The Functional Medicine Approach to Heart Health Beyond Cholesterol

Heart Health Is More Than Just Cholesterol

For years, we’ve been told that keeping our cholesterol levels in check is the key to a healthy heart. But if that were the full story, why is heart disease still the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease remains the number one cause of death, despite decades of cholesterol-focused treatment guidelines. Clearly, there’s more going on behind the scenes.

A growing body of research shows that cholesterol alone is not the best predictor of heart disease. Studies have found that chronic inflammation, a key driver of cardiovascular disease, plays a major role in damaging blood vessels and increasing heart attack risk—even in people with normal cholesterol levels. Similarly, blood sugar imbalances and insulin resistance contribute to plaque buildup and artery damage, making them significant but often overlooked risk factors. Additionally, research shows that oxidative stress—a process where harmful molecules damage cells—accelerates heart disease and worsens vascular health. In fact, one study revealed that nearly half of all heart attacks occur in individuals with cholesterol levels that are considered normal, emphasizing the need to look beyond cholesterol alone.

That’s where functional medicine takes a different approach. Instead of focusing only on cholesterol, it looks at the whole body to uncover hidden risk factors that affect heart health. This includes evaluating inflammation levels, blood sugar balance, essential nutrients, and how well the body produces energy at the cellular level. Since the heart is one of the hardest-working organs, it needs a steady supply of energy to function properly. When the body’s ability to generate energy is compromised, heart health can suffer. By addressing these deeper factors, functional medicine provides a more complete picture of cardiovascular risk—and more effective ways to support heart health for the long run.

In this blog, you will understand why cholesterol alone doesn’t determine heart health and what is actually driving heart disease, the hidden risk factors that could be increasing your risk, and how a functional medicine approach can offer more effective, personalized strategies for protecting your heart. Let’s start by taking a closer look at why cholesterol became the primary focus—and why it’s not the full story.

The Problem with the Cholesterol-Only Approach

For decades, cholesterol has been the main focus of heart disease prevention. Doctors routinely check cholesterol levels and prescribe medications to lower them, assuming this will reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. But while cholesterol plays a role in heart health, it’s not the only—or even the most important—factor in cardiovascular disease. In fact, many people with heart disease have what is considered normal cholesterol, while others with high cholesterol never develop heart problems.

So why has cholesterol been the focus for so long? The cholesterol theory of heart disease dates back to the mid-1900s, when studies linked high cholesterol to clogged arteries. This led to widespread use of cholesterol-lowering medications and dietary guidelines aimed at reducing cholesterol intake. While this approach isn’t entirely wrong, it’s an oversimplified view of heart disease that overlooks other major contributors.

What’s Missing? The Bigger Picture of Heart Disease

Focusing only on cholesterol is like blaming traffic jams on just one car—it ignores the bigger picture. Heart disease isn’t caused by a single factor but rather a combination of imbalances in the body. Some of the biggest contributors include:

• Inflammation – Think of this as “fire” in the body. Chronic inflammation can damage blood vessels over time, making it easier for plaque to build up.
• Blood sugar problems – Too much sugar in the blood (even if you’re not diabetic) can lead to damage in the arteries, increasing heart disease risk.
• Cellular energy issues – Your heart is always working, and it needs a lot of energy. If the body’s ability to produce energy is weakened, the heart can suffer.
• Oxidative stress – This is like “rust” inside the body. When too many harmful molecules (called free radicals) build up, they can damage blood vessels and speed up heart disease.

The reality is that heart disease develops over time due to multiple factors working together. That’s why a broader, more in-depth approach to heart health is necessary—one that looks at the body as a whole instead of focusing on a single number from a cholesterol test.

A Smarter Way to Assess Heart Risk

If cholesterol alone doesn’t give the full picture of heart health, what does? The key is looking beyond standard cholesterol tests to uncover hidden risk factors that may be affecting the heart. Functional medicine takes a deeper approach by using advanced testing to assess inflammation, blood sugar balance, and overall artery health.

These tests help identify early warning signs of heart disease, often before symptoms appear. Here are some important markers that provide a clearer picture of heart risk:

• C-Reactive Protein (CRP) – This is a simple blood test that measures inflammation in the body, which is a major contributor to heart disease. Even if cholesterol levels are normal, high CRP levels can indicate increased risk.
• Homocysteine Levels – Also measured through blood work, homocysteine is an amino acid in the blood, and elevated levels can signal damage to blood vessels, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
• Calcium Scoring – Unlike the first two, this test is done with a CT scan, which detects plaque buildup in the arteries. Unlike cholesterol tests, which estimate risk, calcium scoring shows actual signs of developing heart disease.
• Blood Sugar & Insulin Levels – Another blood test, this measures how well the body regulates blood sugar. Many people don’t realize that high blood sugar and insulin resistance are closely linked to heart disease.

By looking at these advanced markers, functional medicine can detect problems earlier and more accurately than cholesterol tests alone. This approach allows for more personalized and effective strategies to improve heart health—focusing on prevention rather than just reacting to symptoms.

Healing the Heart: A Functional Medicine Approach

Understanding your risk is only the first step—the real goal is improving heart health and preventing disease before it starts. Identifying root causes allows you to then focus on the key imbalances that contribute to cardiovascular issues. Instead of relying solely on medications to lower cholesterol, this approach supports the body’s natural ability to heal by addressing inflammation, blood sugar balance, and energy production at the cellular level.

