I’ve known for a long time that my cholesterol was higher than it “should” be. I remember being in medical school in my mid-20s, reviewing my bloodwork and seeing elevated LDL and total cholesterol. The only time my labs looked remotely “normal” was during pregnancy (thank you, estrogen!) or the eight weeks I went vegan - a stint I couldn’t sustain long term.

The 95th Percentile Wake-Up Call

Around age 40, I decided it was time to understand my heart disease risk in a more meaningful way. I had a coronary artery calcium (CAC) scan - a quick, non-invasive CT that looks for calcified plaque in the arteries that feed the heart. This test doesn’t diagnose blockages per se, but it’s a powerful risk predictor: calcified plaque means your arteries have seen inflammation and are healing - a warning sign that shouldn’t be ignored.

My CAC score came back in the 95th percentile for my age and sex. That means only 5% of people my age had more calcification than I did. Even though I’m young, a non-smoker, with healthy blood pressure and stable blood sugar, I knew I couldn’t ignore this. I started taking a low-dose statin, rosuvastatin, not just to lower cholesterol, but to reduce inflammation and prevent future plaque buildup. I paired it with CoQ10, a powerful antioxidant that statins can deplete - and thankfully, I’ve had no side effects.

Some might call that overkill. For me, it was a deeply personal, proactive choice.

So...Why Was My Cholesterol High?

Yes, I have a family history of high cholesterol and some vascular disease, but I couldn’t shake the question: why would someone like me - active, healthy, balanced - have early signs of coronary artery disease? Was I missing something?

The Bigger Picture: Inflammation, Sugar, and Stress

Heart disease, like most chronic illness, is rooted in inflammation. Cholesterol isn’t the villain - it’s part of the body’s healing toolkit. Think of it like this: if you skin your knee, the body sends healing proteins to form a scab. In the arteries, cholesterol acts like that scab, covering over inflamed areas of the vessel wall. The problem is when the inflammation doesn’t stop.

Two key sources of inflammation in blood vessels? Poor blood sugar control and chronic stress.

While much of America struggles with insulin resistance and blood sugar issues, I’ve worked hard to avoid that path. I balance every meal with fiber, protein, and healthy fat. I move my body daily. I lift weights and stay active. So if blood sugar wasn’t the culprit...

Then Stress Was My Smoking Gun

Let’s talk about stress.

I didn’t understand the full weight of stress until medical school. In the anatomy lab, surrounded by cadavers and high expectations, I lost my appetite and even my sense of taste - everything, oddly, smelled like formaldehyde. I developed insomnia. I would lie awake, convinced I didn’t know enough, didn’t belong.

That intensity only ramped up during residency. I vividly remember nights before ICU shifts, wide awake on the couch in my tiny NYC apartment, wondering if I could keep someone alive long enough to hand off the next morning. The pressure was enormous. And I carried it - for years.

For over a decade, I lived in a near-constant fight-or-flight state. And over time, that took a toll on my heart.

Integrative Medicine: The Dual Approach

So yes, I take a statin. But I take it less for cholesterol and more for its anti-inflammatory effects. I can’t undo ten years of stress. But I can reduce what’s left - and prevent further damage.

And I do it the same way I coach you to do it:

I meditate daily (sometimes twice).
I practice yoga twice a week, not just for flexibility but for peace of mind.
I cook nutritious, whole-food meals, using food prep as a form of mindfulness.
I lift heavy weights, walk in nature, and protect my sleep like it’s sacred.
I spend time with people I love. I laugh - loudly. I rest. I reset. I heal.

The Next Step: AI + CCTA

Recently, I decided to go one step further. I had already done the CAC scan, which only shows calcified (healed) plaque. But the more dangerous kind is soft, unstable plaque - the kind you can’t see on a regular CT.

So I opted for a Cleerly Coronary CT Angiogram (CCTA) - a more advanced scan that combines high-resolution imaging with AI analysis to build a 3D map of your heart's arteries.

The process was surprisingly easy. I had it done at East River Medical Imaging. The IV contrast was a bit weird (it makes you feel like you’ve peed your pants - you haven’t), and because I had to skip caffeine that morning, they sent me home with a divine cup of coffee afterward.

What Did I Learn?

The Cleerly CCTA showed that my plaque hadn’t really increased - a huge relief. In fact, much of it had calcified, meaning the statin and my lifestyle changes were doing their job. There was a small amount of soft plaque, but not enough to change course.

It gave me peace of mind. And more importantly, it gave me data - something to track and build from as I continue this journey.

https://cleerly.showpad.com/share/gqARULeX1WE5fFgmcSZsE/1

Should You Get a Cleerly CCTA?

If you're someone who wants to know more - not just guess - about your heart health, this kind of testing might be for you. It’s especially helpful if:

You have a family history of heart disease
Your cholesterol is elevated
You’re curious about your true cardiovascular risk
You want to get ahead of potential problems - not react to them later

Cleerly’s CCTA doesn’t just tell you whether you’re “at risk.” It shows you why - by mapping exactly where plaque exists, how much there is, and what kind it is (soft, calcified, mixed). That means you and your care team can create a truly personalized plan - from medications to lifestyle strategies - with evidence, not guesswork.

A New Kind of Prevention

This is what I love most about Integrative Medicine: using the best of science, technology, and lifestyle to prevent disease - not just treat it once it appears. With tools like Cleerly, we don’t wait until your “plane is in the air and engines are failing.” We’re at the gate with you, reviewing the pre-flight checklist, scanning the instruments, and making sure your heart is ready for the journey ahead.

If you're curious about your risk - or just want a guide to help you understand it better - book a session with us. We're here to help you stay well, informed, and empowered.

Let’s keep your heart beating strong - for a long, long time.

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