Integrative medicine by definition is a bridge between allopathic medicine and evidence-based healing from around the world. The term holistic refers to treating the whole person: mind, body, emotions, and spirit. Holistic integrative medicine is not synonymous with alternative or complementary medicine. In fact, holistic integrative medicine makes use of the best of both worlds, demanding an evidenced-based approach to both. Holistic integrative medicine is not about the substitution of a supplement for a drug. Rather, it is about treating all the risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and getting to their underlying cause, whether it is sedentary lifestyle, hyperlipidemia, or maladaptive responses to stress and tension. No field lends itself better to this integration than cardiology, which uses the best of technology and mandates the need for aggressive lifestyle change. Western allopathic medicine excels in acute care management but falls short in prevention and chronic disease management.
The risk factors for CVD are multifactorial. These risk factors range from hyperlipidemia, inflammation, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and tobacco use to sedentary lifestyle and social connection. The psychological risks linked to CVD have been well described and include stress, anxiety, depression, and social isolation. Although genetics accounts for approximately 20% of cardiovascular risk, 70% to 90% of chronic disease is related to an individual’s lifestyle and environment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data from 2006 reported that 29 states in America have >25% of their population meeting the definition of obesity, defined as body mass index (BMI) ?30. This epidemic of obesity is associated with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, low serum levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, and inflammation. Adipocytes from central obesity release inflammatory cytokines such as angiotensin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and tumor necrosis factor, which are associated with plaque progression.
The CDC predicts that 1 out of 3 children born in 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetime, and it is estimated that approximately 50% of American adults between the ages of 60 and 69 years already have the metabolic syndrome.
Although allopathic medicine excels at short-term care, holistic integrative medicine offers expertise in nutrition, nutraceuticals, exercise, and mind-body interventions that are pivotal to CVD treatment and prevention. An integrative program addresses all risk factors delivered in a supportive patient-centered environment. An approach to integrative cardiology includes advanced diagnostic testing using a 64-slice computed tomography (CT) scanner with positron emission tomography (PET), metabolic clinic, nutrition counseling, cardiac rehabilitation, biofeedback, yoga, meditation, acupuncture, and group support.
Guarneri M, Mercado N, Suhar C. Integrative Approaches for Cardiovascular Disease. Nutrition in Clinical Practice 2009;24(6):701-8. Integrative Approaches for Cardiovascular Disease — Nutr Clin Pract
In the United States, $2.5 trillion is spent on healthcare annually. Seven chronic diseases account for half of all this expense. Of these 7, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, and diabetes mellitus are largely preventable. Integrative cardiology programs that focus on risk-factor modification through lifestyle change combined with early detection and advanced lipid management offer a new paradigm to the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
The risk factors for CVD are multifactorial. These risk factors range from hyperlipidemia, inflammation, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and tobacco use to sedentary lifestyle and social connection. The psychological risks linked to CVD have been well described and include stress, anxiety, depression, and social isolation. Although genetics accounts for approximately 20% of cardiovascular risk, 70% to 90% of chronic disease is related to an individual’s lifestyle and environment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data from 2006 reported that 29 states in America have >25% of their population meeting the definition of obesity, defined as body mass index (BMI) ?30. This epidemic of obesity is associated with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, low serum levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, and inflammation. Adipocytes from central obesity release inflammatory cytokines such as angiotensin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and tumor necrosis factor, which are associated with plaque progression.
The CDC predicts that 1 out of 3 children born in 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetime, and it is estimated that approximately 50% of American adults between the ages of 60 and 69 years already have the metabolic syndrome.
Although allopathic medicine excels at short-term care, holistic integrative medicine offers expertise in nutrition, nutraceuticals, exercise, and mind-body interventions that are pivotal to CVD treatment and prevention. An integrative program addresses all risk factors delivered in a supportive patient-centered environment. An approach to integrative cardiology includes advanced diagnostic testing using a 64-slice computed tomography (CT) scanner with positron emission tomography (PET), metabolic clinic, nutrition counseling, cardiac rehabilitation, biofeedback, yoga, meditation, acupuncture, and group support.
Guarneri M, Mercado N, Suhar C. Integrative Approaches for Cardiovascular Disease. Nutrition in Clinical Practice 2009;24(6):701-8. Integrative Approaches for Cardiovascular Disease — Nutr Clin Pract
In the United States, $2.5 trillion is spent on healthcare annually. Seven chronic diseases account for half of all this expense. Of these 7, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, and diabetes mellitus are largely preventable. Integrative cardiology programs that focus on risk-factor modification through lifestyle change combined with early detection and advanced lipid management offer a new paradigm to the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
