Doctor Warrick Bishop - Heart Health

EP431: Cholesterol: What are we really talking about?

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +1100

Welcome to my podcast. I am Doctor Warrick Bishop, and I want to help you to live as well as possible for as long as possible. I’m a practising cardiologist, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and the creator of The Healthy Heart Network. I have over 20 years as a specialist cardiologist and a private practice of over 10,000 patients.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

This podcast is for anyone who wants to improve their health literacy and gain information to help them make the best decisions about their risk of heart attack, their cholesterol, blood pressure, risk of diabetes, weight loss and general health. Join me on my personal mission journey to prevent Heart Attack on a global scale. If you like this podcast, I would be honoured by a 5-star review and appreciate if you let your friends and family know about this podcast; you may even save the life of someone you love!

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

Heart disease is the #1 killer in the Western World. In Australia, someone dies every 28 minutes from heart disease. That’s 51 people a day. In the US, someone has a heart attack every 40 SECONDS! Fortunately, many heart attacks are preventable. However, regular exercise and eating healthy are no guarantee you won’t succumb to this silent killer.

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP430: Cancer Journey and IV Clinics With Rosy McEvedy

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +1100

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP429: Talking IV Clinics With Rosy McEvedy

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +1100

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP428: AIR Induction Cooktops

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +1100

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP427: Talking Sports Cardiology with Dr Bavishi

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +1100

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, discusses sports cardiology with special guest Akash Babishi, a professor at the University of Chicago. They delve into diagnosing, managing, and preventing heart issues in athletes, including the risks of atrial fibrillation in endurance athletes, the role of genetics, and the controversies around coronary artery calcification. They emphasize the importance of monitoring symptoms, seeking expert advice, and embracing exercise for overall health while cautioning against ignoring warning signs. Fisher encourages listeners to join the Healthy Heart Network to assess heart health and reduce the risk of heart attacks.

Takeaways:

Sports cardiology is an emerging field focused on the cardiovascular health of athletes, encompassing diagnosis, risk stratification, and management to facilitate a safe return to play.
Sports cardiology is not limited to elite athletes; weekend warriors, former high school athletes, and individuals with fitness goals can benefit from the expertise of a sports cardiologist.
While exercise is generally beneficial for heart health, extreme endurance activities like marathon running and cycling may pose a risk of atrial fibrillation in some individuals.
Detecting early signs of heart abnormalities like fibrosis and dysfunction in athletes, particularly endurance athletes, through imaging techniques such as echocardiography and cardiac MRI is crucial.
Sudden cardiac death in athletes, while rare, can be caused by various factors such as arrhythmias, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies, and anomalous coronaries, highlighting the need for preventative measures and emergency action plans.
Monitoring heart health through risk stratification, including assessing coronary artery calcification, remains important for all athletes, emphasizing the necessity of seeking guidance from a sports cardiologist, especially for older individuals with additional risk factors.
Exercise is encouraged for its numerous benefits, but individuals are advised to listen to their bodies, report any symptoms, and engage in shared decision-making with sports cardiologists to ensure safe and effective participation in physical activities.
Consideration of individual risk factors, genetic predispositions, and appropriate management strategies play a pivotal role in promoting heart health and reducing the risk of cardiovascular events in athletes of all ages and fitness levels.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP426: Glutathione Explained

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 09:00:00 +1100

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist, author, and keynote speaker, discusses glutathione, a tripeptide composed of glutamine, cysteine, and glycine, found in nearly every cell of the body. Glutathione plays a crucial role in detoxification, antioxidant defense, and immune functions. People take it to support detoxification, reduce oxidative stress, boost immune function, and improve skin health. Intravenous delivery of glutathione bypasses gut degradation and absorption issues, allowing for higher bloodstream levels, which is particularly beneficial for individuals with chronic illnesses, autoimmune conditions, liver disease, or those exposed to toxins, heavy physical or emotional stress, or undergoing cancer treatment.

Factors that can increase the need for glutathione include aging, pollution, alcohol consumption, processed foods, smoking, and drug use. Sulfur-rich foods, whey protein, vitamins C and E, and selenium contribute to glutathione levels and function. Dr. Bishop emphasizes that glutathione is the body's master antioxidant and IV delivery is an effective way to ensure adequate levels, making it a powerful wellness strategy. He shares that glutathione is available at Longevity Labs IV Hobart and encourages listeners to subscribe to his YouTube channel and visit his website for more information on health topics.

Takeaways:

Glutathione is a tripeptide composed of glutamine, cysteine, and glycine, containing sulfur, and is found in nearly every cell of the body.
It plays a central role in the body’s detoxification, antioxidant defense, and immune functions.
People take glutathione to support detoxification, reduce oxidative stress and free radical damage, boost immune function, and improve skin health.
Some individuals use glutathione to brighten their skin complexion.
Glutathione is supportive for individuals experiencing chronic inflammation due to its role in detoxification and free radical management.
Intravenous (IV) delivery of glutathione bypasses potential degradation in the gut and allows for higher blood levels compared to oral forms.
IV glutathione is particularly beneficial for those with severe oxidative stress, chronic illnesses, cancer therapy, or impaired absorption.
Factors that can increase the need for glutathione include aging, pollution, environmental toxins, processed foods, alcohol, smoking, drug use, chronic stress, and inflammation.
Sulfur-rich foods (garlic, onions, broccoli), whey protein, vitamins C and E, and selenium are important for glutathione production and function.
Glutathione is considered the body’s master antioxidant, and IV delivery can be a powerful part of a wellness strategy, especially for immune support and antioxidant therapy.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP425: Creatine Made Simple

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 09:00:00 +1100

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist, author, and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, discusses creatine, a naturally occurring compound vital for energy systems in both muscles and the brain. Creatine is synthesized in the body from amino acids and stored primarily in muscles, with a portion also in the brain, which is highly energy-dependent. It functions as an energy reserve by helping to regenerate ATP, the body's energy currency. Creatine supplementation can enhance muscle function, size, and cognitive function, and is also linked to healthy aging and recovery due to its role in methylation. While the typical daily dose for muscle support is 3-5 grams, higher doses of 10-20 grams may benefit cognitive function.

Creatine monohydrate is the most common and accessible form. Creatine is converted to creatinine, a waste product excreted in urine, and elevated creatinine levels in blood tests due to supplementation can sometimes be mistaken for kidney problems, though creatine itself does not damage the kidneys. Vegetarians, vegans, individuals with poor diets, and older adults may particularly benefit from creatine. The supplement is considered extremely safe, even at higher doses, and is affordable and widely available. Dr. Bishop encourages listeners to consider creatine for both physical and cognitive health, emphasizing its potential benefits for aging and even neurodegenerative diseases, while advising consultation with a specialist for specific health conditions.

