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Preventing Chronic Disease

One of the foundational lessons we can take away from studying centenarians — those who have lived to the age of 100+ — is that if you want to live longer, you have to live longer without chronic disease, not live longer with chronic disease. Unfortunately, our current healthcare system is primarily geared toward helping you live longer once you develop chronic disease. This, of course, is the opposite of the approach I take with my patients. 

Over 80% of deaths in people over 50 who do not smoke can be grouped into 4 main categories, what I like to call the four horsemen of chronic disease. These are: (1) atherosclerotic disease (comprised of cardiovascular disease and cerebrovascular disease), (2) cancer, (3) neurodegenerative disease (Alzheimer’s disease being the most common), and (4) metabolic disease (a spectrum of everything from hyperinsulinemia to insulin resistance to fatty liver disease to type 2 diabetes).

We have five main longevity tactics at our disposal to affect our longevity: (1) exercise, (2) sleep, (3) nutrition, (4) medications & supplements, and (5) distress tolerance. Below is a collection of podcasts and articles discussing how we can use these tactics to mitigate, prevent, and reverse chronic disease.

Why sleep is the best insurance policy for lifespan and healthspan

This video clip is from episode #58 – AMA with sleep expert, Matthew Walker, Ph.D.: Strategies for sleeping more, sleeping…

#213 ‒ Liquid biopsies and cancer detection | Max Diehn, M.D. Ph.D.

I was frustrated by not being able to diagnose a recurrence earlier.” —Max Diehn

Cumulative effects of LDL-C reduction in mitigating cardiovascular risk

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is currently the leading cause of death in the U.S. One of the most effective ways to reduce risk of ASCVD mortality is reduction of apoB particle number, typically estimated by LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations.

Does exercise reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease?

This clip is from episode #18 – Richard Isaacson, M.D.: Alzheimer’s prevention, originally release on October 1, 2018.  

Lp(a) and CVD risk & clinical tests to measure Lp(a)

This video clip is from episode #210 – Lp(a) and its impact on heart disease with Benoît Arsenault, Ph.D., originally…

Can cocoa help prevent cardiovascular death?

A recent study explored whether supplementation with the beneficial compounds in cocoa could have a clinically-relevant effect on ASCVD.

Sugar & Cancer: Does Fructose Cause Cancer?

This clip is from episode #187 – Sam Apple: The Warburg Effect—Otto Warburg’s cancer metabolism theory, originally released on December…

Is natural sugar from fruit just as ‘bad’ as added sugar?

This video clip is taken from episode #194 – How Fructose Drives Metabolic Disease with Rick Johnson, M.D., originally released on…

Metabolic dysfunction case study and a framework for metabolic health

This audio clip is from “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) episode #15 — Real-world case studies—metabolic dysregulation, low testosterone, menopause, and more, originally…

How metabolic health impacts your ‘optimal’ diet

This audio clip is from “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) episode #36 — all things fruits and vegetables, originally released on June 20,…

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