<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><a href="https://peterattiamd.com/ama34/?utm_source=podcast-feed&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=220418-pod-ama34&utm_content=220418-pod-ama34-podfeed"> View the Show Notes Page for This Episode</a></span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><a href="https://peterattiamd.com/subscribe/?utm_source=podcast-feed&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=220418-pod-ama34&utm_content=220418-pod-ama34-podfeed"> Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content</a></span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><a href="https://peterattiamd.com/newsletter/?utm_source=podcast-feed&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=220418-pod-ama34&utm_content=220418-pod-ama34-podfeed"> Sign Up to Receive Peter's Weekly Newsletter</a></span></p> <p class="p2">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.</p> <p class="p2">If you're not a subscriber and listening on a podcast player, you'll only be able to hear a preview of the AMA. If you're a subscriber, you can now listen to this full episode on your <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/members/private-podcast-feed/?utm_source=podcast-feed&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=220418-pod-ama34&utm_content=220418-pod-ama34-podfeed"><span class="s2">private RSS feed</span></a> or on our website at the <a href="http://peterattiamd.com/ama34/?utm_source=podcast-feed&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=220418-pod-ama34&utm_content=220418-pod-ama34-podfeed"><span class="s2">AMA #34 show notes page</span></a>. If you are not a subscriber, you can learn more about the subscriber benefits <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/subscribe/?utm_source=podcast-feed&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=220418-pod-ama34&utm_content=220418-pod-ama34-podfeed"><span class="s2">here</span></a>.</p> <p class="p2">We discuss:</p> <ul class="ul1"> <li class="li2">The importance of understanding atherosclerosis early in life [2:15];</li> <li class="li2">Defining atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), its causes, and the role of cholesterol [9:00];</li> <li class="li2">The process of developing ASCVD, part 1 [15:00]; </li> <li class="li2">The process of developing ASCVD, part 2 [24:00];</li> <li class="li2">The process of developing ASCVD, part 3 [32:45];</li> <li class="li2">How early in life ASCVD can start to develop [40:30];</li> <li class="li2">Case studies of atherosclerosis and figures showing real pathology [43:00];</li> <li class="li2">Coronary artery lesions present in autopsies of different age groups [49:15];</li> <li class="li2">The causal factors of ASCVD that determine prevention strategies [52:15];</li> <li class="li2">Labs to identify biomarkers of ASCVD ]59:00];</li> <li class="li2">Diagnostic tests to determine the level of arterial damage present—CAC, CTA, CIMT, and more [1:00:30]</li> <li class="li2">Keys to understanding and interpreting a CAC score and/or CTA results [1:05:15];</li> <li class="li2">Is there a risk from cholesterol levels being too low? [1:13:00];</li> <li class="li2">Key takeaways regarding prevention [1:15:45];</li> <li class="li2">More.</li> </ul> <p>Connect With Peter on <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterAttiaMD">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/peterattiamd/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/peterattiamd/">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8kGsMa0LygSX9nkBcBH1Sg">YouTube</a></p>
Actionable Insights
1. Understand Disease Causation for Prevention
To effectively prevent atherosclerosis, it is crucial to understand how the disease is caused and what it exactly is, as this knowledge forms the basis for prevention strategies.
2. Prioritize Early Atherosclerosis Prevention
It is important to care about atherosclerosis prevention when young, as the disease takes hold at an early age and develops over a long period, making early awareness and action critical.
Understand atherosclerosis because its impact on human longevity is huge, and powerful tools exist to mitigate it, making knowledge essential for effective intervention.
4. Seek Professional Medical Advice Promptly
Do not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition; instead, promptly seek the assistance of healthcare professionals for diagnosis and treatment.
5. Utilize Visual Aids for Understanding
For this specific episode on atherosclerosis, watch the video version or consult the show notes for figures and images, as they are particularly helpful for understanding the complex topic.
6. Listen Fully for Comprehensive Understanding
Listen to the entire episode from top to bottom to gain a really good and comprehensive understanding of what atherosclerosis is, why it matters, and how to think about it.
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