Takeaways:

Creatine is a naturally occurring compound crucial for the body’s energy systems, particularly for muscle and brain function.
The body produces creatine in the kidney and liver from amino acids like arginine, glycine, and methionine.
Creatine’s primary role is to help regenerate ATP, the body’s energy currency, especially during high-energy activities.
While commonly known for muscle enhancement, recent research highlights creatine’s importance for cognitive function.
Creatine is converted to creatinine, a waste product excreted in urine, which is used to assess kidney function.
Supplementing with creatine can increase creatinine levels in blood tests, potentially mimicking kidney problems, but it does not damage the kidneys.
Recommended maintenance doses for muscle support are typically 3-5 grams per day, while cognitive function may benefit from higher doses (10-20 grams per day).
Creatine monohydrate is the most common and accessible form of creatine supplementation.
Individuals who may benefit from creatine include athletes, vegetarians/vegans, those with poor diets, and older adults seeking to maintain muscle and cognitive health.
Creatine is generally considered safe, affordable, and widely available, offering potential benefits for both physical and brain health.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP424: Amazing NuCalm Interview with Jim Poole

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 11:55:54 +1100

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, hosts a podcast episode featuring Jim Poole, CEO of Newcom. Newcom is a neuroscience company that uses technology to modulate brainwave frequencies for various benefits. The technology helps regulate brain frequencies for improved sleep, focus, creativity, stress reduction, and peak performance. It has been used in surgeries, professional sports teams, and military settings with notable success. Listeners can use Newcom through different programs like Rescue, Focus, and Ignite, either with over-ear headphones or earbuds. Dr. Fisher and Poole discuss how Newcom can be integrated into daily life to manage stress, enhance performance, and improve overall well-being.

Takeaways:

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, emphasizes the importance of understanding key health indicators like blood pressure, weight, cholesterol, and foot health to prevent heart disease.
The podcast features Jim Poole, CEO of Newcom, an organization focusing on modulating brain wave frequencies using neuroscience technology for therapeutic benefits.
Newcom’s technology enables users to modulate brain wave frequencies, affecting mood, thoughts, and behaviors, with specific brain wave frequencies correlating with different states like deep sleep, creativity, stress, focus, and peak performance.
Newcom’s technology, accessible via an app, uses precise signals presented through music to synchronize brain wave frequencies, leading to benefits such as stress reduction, improved focus, and accelerated healing without conscious effort.
Newcom has been utilized in various settings, including surgeries, sports teams, military operations, and by individuals for everyday activities to manage brain frequencies and enhance performance and well-being.
The technology involves binaural signal processing, where disparate frequencies presented in each ear are subtracted by the brain to modulate brain wave frequencies, leading to different states of consciousness and performance.
Users of Newcom technology, like Jim Poole, incorporate it into their daily routines, including before sleep, during workouts, for focus during work, and after stressful events, to maintain optimal brain wave frequencies for desired outcomes.
Newcom’s technology, while seemingly incredible, is rooted in science and mathematics, providing a non-pharmacological tool for stress management, improved sleep, enhanced focus, and overall well-being.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP423: Why Vitamin B12?

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 09:00:00 +1100

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, discusses the importance of vitamin B12. He explains how B12 supports red blood cell formation, DNA synthesis, brain function, and nerve health. Factors like diet, age, certain health conditions, and medications can increase the risk of B12 deficiency. Dr. Warrick highlights the significance of B12 testing and different forms of B12 supplementation, especially for individuals with genetic factors impacting B12 metabolism. He suggests incorporating B12 testing into routine blood work and seeking medical advice for replenishing B12 levels, especially in cases of deficiency.

Takeaways:

Vitamin B12 is essential for various bodily functions like red cell formation, DNA synthesis, healthy brain function, and nerve function.
Symptoms of low B12 levels include fatigue, weakness, sore tongue (glossitis), weight loss, appetite changes, and peripheral neuropathy.
Groups at risk for B12 deficiency include vegetarians/vegans, older adults, individuals with gastrointestinal issues like Crohn’s disease or celiac disease, gastric bypass patients, long-term users of certain medications like proton pump inhibitors and metformin.
Methylcobalamin is the active form of B12, while cyanocobalamin is a synthetic form that needs to be converted in the body.
Individuals with the MTHFR gene mutation may struggle to convert B12 effectively and may benefit from taking methylcobalamin.
B12 deficiency can be addressed through oral supplements, injections, or intravenous infusions, especially for severe deficiencies or individuals with absorption issues.
Regular monitoring of B12 levels through blood tests is recommended, particularly for those at risk or with genetic predispositions.
Consider joining the Healthy Heart Network for heart health monitoring and risk assessment to improve heart attack prevention.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP422: AI Movement VueMotion and the Future

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +1100

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist, author, and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, discusses the importance of understanding blood pressure, weight, cholesterol, and food for better health to prevent heart disease. In a conversation with Ryan Talbot, founder of View Motion, they explore how AI-driven video analysis can optimize athletic performance, prevent injuries, and potentially aid in diagnosing health issues by analyzing movement patterns. They discuss using technology to assess early pathology and changes in gait to improve overall health outcomes. Vue Motion aims to expand its applications from sports to diagnostics for the general population and aging individuals, collaborating with universities and seeking contributions to research in the health and human movement space.

Takeaways:

Dr. Warrick Bishop focuses on helping people live healthier lives and prevent heart disease through understanding blood pressure, weight, cholesterol, and diet.
Vue Motion, led by Ryan Talbot, uses AI-driven technology to analyze movement patterns in athletes to improve performance and prevent injuries.
The technology accurately assesses movement in a natural environment, providing data on acceleration, deceleration, running, changing direction, and more, to identify areas for improvement.
Coaches benefit from reports generated by Vue Motion, which include split times, maximum speed, asymmetries, step quality, and specific recommendations for enhancing performance.
The technology is scalable for medical applications, offering opportunities for early diagnosis by evaluating subtle changes in movement patterns that could indicate underlying health issues like Parkinson’s.
Ryan Talbot aims to expand Vue Motion’s applications beyond sports to support general population and aging health, with research collaborations in sports leagues and universities worldwide.
Vue Motion is open to collaboration in various capacities, including research, business, and investment, as they work on advancing human movement analysis for health and performance improvement.
Dr. Warrick Bishop stresses the importance of understanding coronary artery disease risks, with a reference to a website for evaluating risk and promoting heart health awareness.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP421: 60 Year Old Male Aging with Dr Khanh Part 3

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +1100

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, discusses anti-aging medicine and proactive healthcare with Dr. Khan from the Austin Regenerative Therapy Institute. They explore hormone replacement therapy, peptides, and optimizing health through thorough screenings and lab work. They touch on testosterone levels, peptide therapy, growth hormone optimization, young plasma exchange, and future possibilities in healthcare. The conversation highlights the shift towards preventive care and maximizing quality of life, emphasizing the exciting advancements in medicine and the potential for living healthier and longer. Doctor Bishop encourages listeners to join the Healthy Heart Network for valuable insights into heart health and heart attack risk assessment.

Takeaways:

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, emphasizes the importance of proactive healthcare to optimize well-being and prevent heart disease.
Dr. Bishop interviews Dr. Khanh from the Austin Regenerative Therapy Centre, discussing anti-aging medicine, hormone replacement therapy, and peptides to enhance overall health.
The importance of early identification of health issues through comprehensive screenings, including blood work to assess hormone levels and markers such as LPLOA, lipoprotein B, and hemoglobin A1c.
Dr. Khanh shares insights on hormone replacement therapy, emphasizing the need to optimize hormone levels based on individual symptoms and responses.
Combination therapies involving testosterone replacement, growth hormone releasing peptides, and peptides for repair and recovery can improve energy levels, muscle mass, cognition, and overall health.
Young plasma exchange therapy shows promise in conditions like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and ALS, providing long-lasting benefits beyond six months.
The shift in healthcare towards preventive and proactive care, coupled with advancements in quantum physics and AI, offers exciting possibilities for extending quality of life and overall health span.
Listeners are encouraged to join the Healthy Heart Network community to understand their heart health, assess their risk of heart attack, and access valuable resources for improving heart health for a lifetime membership fee of $5.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP420: Anti-Aging Toolkit with Dr Khanh Part 2

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +1100

In this episode, Dr. Warrick Bishop discusses anti-aging medicine with Dr. Khan Wren, covering hormone replacement therapy, IV vitamins, minerals and NAD plus therapy, various peptides for different health outcomes, PRP and young plasma exchange for regenerative therapy, and sexual optimization treatments like the P-shot and O-shot. Discussions delve into the benefits of these therapies, their mechanisms, and the importance of addressing overall health and lifestyle factors in tandem. Dr. Khanh shares examples of patient success stories and emphasizes the holistic approach to optimizing health and vitality.

