What is Integrative Cardiology?
In simple terms, Integrative Cardiology is good cardiology. It applies the philosophy of integrative medicine which defines health as a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease. Integrative medicine seeks to restore and maintain health and wellness across a person’s lifespan by understanding the person’s unique set of circumstances and addressing the full range of physical, emotional, mental, social, spiritual and environmental influences that affect health.
Through personalizing care, integrative medicine goes beyond the treatment of symptoms to address all the root causes of an illness. In doing so, the patient’s immediate health needs, as well as the effects of the long-term and complex interplay between biological, behavioral, psychosocial and environmental influences, are taken into account.
As Integrative Cardiology practitioners, we try to exemplify these principles and commit ourselves to self-exploration and self-development. True to the tenets of integrative medicine, we employ conventional therapies such as heart surgery and medicine when necessary, while including the less conventional treatments such as mind-body medicine, nutrition, exercise, environment, community and spirituality. We look for less costly and less risky treatments where appropriate and emphasize healing and prevention.
Conventional cardiology is excellent at treating acute cardiac problems such as heart attacks, heart arrhythmias or heart failure, but falls short when it comes to preventing and healing heart disease. According to the CDC, approximately 80% of premature heart attacks and strokes can be prevented with appropriate lifestyle changes. Although the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology have many well-researched and evidence proven lifestyle guidelines in place, most conventional cardiologists have little, if any, training in this modality of medicine.
As an example, conventional cardiologists agree that nutrition is one of the backbones of prevention and treatment for hardening of the arteries. Yet in a survey, 90% have received little or no training. Exercise has far-reaching preventive benefits that exceed those from medicines, yet most conventional cardiologists readily offer the medicines and often forget to prescribe physical activity.
The time is now for cardiology to delve into the root causes of disease rather than treating the downstream effects of a sedentary lifestyle, high stress, poor nutrition, lack of safe environments and inadequate sleep. We provide the tools that prevent and allow for healing from heart disease. We understand the innate healing power of the human body and spirit.
Here are four takeaways:
1) We make nutrition and exercise goals realistic and achievable
We ask you to make a list of what you are eating, and then give very specific recommendations for substitutions, portions, and problem foods. We remind you to exercise more by wearing a pedometer to reach agreed-upon goals.
2) We look beyond the physical symptoms.
We assess your symptoms by looking for the root causes. Heart palpitations, for example, may occur from underlying heart disease but more often occurs when the heart is feeling irritable as a result of anxiety, electrolyte imbalance or hormonal changes. If we treat the root cause with mindfulness meditation, exercise, balanced nutrition, adequate sleep while replenishing vitamins and minerals or balancing hormones, you feel better without the need for lifelong prescription medications and their potential side effects.
3) You will learn effective ways to manage stress
Stress and anger may be major risk factors in heart disease. To provide you the tools to manage life on life’s terms and lower your risk, we recommend webinar classes on breathing exercises, yoga, and mindfulness-based stress reduction.
4) We complement conventional medicine rather than replace it.
For primary prevention of heart disease, we begin by helping you improve your lifestyle – such as improving your nutrition, exercising and managing stress — which may be enough to lower your risk. We may also recommend proven herbs and supplements. However, if you do not achieve your agreed-upon goals or if you already have heart disease, proven conventional medications are recommended. Having a personalized integrative plan to follow, makes achieving your goals possible.
A translation from a Chinese medical textbook written approximately 5000 years ago reads: inferior doctors treat the full-blown disease; mediocre doctors treat the disease before evident; superior doctors prevent disease.
As a proud new associate of Cardiocare LLC, we are compassionate healers who provide state-of-the-art integrative cardiovascular care for the suffering heart that focuses on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the root causes of chronic disease while empowering and caring for the whole person- their mind, body, spirit and community.
We bring over 25 years of conventional cardiology experience to improve your cardiovascular health. We will use innovative technology to enhance and not replace the personalized healing encounter. We will offer proven supplements and resources to help you improve your fitness and nutrition and leverage your resilience to better achieve our agreed-upon health goals and wellness.
