abramson, author of "Sickening: How Big Pharma Broke American Health Care—And How We Can Repair It." Click HERE for part 1.

ENCORE: The Role Lifestyle Plays in Enhancing Resilience, Part 1
May 29, 2024
The Covid pandemic should’ve served as a wake-up call, highlighting our vulnerabilities as a nation. Ross Arena, Ph.D., professor of physical therapy at the University of Illinois Chicago, is spearheading a bold initiative called HL-PIVOT to underscore the role that healthy lifestyle plays in enhancing resilience. He is lead author of a new paper that demonstrates the roles that obesity, poor diet, smoking, and inadequate sleep play in setting the stage for poor Covid outcomes. Instead of a pandemic, he argues that we’re experiencing a “syndemic”—a perfect storm of chronic diseases that in themselves exact a terrible toll of chronic illness, but at the same time render Americans more susceptible to Covid. The surprising disparity between US regions with healthier, more active populations versus sedentary precincts within “food deserts” spotlights the important role lifestyle plays as a mediator of Covid severity. Arena argues that this has important social justice implications, with underserved populations experiencing the brunt of the syndemic. Click HERE for part 2.

ENCORE: The Role Lifestyle Plays in Enhancing Resilience, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Ross Arena, Ph.D., professor of physical therapy at the University of Illinois Chicago. Click HERE for part 1.

ENCORE: A New Revolutionary Technology That Can Predict Cardiovascular Risk With Precision, Part 1
May 7, 2024
Current ways of visualizing the coronary arteries with calcium scoring are limited: the presence of calcium doesn’t always determine risk; its absence doesn’t fully eliminate the possibility of soft plaque, which is actually more dangerous than stable calcium deposits. Dr. James Min is an expert on cardiovascular imaging and founder and CEO of Cleerly, a company that has developed an improved scan that can differentiate between dangerous unstable plaque, and more benign lesions. The test can be used to establish risk, and then medication and/or lifestyle modification with diet, stress reduction, exercise and supplements can be undertaken. Subsequent tests can yield a report card for how successful the preventive interventions have been. Dr. Min emphasizes that even in settings of high cholesterol the test can show minimal risk, reducing the need for cholesterol medication; conversely, people with low cholesterol may have substantial dangerous plaque. The Cleerly test promises to revolutionize our approach to cardiovascular prevention. Click HERE for part 2.

ENCORE: A New Revolutionary Technology That Can Predict Cardiovascular Risk With Precision, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. James Min, an expert on cardiovascular imaging and founder and CEO of Cleerly, a company that has developed an improved scan that can differentiate between dangerous unstable plaque, and more benign lesions. Click HERE for part 1.

ENCORE: Q&A with Leyla, Part 1: Selfies and Plastic Surgery
May 2, 2024
Selfies are driving up plastic surgery; Are either glucosamine hydrochloride or potassium sulfate bad for you--especially after long-term use?; What do you think of ZipSlim for weight loss?; Despite being on a strict diet, my cholesterol is 300 and increasing. I would like to avoid statins--what do you recommend? Click HERE for part 2.

ENCORE: Q&A with Leyla, Part 2: Varicose Veins

Use of magnesium in Crohn's disease; Study: Association of habitual alcohol intake with risk of cardiovascular disease; If one is taking vitamin C, is a collagen supplement for the skin superfluous?; Is there a good treatment for varicose veins? Click HERE for part 1.