Takeaways:

Hormone replacement therapy involves checking various hormone levels such as total testosterone, free testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin, thyroid hormones, cortisol levels, and more to optimize overall health.
Hormone levels tend to decrease post-30 years, and symptoms play a crucial role in determining the need for hormone replacement therapy rather than age alone.
Peptide therapy involves using small proteins to signal the body to perform specific tasks for repair, recovery, immune modulation, mitochondrial optimization, and other functions.
Peptides such as GLP-1 can be effective beyond weight loss, offering benefits for cardiovascular, brain, and gut health when used correctly.
Young plasma exchange, a regenerative therapy, utilizes plasma from healthy 18-25-year-olds to enhance cellular function, potentially leading to improved cognitive function, energy, and overall health.
PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy, typically used in orthopedics, can be applied in aesthetics, hair rejuvenation, and sexual optimization for both men (P shot) and women (O shot), improving tissue health and satisfaction.
Sexual optimization treatments not only address physical concerns but also emphasize comprehensive health assessments, diet, lifestyle factors, and addressing underlying health issues to enhance overall well-being.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP419: Talking Anti-Aging Medicine with Dr Khanh Part 1

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 11:56:04 +1100

Dr. Warrick Bishop interviews Dr. Khan about anti-aging medicine. Dr. Khan, an expert in the field, explains that mainstream medicine is often reactive, treating illness after it occurs, whereas anti-aging medicine focuses on prevention and root causes. Dr. Khueng shares her personal journey into anti-aging after experiencing burnout and a Graves' disease diagnosis, which led her to explore alternative approaches to healing. She emphasizes that aging doesn't have to mean declining health and that proactive optimization is key.

Dr. Khan discusses comprehensive blood work and hormone optimization, particularly testosterone for men, as foundational elements. She highlights that 'normal' ranges in traditional medicine may not be 'optimal' and that personalized hormone levels can significantly improve energy, mood, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Dr. Khan also touches on the interconnectedness of bodily systems, including thyroid, cortisol, and vitamin D, stressing the importance of addressing these foundational aspects before more complex interventions. She advocates for a holistic approach, viewing the body as one system rather than isolated parts. The podcast series plans to delve deeper into specific anti-aging techniques and case studies in future episodes.

Takeaways:

Anti-aging medicine is a nascent field, contrasting with traditional mainstream medical practice which is largely reactive, focusing on treating illness after it occurs.
Dr. Khan’s transition to anti-aging medicine was prompted by personal burnout and a diagnosis of Grave Disease, leading to a deeper exploration of root causes rather than symptom suppression.
Mainstream medicine often overlooks early signs of aging and suboptimal health markers, telling patients ‘it’s just part of aging’ when they experience issues like low energy or brain fog.
Preventative and proactive healthcare, akin to regular car maintenance, aims to identify and address potential health issues before they manifest as serious conditions.
Hormone optimization, particularly testosterone for men and a broader range for women (estrogen, progesterone), is a foundational aspect of anti-aging medicine, significantly impacting mood, energy, and overall well-being.
The ‘normal’ range in medical testing often signifies ‘normal for age’ rather than an ‘optimized’ state, suggesting that levels considered average might not be ideal for peak health and longevity.
Optimizing hormone levels can offer protection against serious conditions like dementia, depression, osteoporosis, heart disease, and stroke.
Anti-aging medicine views the body as an interconnected system, necessitating a holistic approach that considers multiple hormones (thyroid, cortisol) and foundational health markers (vitamin D, B12, magnesium) simultaneously.
Addressing root causes like chronic inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and microbiome imbalances can lead to widespread health improvements across various bodily systems.
The ‘sick care’ model, focused on reacting to illness, is contrasted with a proactive ‘healthcare’ model that seeks to prevent disease by identifying and mitigating risks early on.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP418: Allergic vs Idiosyncratic vs Tolerance and Doing it Naturally

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 09:00:00 +1100

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, discusses common patient concerns regarding cholesterol-lowering medications, specifically statin intolerance and the desire to manage health naturally. He explains that while some individuals report statin intolerance, the medical community acknowledges the complexity of this issue, including the well-documented nocebo effect, where expectations of side effects can actually trigger them.

He breaks adverse responses into three groups: true allergic reactions, rare idiosyncratic responses that occur unpredictably, and tolerance-related effects—the latter being by far the most common and usually manageable. In most cases, patients can work toward a personalised statin dose that supports long-term health without significant discomfort. The aim isn’t simply to tick a box on a prescription—it’s to help people live well for longer.

Dr. Bishop also speaks to those who prefer natural approaches, noting that heart disease remains a major health threat in Australia, with a heart attack happening roughly every 20 minutes. While lifestyle matters deeply, our biology wasn’t built for modern longevity; we evolved to survive long enough to raise children, not to cruise into our 80s and 90s. That means staying well often requires a mix of smart lifestyle decisions and modern medical tools—essentially outsmarting our own DNA.

To dive deeper, Dr. Bishop highlights his book, Cholesterol Explained, co-authored with Associate Professor Karam Kostner, which listeners can request through their local library.

Takeaways:

Heart disease is a major health concern in Australia, with a heart attack occurring every 20 minutes, many of which could be preventable.
The podcast addresses two common patient concerns: statin intolerance and a preference for natural health approaches over medication.
Statin intolerance is complex, with a recognized ‘nocebo’ effect contributing to perceived adverse reactions.
Adverse drug reactions can be categorized into allergic (anaphylactic), idiosyncratic, and tolerance-related.
Allergic and idiosyncratic reactions are severe and unpredictable, meaning reintroduction of the causative agent is not advised.
Tolerance-related reactions are the most common and manageable, allowing for a personalized dosage approach.
The goal when managing statin intolerance is to find a tolerable dosage that allows patients to live as well as possible for as long as possible.
Humans have not evolved for longevity; our biological blueprint was designed for survival and reproduction in early adulthood, not for living into our 70s, 80s, or 90s.
To age well and maintain health and independence, it’s necessary to ‘outsmart’ our DNA by utilizing modern medicine and lifestyle choices.
The book ‘Cholesterol Explained’ by Dr. Warrick Bishop and Associate Professor Karam Kostner is available and can be requested at local libraries.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP417: Cholesterol—Separating Fats from Fiction

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 09:00:00 +1100

In this episode, Dr Warrick Bishop explains the real role of cholesterol in the body and why simple labels like “good” and “bad” cholesterol don’t tell the whole story. He breaks down LDL, HDL, triglycerides, and Lipoprotein(a), highlighting how each contributes to understanding cardiovascular risk.

Dr Bishop also discusses why blood tests, while useful, only provide part of the picture. To truly understand whether plaque is forming, imaging the arteries offers a more direct assessment. He explores where treatments like statins can be effective and why decisions should be individualised rather than based on single numbers.

