Dive into the silent threat of atherosclerosis, the leading cause of heart disease. Discover how this condition can start early in life and the critical role cholesterol plays in our health. Learn about essential risk factors and the importance of preventive measures to combat this pervasive issue. Explore the significance of diagnostic tests like coronary artery calcium scores and their impact on understanding heart health. Finally, grasp key takeaways for effective prevention strategies against cardiovascular disease.
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insights INSIGHT
Atherosclerosis's Inevitability
Atherosclerosis is the only inevitable disease; everyone dies with it, given enough time.
It's crucial to understand and mitigate this disease due to its impact and our available tools.
insights INSIGHT
Atherosclerosis and Age
Over 50% of first heart attacks are fatal, highlighting the disease's severity.
Atherosclerosis isn't just an old-age issue; many experience cardiac events before 65.
insights INSIGHT
ASCVD Definition
ASCVD involves cholesterol buildup in artery walls, not necessarily reflecting circulating levels.
This buildup reduces blood flow, causing ischemia and potentially fatal heart attacks.
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In this “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) episode, Peter dives deep into the topic of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD)—the number one killer in the developed world. Peter argues for the importance of paying attention to and understanding ASCVD given its ubiquity and inevitability. He goes into great detail about the development of atherosclerosis and how it can take hold at a very early age, the role of cholesterol, and the causal factors of ASCVD that determine prevention strategies. Additionally, he discusses the important metrics and biomarkers found in blood work, as well as diagnostic tests such as coronary artery calcium scores (CAC) and CT angiograms which help to determine the level of arterial damage present. Finally, Peter lays out the keys to understanding and interpreting calcium scores before wrapping up the conversation with his key takeaways regarding prevention.
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We discuss:
The importance of understanding atherosclerosis early in life [2:15];
Defining atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), its causes, and the role of cholesterol [9:00];
The process of developing ASCVD, part 1 [15:00];
The process of developing ASCVD, part 2 [24:00];
The process of developing ASCVD, part 3 [32:45];
How early in life ASCVD can start to develop [40:30];
Case studies of atherosclerosis and figures showing real pathology [43:00];
Coronary artery lesions present in autopsies of different age groups [49:15];
The causal factors of ASCVD that determine prevention strategies [52:15];
Labs to identify biomarkers of ASCVD ]59:00];
Diagnostic tests to determine the level of arterial damage present—CAC, CTA, CIMT, and more [1:00:30]
Keys to understanding and interpreting a CAC score and/or CTA results [1:05:15];
Is there a risk from cholesterol levels being too low? [1:13:00];
The Peter Attia Drive