<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Today's episode of</span> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Qualys</span></em> <span style="font-weight: 400;">is from podcast</span> <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/ronkrauss/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">#03 – Ron Krauss, M.D.: a deep dive into heart disease</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Qualys</span></em> <span style="font-weight: 400;">is a subscriber-exclusive podcast, released Tuesday through Friday, and published exclusively on our private, subscriber-only podcast feed.</span> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Qualys</span></em> <span style="font-weight: 400;">is short-hand for "qualifying round," which are typically the fastest laps driven in a race car</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">—</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">done before the race to determine starting position on the grid for race day.</span> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">T</span></em><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">he Qualys</span></em> <span style="font-weight: 400;">are short (i.e., "fast"), typically less than ten minutes, and highlight the best questions, topics, and tactics discussed on</span> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Drive</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Occasionally, we will also release an episode on the main podcast feed for non-subscribers, which is what you are listening to now.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Learn more:</span> <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/podcast/qualys/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">https://peterattiamd.com/podcast/qualys/</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Subscribe to receive access to all episodes of</span> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Qualys</span></em> <span style="font-weight: 400;">(and other exclusive subscriber-only content):</span> <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/subscribe/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">https://peterattiamd.com/subscribe/</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Connect with Peter on</span> <a href="http://facebook.com/PeterAttiaMD%5dFacebook"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Facebook.com/PeterAttiaMD</span></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">|</span> <a href="http://twitter.com/PeterAttiaMD%5dTwitter"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Twitter.com/PeterAttiaMD</span></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">|</span> <a href="http://instagram.com/PeterAttiaMD%5dInstagram"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Instagram.com/PeterAttiaMD</span></a></p>
Actionable Insights
1. Seek Professional Medical Advice
Do not use podcast information as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment; always consult healthcare professionals for any medical conditions.
2. Monitor LDL Particles, Not Cholesterol
Focus on LDL particles as the causal mechanism for heart disease, rather than just LDL cholesterol, because LDL cholesterol does not always accurately reflect the number of causal LDL particles.
3. Avoid Oversimplifying Complexities
When discussing complex topics, strive to keep concepts understandable but be wary of oversimplifying, as this can lead to misleading conclusions, especially in areas like health where nuances matter.
4. Scrutinize Counter-Arguments Carefully
Look very carefully at arguments that attempt to disprove established causality, such as LDL’s role in heart disease, because they often latch onto misleading pieces of information or oversimplifications.
5. Understand Cholesterol Drug Mechanism
Recognize that most drugs used to lower cholesterol work by increasing LDL receptor-mediated disposal of LDL particles in the liver, which is a key determinant in cholesterol regulation.
6. Review Conflicts of Interest
Review the host’s disclosures regarding conflicts of interest and companies invested in or advised, which are available at peteratiamd.com/about, to understand potential biases.
7. Insight 7
If you enjoy The Qualies, access dozens more episodes and other member-exclusive benefits by joining the membership program at peteratiamd.com/subscribe.
8. Insight 8
Read the European Atherosclerosis Society consensus statement, published in early 2018 and linked in the show notes, to understand the evidence supporting LDL’s causality in heart disease.