Takeaways:

Cholesterol is essential for the body, playing roles in cell membranes, sex hormones, vitamin D synthesis, and bile acid production.
Blood tests measure cholesterol within lipoprotein particles (LDL and HDL), not the cholesterol molecule itself.
LDL (low-density lipoprotein) is often termed ‘bad cholesterol’ due to its link with cholesterol buildup in arteries.
HDL (high-density lipoprotein) is termed ‘good cholesterol,’ but its protective role is not always guaranteed.
Triglycerides may be more significant than previously thought, potentially indicating issues with metabolic pathways like insulin resistance.
The size and type of LDL particles can differ based on triglyceride levels, complicating risk prediction.
Lipoprotein little (a) is a genetic particle strongly linked to coronary arteries and premature heart disease, considered worse than LDL.
Imaging arteries to detect plaque buildup is crucial for assessing individual risk, regardless of blood test results.
Statins are useful medications but their appropriateness depends on individual circumstances and arterial health, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Assessing heart attack risk is vital as it is a leading cause of death globally, with resources like virtualheartcheck.com.au available for evaluation.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP416: Highlights of WCCL June 2025

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 09:00:00 +1100

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, shares insights from the 4th World Congress of Clinical Lipidology. He highlights that LDL cholesterol, the "bad" cholesterol, is primarily utilized only by the liver, not for other bodily functions like hormone production or energy. Contrary to some concerns, lowering LDL cholesterol does not appear to increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke and may even reduce all-cause mortality and dementia.

Dr. Bishop emphasizes the importance of considering lifetime risk for coronary artery disease rather than just short-term risk, advocating for earlier intervention. He also discusses Obesetrapid, a potential new cholesterol-lowering agent, and explores genetic factors contributing to longevity in "blue zones" like Campo di Meli and Le Bon Sul Garda, specifically mentioning mutations in the ANGPTL3 and Apo1a Milano genes. Finally, he touches upon CRISPR therapy as a future possibility for treating genetic cholesterol-related disorders. Dr. Bishop encourages listeners to share and like his podcast to help spread awareness about heart health and invites them to join the Healthy Heart Network for resources on managing heart health and reducing heart attack risk.

Takeaways:

LDL cholesterol, often called ‘bad cholesterol,’ is exclusively utilized by the liver and not by other bodily functions like hormone production, vitamin D synthesis, or energy.
Data from hunter-gatherer tribes and ancestral primates shows significantly lower LDL cholesterol levels compared to modern Western populations.
Current research indicates that lowering LDL cholesterol does not increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke, contrary to previous concerns.
Studies like IMPROVE-IT and PCSK9 trials suggest that lowering LDL cholesterol can reduce all-cause mortality.
Recent research indicates that lowering LDL cholesterol may also reduce the risk of all-cause dementia.
Focusing solely on short-term risk calculations for conditions like heart disease can be misleading; lifetime risk assessment is more comprehensive.
Early intervention and risk modification for coronary artery disease yield greater long-term benefits.
Obesetrapid, a potential new cholesterol-lowering agent targeting the CTEP pathway, shows promise in raising HDL and lowering LDL cholesterol.
Genetic mutations, such as ANGPTL3 and Apo1a Milano, found in ‘blue zones’ like Campodimele and Limone sul Garda, are linked to lower cholesterol levels and increased longevity.
CRISPR gene editing technology holds potential for treating genetic cholesterol-related disorders by modifying DNA and altering protein production.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP415: Inflammation—What, How, Why?

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 09:00:00 +1100

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, discusses the importance of understanding inflammation for overall health. He explains that while acute inflammation is a beneficial response to injury, chronic low-grade inflammation is linked to serious health issues like heart disease, Alzheimer's, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. Causes of chronic inflammation include modern lifestyle factors such as highly processed foods, visceral fat (fat surrounding organs), sedentary behavior, poor sleep, stress, and environmental toxins. Gingivitis is also mentioned as a common chronic infection that can contribute to inflammation. Detecting inflammation can be done through specific blood tests like high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HS CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), though general markers like high triglycerides, low HDL, insulin resistance, and increased waist circumference can also be indicators.

Dr. Bishop emphasizes that while medications exist, natural approaches are crucial for managing inflammation. These include prioritizing good sleep, engaging in regular physical activity, practicing stress reduction techniques, and consuming anti-inflammatory foods like fiber and omega-3 oils, while avoiding ultra-processed foods, sugar, and excess alcohol. Strength training may also help by reducing visceral fat and improving insulin sensitivity. He concludes by encouraging listeners to be aware of their inflammation risk and to subscribe to the Healthy Heart Network for more information on heart health.

Takeaways:

Inflammation is a natural response to injury, but chronic low-grade inflammation is linked to serious health issues like heart disease, Alzheimer’s, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.
Causes of chronic inflammation include processed foods, preservatives, environmental toxins, sedentary behavior, poor sleep, and stress.
Visceral fat, the fat surrounding organs, is a significant contributor to inflammation.
Symptoms of inflammation are not always obvious, but indicators like a ‘pot belly’ can suggest the presence of visceral fat.
Detecting inflammation often requires specific blood tests like high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HS CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).
Other indicators that may point to underlying inflammation include high triglycerides, low HDL, increased insulin resistance, and increased waist circumference.
While steroids can reduce inflammation, they have side effects that limit long-term use.
Natural ways to combat inflammation include prioritizing good sleep, engaging in regular physical activity, practicing stress reduction techniques, and adopting an anti-inflammatory diet.
An anti-inflammatory diet includes fiber, fruits and vegetables (‘eating the rainbow’), and omega-3 oils, while avoiding ultra-processed foods, sugar, and excess alcohol.
Strength training may help reduce inflammation by decreasing visceral fat and improving insulin sensitivity.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP414: Modern (Metabolic) Syndrome

Sun, 30 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +1100

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and author, discusses reversing metabolic syndrome, which he also calls the "modern syndrome." He explains that metabolic syndrome is not a disease itself but a warning sign of increased risk for heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, and dementia. The syndrome is characterized by having at least three of five criteria: elevated waist circumference, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, and elevated fasting blood sugar. The root cause is often insulin resistance, where the body's cells stop responding properly to insulin, a hormone responsible for energy storage. This resistance is exacerbated by modern diets high in carbohydrates and a sedentary lifestyle. Other contributing factors include sleep deprivation, chronic stress, and genetic predisposition.

To reverse metabolic syndrome, Dr. Bishop recommends reducing carbohydrate intake, focusing on whole foods and a Mediterranean-style diet, and engaging in regular physical activity. He also stresses the importance of managing stress and losing even a small percentage of body weight, as this can significantly improve insulin resistance. He emphasizes that sustainable lifestyle changes are key to long-term health and encourages listeners to pay attention to their "honesty strap" – their belt – as an indicator of progress. Future podcasts will cover saunas and underrated cardiovascular risk predictors.

