Heart Disease Prevention: Beyond Cholesterol with Dr. Bruce Clarke

Heart disease is the leading cause of death—but much of it is preventable.   In this episode, Amanda sits down with family physician Dr. David Bruce Clarke to discuss cardiovascular health through a modern, prevention-focused lens. With additional training through the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), Dr. Clarke blends traditional primary care with deeper metabolic evaluation to identify risk earlier.   They explain why basic cholesterol numbers don’t tell the full story and how inflammation, endothelial damage, insulin resistance, and chronic stress drive plaque formation long before symptoms appear. You’ll learn why LDL and HDL are only part of the picture and how metabolic dysfunction quietly increases long-term heart risk.   The conversation explores advanced cardiovascular testing beyond a routine lipid panel, including ApoB, Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], NMR lipids, hs-CRP, fasting insulin, A1C, coronary calcium scoring, and carotid imaging.   They also discuss practical prevention strategies—nutrition changes, reducing processed carbohydrates, resistance training, sleep optimization, stress reduction, and when medications like statins or low-dose aspirin are appropriate.   The takeaway: heart disease develops over decades, but so does prevention. Earlier, broader evaluation combined with sustainable lifestyle changes can significantly reduce cardiovascular risk.