Here are some of the most effective ways functional medicine helps protect the heart:

• Balancing Blood Sugar and Insulin – Blood sugar imbalances don’t just increase diabetes risk—they also contribute to artery damage and plaque buildup. Eating a diet rich in fiber, healthy fats, and proteins (while reducing processed carbohydrates) can stabilize blood sugar and reduce inflammation.
• Reducing Chronic Inflammation – Since inflammation plays a key role in heart disease, functional medicine focuses on lowering inflammation through anti-inflammatory foods, stress management, and gut health support.
• Supporting Mitochondrial Health – The heart requires an enormous amount of energy to function properly. Mitochondria—your body’s cellular energy producers—need specific nutrients like CoQ10, magnesium, and B vitamins to keep your heart strong.
• Targeted Nutrition and Supplements – Depending on a person’s specific needs, functional medicine may recommend omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, or other heart-supportive nutrients to help improve cardiovascular function.

By addressing these underlying imbalances, functional medicine helps improve overall heart function, rather than just managing symptoms.

Many people are surprised at how much they can do naturally to support their heart. In some cases, additional therapies may also help improve circulation and reduce inflammation, which can be especially beneficial for those at risk for cardiovascular disease.

Boosting Circulation and Healing with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

For those dealing with poor circulation, inflammation, or conditions like peripheral artery disease (PAD), additional therapies may offer significant benefits. One promising approach is hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)—a treatment that involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber.

HBOT has been shown to:

• Increase Oxygen Delivery to Tissues – In conditions like PAD, where blood flow is restricted, tissues struggle to get the oxygen they need. HBOT allows oxygen to dissolve directly into the blood plasma, reaching areas that may not get enough circulation otherwise.
• Reduce Inflammation – Chronic inflammation damages blood vessels and contributes to plaque buildup. Research suggests that HBOT can help lower inflammation, supporting overall heart and vascular health.
• Promote New Blood Vessel Growth (Angiogenesis) – HBOT encourages the formation of new blood vessels, which helps improve circulation in areas where arteries have narrowed or become damaged.

This therapy is especially useful for people with circulatory issues, slow-healing wounds, or chronic inflammation—all of which can contribute to heart disease risk. While it isn’t a replacement for lifestyle changes or functional medicine interventions, it can be a valuable addition to a comprehensive heart health plan.

Taking a Root Cause Approach to Heart Health

Heart disease isn’t just about cholesterol—it’s influenced by inflammation, blood sugar balance, circulation, and even cellular energy production. By addressing these deeper factors, functional medicine offers a proactive approach to heart health, rather than just managing symptoms after they appear.

At Michigan Health and Wellness, we take a comprehensive, root-cause approach to cardiovascular health. Whether it’s through advanced testing, personalized nutrition, lifestyle guidance, or innovative therapies like hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), our goal is to help patients reduce their risk and support long-term heart health.

If you’re looking for a more complete picture of your heart health—or if you want to explore natural, science-backed ways to improve circulation, lower inflammation, and optimize overall wellness—our team is here to help. We offer personalized consultations to assess your unique risk factors and create a plan tailored to your needs.

Your heart health is in your hands, and it’s never too early—or too late—to take action. Contact Michigan Health and Wellness today to learn how a functional medicine approach can help you protect your heart for years to come.

 

Resources

Heart Disease Facts. (2024, October 24). Heart Disease. https://www.cdc.gov/heart-disease/data-research/facts-stats/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm

Juchniewicz, H., & Lubkowska, A. (2020). <p>Oxygen-Ozone (O₂-O₃) Therapy in Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD): A Review Study</p> Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management, Volume 16, 579–594. https://doi.org/10.2147/tcrm.s255247

Li, Z., Zhao, H., & Wang, J. (2021). Metabolism and chronic inflammation: The links between chronic heart failure and comorbidities. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2021.650278

Liu, Y., Ye, T., Chen, L., Jin, T., Sheng, Y., Wu, G., & Zong, G. (2021). Systemic immune-inflammation index predicts the severity of coronary stenosis in patients with coronary heart disease. Coronary Artery Disease, 32(8), 715–720. https://doi.org/10.1097/mca.0000000000001037

Miller, A. J., Luck, J., Blaha, C. A., Cauffman, A., Aziz, F., Radtka, J., Proctor, D. N., Leuenberger, U., & Arnold, A. (2023). Abstract P130: Acute angiotensin-(1-7) infusion does not improve blood pressure or leg blood flow in participants with peripheral arterial disease. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/06e12fa1c1a4d0d6d075705414256b2709e80035

Mutluoglu, M., Uzun, G., Bennett, M., Germonpré, P., Smart, D., & Mathieu, D. (2016). Poorly designed research does not help clarify the role of hyperbaric oxygen in the treatment of chronic diabetic foot ulcers. Diving and hyperbaric medicine, 46(3), 133–134. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27723012/

Qu, A. (2024). Advanced Pressure-Sending wristband for disease detection based on traditional Chinese medicine pulse diagnosis. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/d270cf1976db82baf1d4340268b2792616a62b18

Santa, D. E., Brown, T. P., Im, W., & Wittenberg, N. J. (2024). Atherosclerotic oxidized lipids affect formation and biophysical properties of supported lipid bilayers and simulated membranes. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c05451