Takeaways:

Metabolic syndrome, also referred to as the ‘modern syndrome,’ is a cluster of conditions that significantly increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, and dementia.
The five criteria for metabolic syndrome are: elevated waist circumference, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, and elevated fasting blood sugar. A diagnosis requires having at least three of these.
Insulin resistance, where cells stop responding properly to insulin, is at the core of metabolic syndrome. This is exacerbated by modern diets high in carbohydrates.
Evolutionary history shows that the body developed mechanisms to store excess energy from infrequent carbohydrate availability as fat, but modern diets provide constant carbohydrate exposure.
Factors contributing to metabolic syndrome include excessive carbohydrate intake, sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise, sleep deprivation, chronic stress, and genetic predisposition.
Reversing insulin resistance can be achieved by reducing carbohydrate intake, particularly processed carbs, and focusing on whole foods, similar to a Mediterranean diet.
Regular physical activity is crucial for burning calories and improving metabolic health. The key is to find enjoyable activities that can be sustained long-term.
Managing stress is important as chronic stress can lead to elevated cortisol levels, negatively impacting bodily functions and increasing blood sugar.
Losing even a small percentage of body weight (5-10%) can significantly improve insulin resistance, especially by reducing visceral fat around organs.
A simple indicator of progress in managing metabolic syndrome is the tightening of one’s belt, signifying a reduction in waist circumference and overall fat.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP413: Younger Sharper Stronger

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +1100

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and author, discusses how to age with strength by focusing on three key systems: the brain, bones, and muscles. He emphasizes that proactive care, starting as early as possible, is crucial for maintaining health and independence as we age. For brain health, he highlights the importance of vascular health, managing conditions like high blood pressure and insulin resistance, getting adequate sleep for waste removal, regular exercise, and a Mediterranean-style diet with antioxidants and omega-3s. Regarding bone health, Dr. Bishop stresses the need to check bone mineral density, as conditions like celiac disease or mastocytosis can impact it. He recommends load-bearing exercise, sufficient Vitamin D, K2, magnesium, protein, and collagen to strengthen bones.

Takeaways:

Heart disease is a significant issue in Australia, with a heart attack occurring every 20 minutes, many of which could be prevented with proper knowledge.
As we age, maintaining strength is crucial, focusing on three key systems: the brain, bones, and muscles.
Protecting cognitive function involves ensuring good blood flow to the brain, reducing inflammation, and maintaining metabolic health.
Vascular health is directly linked to brain health; managing conditions like high blood pressure and insulin resistance can prevent cognitive decline.
Studies suggest that lowering cholesterol, even with statins, may reduce the risk of all-cause dementia.
Adequate sleep is essential for brain health, allowing the brain to clear waste products and proteins.
Regular aerobic activity and strength training benefit long-term brain outcomes, alongside a Mediterranean-style diet and omega-3 fatty acids.
Bone health requires attention, and checking bone mineral density is recommended, especially if there are risk factors or a history of fractures.
Load-bearing exercise, adequate Vitamin D, K2, magnesium, protein, and collagen are vital for strengthening bones.
Muscle mass loss (sarcopenia) leads to frailty, but strength training can improve insulin sensitivity, posture, balance, and metabolic rate, even in older adults.

Finally, he addresses muscle health, explaining that sarcopenia, or muscle loss, leads to frailty and loss of independence. However, he assures that muscle strength can be improved even in older age through strength training, adequate protein intake, and supplements like creatine. This approach can enhance insulin sensitivity, posture, balance, and metabolic rate. Dr. Bishop encourages listeners to utilize his virtual heart and bone check resources and to share the podcast to help others live as well as possible for as long as possible.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP412: Talking Psoriasis with Dr Foo and Dr Smith

Sun, 16 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +1100

Dr. Warrick Bishop hosts a podcast episode with Fiona Foo, a cardiologist, and Dr. Smith, a dermatologist, discussing the connection between psoriasis and cardiovascular health. Psoriasis, affecting 2-4% of the population, is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that can lead to systemic inflammation impacting organs like the heart, joints, and liver. Patients with psoriasis have an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes due to elevated cardiovascular risk factors and inflammation.

Early diagnosis, effective treatment, and lifestyle interventions like weight management are crucial in managing psoriasis and reducing cardiovascular risk. Treatment options include biologics and lifestyle changes like the Mediterranean diet to improve skin and heart health. Dr. Bishop emphasizes the importance of awareness, early intervention, and proactive health management to optimize quality of life and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Takeaways:

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting 2-4% of the population, characterized by rapid skin cell turnover, resulting in heaped up scaly skin primarily on elbows, knees, and scalp.
Psoriasis is not just a skin condition but a systemic disorder that can impact organs beyond the skin, such as the heart, joints (psoriatic arthritis), brain (depression, anxiety), and liver inflammation.
Early diagnosis and effective treatment of psoriasis are critical to shaping the disease trajectory and reducing the risk of comorbidities like heart disease.
Psoriasis is considered an independent cardiovascular risk factor, associated with increased cardiovascular risk factors like obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol, contributing to atherosclerosis and elevated risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Patients with psoriasis should be treated as high-risk individuals, focusing on lowering blood pressure, cholesterol, and maintaining overall cardiovascular health through lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, and weight management.
Therapies for psoriasis have advanced, including topicals, phototherapy, oral systemics, and biologics, which can reduce skin inflammation and potentially systemic inflammation, improving quality of life and possibly mitigating cardiovascular risks.
Lifestyle factors like diet, especially the Mediterranean diet, weight management, and adherence to treatments, play a crucial role in managing psoriasis and reducing cardiovascular risk.
Awareness of the link between psoriasis and cardiovascular disease is crucial for early intervention, effective treatment, and improved outcomes, emphasizing the importance of seeking specialist intervention and proactive health management.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP411: Gut Microbiome with Prof Talley Part 2

Sun, 09 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +1100

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist, discusses the critical role of the gut microbiome in overall health with Professor Nicholas Talley, a gastroenterologist. They explore how factors like diet, particularly ultra-processed foods and fiber intake, significantly impact the gut microbiome and can lead to 'leaky gut.' This condition allows inflammatory particles and bacterial factors to enter the bloodstream, contributing to chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and potentially Parkinson's.

Antibiotics, while necessary for infections, can severely disrupt the microbiome, and their use should be minimized. Probiotics are generally found to be less effective than a high-fiber diet for maintaining gut health. Practical advice includes monitoring bowel habits as an indicator of gut health and emphasizing that our microbial inhabitants are as crucial to our physiology as our own human cells. Regular exercise and a Mediterranean-style diet are also recommended for a healthy gut and overall well-being.

Takeaways:

The gut microbiome is incredibly complex, with millions to billions of organisms, and it significantly impacts not just gut health but also other bodily systems, including the brain.
High salt intake can damage the gut microbiome, leading to a ‘leaky gut’ and inflammation of blood vessels, which in turn contributes to high blood pressure, rather than just water retention.
Adding fiber to the diet can help reverse or mitigate the negative effects of salt on the gut microbiome and blood pressure.
A ‘leaky gut’ allows bacterial factors and other particles to enter the bloodstream, interacting with the immune system and potentially leading to inflammation, a key driver of chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease.
Factors contributing to a leaky gut include genetic predispositions, environmental factors, and medications like NSAIDs (e.g., aspirin, ibuprofen) which can damage the gut lining.
A high-fiber diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, promotes a healthier and more diverse gut microbiome. Commercial gut microbiome testing is currently not recommended due to lack of reliability.
Probiotics, while theoretically intended to repopulate the gut with beneficial bacteria, often have limited effectiveness because the organisms may be dead by the time of consumption or are rejected by the existing microbiome.
Prebiotics, such as fiber, are substances that help beneficial bacteria grow and are more effective for gut health than probiotics.
Ultra-processed foods can negatively impact the gut microbiome, potentially causing leaky gut and contributing to chronic diseases, though direct causation is still being studied.
Antibiotics have a significant negative and potentially long-lasting impact on gut microbiome diversity. It is advised to avoid unnecessary antibiotic use, and maintaining a healthy diet is crucial for recovery.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP410: Gut Microbiome with Prof Talley Part 1

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 11:00:00 +1100

In this episode, Doctor Warrick Bishop interviews Professor Nicholas Talley, a distinguished professor of medicine and gastroenterologist. Professor Talley explains the gut microbiome as the collection of trillions of organisms and their genes residing in our gut, which play a crucial role in maintaining health but can also contribute to disease. These organisms are acquired at birth and influenced by factors like diet, exercise, and medication throughout life. The gut microbiome impacts overall health by releasing chemicals that can affect bodily functions, even reaching the brain to influence appetite.

