Plaque Years: How Long Has Your LDL-Cholesterol Been Putting You at Risk?

Heart Doc VIP with Dr. Joel Kahn

Prayers for safety, healing, and peace in the USA and beyond. This week, Dr. Kahn dives into two fascinating case studies from the Kahn Center. But that's just the beginning. He also covers a range of mini-topics, including the role of CoQ10 in combating fatty liver disease, the surprising prevalence of unknown leaky valves in people over 60, and the impact of sleep apnea in younger adults (psst, you can get a home sleep study mailed to you from the Kahn Center at 248-731-7412).

Women with heart disease will find the discussion on the proper aspirin dose particularly insightful. Plus, if you're curious about weight loss options, Dr. Kahn breaks down why "Mounjaro" might be a better choice than "Ozempic" for diabetic patients.

The main topic is a groundbreaking paper by the legendary Dr. Eugene Braunwald from Harvard. He introduces the concept of "plaque years," which measures the duration and levels of LDL cholesterol in your body, akin to calculating smoking "pack years." The gist? More plaque years mean a higher risk of developing atherosclerosis. Dr. Kahn recommends getting a coronary artery calcium scan and a carotid IMT ultrasound to get a clearer picture of your heart health.