Professor Talley discusses the complex relationship between the gut microbiome and conditions like obesity, noting that while animal studies show manipulation of the microbiome can lead to weight loss, this is more challenging in humans. He introduces fecal microbial transfer (FMT) as a potential treatment, citing mixed results in conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome but promising early findings in Parkinson's disease. The conversation also touches upon the gut-brain axis, explaining the extensive neural connections between the gut and the brain, and how gut health can influence neurological conditions. Dr. Bishop expresses his intention to record a follow-up episode due to the fascinating nature of the topic.

Takeaways:

The gut microbiome refers to the trillions of organisms and their genes residing in the gut, which play a crucial role in maintaining health but can also contribute to disease.
The microbiome is acquired at birth from the mother and environment, matures in childhood, and can be altered by diet, exercise, and medications.
Gut microbes produce chemicals and metabolites that can be absorbed by the body, influencing various bodily functions and potentially impacting overall health.
Major bacterial groups like Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes have a complex, yin-yang effect on health, interacting with each other and the host.
Obesity is associated with a less diverse gut microbiome, and while animal studies show manipulation can lead to weight loss, human applications are still under development.
The relationship between obesity and the gut microbiome is complex, with changes potentially influencing appetite and food digestion, and it can be a ‘chicken and egg’ scenario.
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) is being explored as a treatment for various conditions, including Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Parkinson’s disease, with mixed but promising results.
The location of microbes within the gastrointestinal tract matters; for example, oral bacteria found in the small intestine have been linked to functional dyspepsia.
A gut-brain axis exists, facilitated by neural connections like the vagus nerve, allowing communication between the gut and the brain, influencing neurological conditions.
Research suggests that gut diseases, such as constipation in Parkinson’s patients, might precede and potentially predispose individuals to neurological disorders, indicating a possible therapeutic avenue through microbiome manipulation.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP409: 10 Good Things About Sauna

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +1100

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, hosts a podcast focused on heart health and overall well-being. He discusses the prevalence of heart disease in Australia, emphasizing the importance of understanding factors like blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol. Bishop shares a personal experience of enjoying a sauna on a boat, leading into a detailed exploration of the health benefits of regular sauna use.

These benefits include reduced risk of heart attack and stroke, lower blood pressure, improved insulin sensitivity, enhanced muscle recovery, better brain health, increased production of heat shock proteins, reduced chronic inflammation, improved sleep quality, potential detoxification, and stress reduction.

He recommends incorporating sauna sessions into a healthy lifestyle, advising four to seven sessions per week for 15 to 20 minutes at temperatures between 70 to 90 degrees Celsius. Bishop also encourages listeners to check their heart attack risk at virtualheartcheck.com.au and emphasizes the importance of exercise, proper diet, and medical care alongside sauna use.

Takeaways

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, focuses on helping people live healthier lives.
Heart disease is prevalent in Australia, with a heart attack occurring every 20 minutes, many of which could be prevented.
The podcast discusses the benefits of sauna use, including reduced risk of heart attack and stroke due to increased heart rate and circulation.
Regular sauna use can lower blood pressure, improving cardiovascular and arterial well-being.
Saunas improve insulin sensitivity, aiding in glucose metabolism and reducing inflammation.
Post-workout sauna sessions can reduce muscle soreness and enhance recovery through improved circulation.
Regular sauna use is linked to reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia, promoting better brain health.
Saunas induce heat shock proteins, which repair damaged proteins and protect cells, contributing to cellular resilience and longevity.
Sauna sessions can reduce chronic inflammation by lowering CRP levels in the blood.
Saunas improve sleep quality by mimicking the natural decline in body temperature that triggers sleep.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP408: Talking PEMF and Joint Replacement Surgery with Candice Johnston

Sun, 19 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +1100

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Takeaways:

Pulse Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy mimics the Earth’s natural electromagnetic field, promoting ion exchange within cells to improve biological processes and overall health.
PMF therapy can positively impact various health conditions, including cognitive performance, pain, inflammation, and circulation, resulting in improved well-being and quality of life.
PMF therapy has been shown to enhance bone healing and fracture recovery by improving cellular regeneration, blood circulation, and osteoblast function.
Best Self offers a range of PMF devices, including mats and belts, with the latest generation using a square wave form for potentially more stimulating effects compared to the traditional sine wave form.
The new generation PMF range from Best Self aims to provide efficient energy levels to cells, facilitating optimal cell function and energy production throughout the body.
PMF therapy penetrates the entire body, reaching the mitochondria and enhancing energy production at a deep cellular level, making it a comprehensive and effective therapy.
Consistent daily use of PMF devices is key to maximizing its benefits, focusing on integration into a holistic health protocol rather than high-intensity irregular sessions.
Best Self Founder, Candice Johnson, emphasizes the importance of PMF therapy complementing an individual’s lifestyle and health routine, highlighting the significance of consistency for optimal results.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP407: The Complexity of OSA with Kirk Huntsman

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +1100

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Takeaways:

Obstructive sleep apnea affects over a billion people worldwide, transcending age, gender, and ethnic boundaries, and can manifest from early childhood to old age.
Sleep apnea, especially in its moderate to severe forms, not only impacts life quality but can also lead to cognitive decline and shorten lifespan.
Warning signs of sleep apnea include excessive daytime drowsiness, disturbed sleep, snoring, and specific physical characteristics like neck size, narrow upper palate, and crooked teeth.
Home sleep tests have advanced, making diagnosis more accessible, accurate, and less invasive, urging listeners to consider getting tested as part of their routine health check-ups.
While CPAP devices have been a gold standard in treating sleep apnea, newer oral appliances like VIVOS focus on remodeling the airway non-surgically, offering alternatives for long-term management and potential resolution of the condition.
Dentists play a crucial role in providing these oral appliances, but it’s essential to seek experienced professionals who understand the complexity of obstructive sleep apnea and collaborate with physicians for comprehensive care.
Obstructive sleep apnea not only impacts physical health but is connected to various comorbidities like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and increased risk of cognitive impairments, including Alzheimer’s disease and early-onset dementia.
Addressing sleep apnea can improve health outcomes and quality of life, help prevent accidents related to sleepiness, and positively impact overall health span, making it crucial for everyone, especially in Western societies with access to resources, to consider screening and appropriate treatment.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP406: Dr Sara Tariq on Bias and Emotional Intelligence

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +1100

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, hosts a podcast episode featuring Dr. Sara Tariq, an internal medicine expert. They discuss medical bias, unconscious bias in healthcare, and the impact on patient outcomes. Dr. Sara emphasizes the importance of understanding and addressing biases through tools like the Harvard Implicit Association test. They also delve into personalized care for chronic diseases, emotional intelligence in healthcare, and the significance of self-care for medical practitioners. Dr. Warrick shares personal experiences and insights, highlighting the importance of creating a supportive and empathetic healthcare environment.

Takeaways:

Medical bias in healthcare, particularly unconscious biases, can lead to worse patient outcomes, impacting various aspects of care delivery and eroding trust.
Uncovering unconscious biases in medicine is crucial for improving patient care and outcomes, highlighting the need for awareness and intentional efforts by healthcare providers.
Tools like the Harvard Implicit Association test can help individuals assess their unconscious biases across different areas such as race, weight, gender, and more.
Personalized care in chronic disease management involves building partnerships with patients, empowering them to be active participants in their healthcare journey, and understanding the emotional experiences associated with illness.
Emotional intelligence, the ability to recognize and regulate emotions in oneself and others, plays a significant role in effective patient care, requiring training and intentional practice by healthcare professionals.
Creating space for emotional intelligence and self-care is essential for healthcare providers to maintain well-being, prevent burnout, and enhance their ability to empathize and connect with patients.
Balancing work demands and creating a supportive environment can help healthcare professionals improve their emotional intelligence, leading to better patient interactions and outcomes.
Dr. Warrick Bishop emphasizes the importance of understanding heart health risks and encourages listeners to check their risk of heart attack through platforms like Virtual Heart Check to prioritize cardiovascular health.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP405: Cardiovascular Risk For Women with Dr. Foo

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +1000

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist, discusses women's heart health with guest Dr. Fiona Foe, highlighting the under-recognized risks and nuances for women in developing cardiovascular disease. They cover traditional risk factors such as cholesterol, blood pressure, and diabetes, emphasizing that these factors are often more problematic in women. Specific risk factors for women include adverse pregnancy outcomes, autoimmune diseases, breast cancer treatment implications, and mental health issues like depression and anxiety. They stress the importance of recognizing these risks, getting heart health checks, and being proactive in prevention. Dr. Bishop also mentions a virtual platform for easy access to calcium scoring for arterial imaging as a preventive measure against coronary artery disease.

Takeaways:

Coronary heart disease is a significant health issue in Australia, being the second leading cause of death in women and causing more deaths than all cancers combined.
Traditional risk factors like cholesterol, blood pressure, family history, and diabetes affect both men and women, but some, like smoking and obesity, pose greater risks for women.
Sex-specific risk factors such as adverse pregnancy outcomes like gestational hypertension and gestational diabetes can increase the risk of future cardiovascular diseases in women.
Autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, especially in women.
Breast cancer treatment, particularly radiation on the left side, can lead to delayed coronary artery disease and impaired heart function, increasing the risk of cardiovascular issues for breast cancer survivors.
Mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder are significant risk factors for cardiovascular disease, especially in middle-aged women, emphasizing the importance of managing both mental health and traditional risk factors.
Awareness of non-traditional risk factors like autoimmune diseases, breast cancer treatment implications, and mental health conditions is crucial for women’s cardiovascular health, and a proactive approach to prevention, including heart health checks and lifestyle modifications, is recommended.
Calcium scoring is highlighted as a valuable tool for assessing artery health and evaluating coronary artery disease risk, offering a quick and efficient method for screening, particularly when traditional and non-traditional risk factors are present.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP404: What is Glycocalyx?

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +1000

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, hosts a podcast focused on helping people improve their heart health by understanding factors like blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol. In one episode, Dr. Bishop discusses the glycocalyx, a protective lining within the endothelium that covers the cells lining the arteries. This thin, slippery layer acts as a barrier, protecting endothelial cells from direct exposure to blood contents. Damage to the glycocalyx, often caused by turbulent blood flow at branch points, can lead to wear and tear on endothelial cells, potentially contributing to the development of plaque in arteries. While there are no established treatments for the glycocalyx, maintaining low blood pressure and considering imaging for early detection are recommended.

Dr. Bishop emphasizes the importance of keeping systolic blood pressure as low as possible, ideally around 110, to minimize turbulent flow and protect the glycocalyx. He also highlights the need for further research on this complex layer, which contains various proteins and plays a crucial role in vascular health. The podcast encourages listeners to share the information with others and to visit www.virtualheartcheck.com.au to assess their heart attack risk.

Takeaways:

Dr. Warrick Bishop is a cardiologist, author, and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, focused on helping people live healthier lives.
Heart disease is prevalent in Australia, with a heart attack occurring every 20 minutes, many of which could be prevented.
The podcast aims to educate listeners about blood pressure, weight, cholesterol, and other factors for better health.
The glycocalyx is a protective lining within the endothelium, which lines the arteries and interacts with blood.
The glycocalyx is a thin, slippery layer that protects endothelial cells from direct exposure to blood contents.
Damage to the glycocalyx may contribute to the development of plaque in arteries and coronary artery disease.
Laminar flow in arteries helps protect the glycocalyx, while turbulent flow can damage it, especially at branch points.
Current treatments for heart disease focus on reducing platelet stickiness and lowering cholesterol, but there are no established treatments for the glycocalyx.
Maintaining low blood pressure (ideally systolic below 110) can help reduce turbulent flow and protect the glycocalyx.
Imaging may be valuable in primary prevention to identify areas of arterial damage potentially linked to glycocalyx disruption.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP403: 5 Things That Get Missed on Risk Assessments

Sun, 14 Sep 2025 09:25:22 +1000

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP402: Remote Monitoring Menopause and Much More - Mark Goddard

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +1000

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, hosts a podcast discussing heart health, focusing on blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol. He interviews Mark Goddard, a registered nurse and Vice President of Clinical Services at InfoBionic.Ai, a company that provides remote monitoring equipment for heart devices. They discuss the evolution of remote monitoring for pacemakers and defibrillators, highlighting the benefits of real-time data transmission and early detection of heart issues like atrial fibrillation.

Mark explains Infobonc's wearable device, which transmits ECG information for up to 30 days, increasing the chances of capturing rare heart events. They also touch on the impact of hormonal changes on cardiovascular risk, particularly for women experiencing menopause. Dr. Bishop emphasizes the importance of preventive cardiology and regular check-ups. The podcast concludes with information on how to access these monitoring services in the US and Australia, encouraging listeners to take proactive steps in managing their heart health.

Takeaways:

Heart disease is a significant issue in Australia, with someone suffering a heart attack every 20 minutes, many of which could be prevented with better understanding and management of health factors like blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol.
Remote monitoring of implantable devices like pacemakers and defibrillators has revolutionized heart health management, allowing for real-time data transmission and immediate detection of issues such as atrial fibrillation.
InfoBionic.Ai provides wearable devices for short-term monitoring (1-30 days) that transmit near real-time ECG information, significantly increasing the chances of capturing rare cardiac events compared to traditional Holter monitors.
Early menopause in women is linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular issues due to the loss of cardio-protective estrogen, emphasizing the need for regular assessments and potential hormone replacement therapy.
Advances in AI and cardiac monitoring aim to preemptively identify patients at risk of atrial fibrillation by analyzing nuances in cardiac waveforms, potentially preventing future cardiac events.
Regular monitoring and early intervention are crucial for managing heart health, especially for individuals with risk factors such as high blood pressure, obesity, or enlarged atrial chambers.
Wearable devices like those from InfoBionic.Ai and Apple Watch are becoming valuable tools in detecting and managing cardiac arrhythmias, offering continuous monitoring and data transmission.
The impact of hormonal changes on cardiovascular risk is significant, particularly for women, highlighting the importance of tailored medical advice and regular check-ups.
Preventative cardiology focuses on managing risk factors to avoid cardiac events, with the goal of maintaining long-term heart health through regular monitoring and early intervention.
Access to advanced cardiac monitoring services in both the US and Australia is facilitated through partnerships with cardiologists, ensuring that patients receive timely and accurate diagnostic information.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP401: 8 Pillars of Health Span with Dr David Neuman

Sun, 31 Aug 2025 09:00:00 +1000

In this podcast episode, Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist, discusses the importance of healthy living to prevent heart disease. He interviews Dr. David Neuman from New York, who highlights the eight pillars of healthy lifespan. These pillars include exercise, sleep, hydration, mindfulness, social connection, avoiding vices like alcohol and tobacco, and a nutritious diet. They emphasize the significance of small, consistent changes for long-term health benefits and stress the relationship between lifestyle habits and overall well-being. The conversation underscores how these pillars contribute to health span by promoting independence, quality of life, and longevity. They also touch on the importance of rest and recovery and provide practical advice for managing injuries and inflammations through proactive care.

Takeaways:

Dr. David Neuman emphasizes the importance of lifestyle changes in promoting healthy aging, focusing on factors like exercise, rest, hydration, mindfulness, social connection, limiting vices like alcohol, and being cautious about diet.
The eight pillars of healthy lifespan include exercise, sleep and recovery, hydration, mindfulness, social connection, controlling vices, diet awareness, and staying motivated for positive change.
David Neuman highlights the relevance of giving the body time to rest and recover after physical exertion to achieve better overall health.
The analogy of a car journey is used to illustrate that achieving optimal health involves multiple factors working together, much like driving a car safely by following rules, maintaining the engine, and being mindful.
Promoting small, sustainable habit changes over monumental efforts is recommended by Dr. Neuman to improve health outcomes.
Prioritizing social connections, adequate sleep, and hydration, while being mindful of alcohol consumption and diet quality, are crucial steps in enhancing overall well-being.
The importance of making small daily changes for better health is underscored, with a focus on practical, evidence-based lifestyle adjustments that can lead to significant long-term health benefits.
Dr. David Neuman and Dr. Warrick Bishop stress the significance of embracing simple daily changes to positively impact health span, presenting accessible strategies to enhance overall well-being.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP400: What A Journey!

Sun, 24 Aug 2025 09:00:00 +1000

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist, author, and keynote speaker, celebrates his 400th podcast episode by reflecting on his journey and the impact he's had on heart health awareness. He covers a wide range of topics from coronary calcium scoring to cholesterol management, debunking myths along the way. Dr. Bishop announces a shift from the Healthy Heart Network to the Healthy Life Network to encompass a broader health focus.

He encourages listeners to follow, subscribe, and share his content to spread valuable health information. He invites individuals in specific age groups to consider coronary artery calcium scoring and offers a virtual heart check service for easy access to cardiac scans. Dr. Bishop ends with a message of gratitude for his listeners and a reminder to prioritize living well for as long as possible.

Takeaways:

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and keynote speaker, emphasizes the importance of understanding cardiovascular health to prevent heart disease, a prevalent issue in Australia.
Through his 400th podcast episode, Dr. Bishop reflects on his journey and the evolution of his focus from heart attack prevention to a broader perspective on overall health and well-being.
Dr. Bishop discusses a range of topics in his podcast episodes, from cholesterol, weight, and blood pressure management to exploring diverse areas like the gut microbiome, mental health, and regenerative therapies.
The podcast episodes feature valuable insights from guest experts in various fields, such as cardiology, dermatology, and regenerative health technologies, imparting knowledge on holistic health approaches.
Dr. Bishop debunks common myths surrounding heart health and cholesterol management, aiming to provide accurate information for making informed decisions about health interventions.
The Healthy Life Network, a pivot from the Healthy Heart Network, will offer a broader range of health-related topics, including metabolism, bone health, supplements, and mental well-being, reflecting Dr. Bishop’s own health journey.
Dr. Bishop shares his efforts to make heart health assessments more accessible through the Virtual Heart Check website, enabling individuals to understand their cardiovascular risk through coronary artery calcium scoring without requiring a specialist visit.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP399: Stiff Old Hearts with Dr. Fiona Foo Part 2

Sun, 17 Aug 2025 09:00:00 +1000

Doctor Warick Bishop, a cardiologist, author, and keynote speaker, discusses heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HF PEF) in this podcast episode featuring Dr. Fiona Foo, a cardiologist in the Sydney Cardiology Group. They delve into HF PEF diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strategies, focusing on managing blood pressure, weight, and other risk factors like diabetes and kidney disease. They elaborate on medications such as SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP1 receptor agonists, which have shown benefits in reducing HF PEF hospitalizations and cardiovascular risks. By emphasizing lifestyle changes and pharmaceutical support, their conversation underscores the importance of maintaining a healthy weight and managing related conditions to reduce the risk of heart failure. It's a comprehensive discussion aimed at empowering listeners to prioritize heart health and make informed choices.

Takeaways:

Heart disease is a significant issue in Australia, with someone suffering a heart attack every 20 minutes, many of which could be preventable with proper knowledge and action.
Part two of the podcast focuses on heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), where the heart struggles to relax properly. Risk factors include age, obesity, and hypertension, leading to symptoms like shortness of breath and swollen ankles.
Patients with HFpEF are typically treated with diuretics like frusemide to manage fluid retention, alongside newer therapies like SGLT2 inhibitors, which have shown positive effects in reducing heart failure hospitalizations and mortality.
Managing comorbidities like high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and chronic kidney disease is crucial for individuals with HFpEF. Lifestyle changes, including diet, exercise, and weight management play a vital role in prevention and treatment.
The conversation delves into the importance of achieving and maintaining healthy blood pressure levels, typically below 130/80, to reduce the risk of heart failure and cardiovascular issues.
Weight management is highlighted as a key factor in treating and preventing HFpEF, with newer medications like semaglutide showing positive outcomes in reducing heart failure hospitalizations independent of weight loss.
Postmenopausal women who struggle with weight gain can benefit from pharmaceutical support like SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP1 receptor agonists, aiding in weight loss and improving heart health.
The episode emphasizes the holistic approach to heart health, addressing risk factors, such as kidney disease and obesity, while promoting lifestyle changes and medication management to improve overall heart function and quality of life.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP398: Stiff Old Hearts With Dr. Fiona Foo Part 1

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 09:00:00 +1000

Dr. Warick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, invites Dr. Fiona Foo, a cardiologist specializing in heart failure, to discuss heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). HFpEF is defined as the heart's inability to relax well, leading to symptoms like shortness of breath and fluid buildup. Risk factors for HFpEF include age, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and certain medical conditions like chronic kidney disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Women, especially after menopause, are at higher risk due to specific factors like pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders. The podcast concludes with a teaser for a part two episode focusing on HFpEF management and prevention strategies. Dr. Bishop emphasizes the importance of feedback and sharing the podcast to help raise awareness about heart health.

Takeaways:

Heart disease is a prevalent issue in Australia, with frequent heart attacks that could often be prevented with proper knowledge.
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a condition where the heart does not relax well, leading to symptoms like shortness of breath and fluid accumulation.
HFpEF increases with age and is influenced by risk factors such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, and chronic kidney disease.
Women, especially postmenopausal females, are at greater risk of HFpEF, with hypertension, obesity, and diabetes playing significant roles.
Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a helpful marker in diagnosing heart failure, as elevated levels indicate heart-related shortness of breath rather than lung-related issues.
Certain conditions like gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, autoimmune diseases, chemotherapy, and breast cancer can also increase the risk of heart failure, including HFpEF.
Management and prevention strategies for HFpEF are crucial topics that need to be addressed further in subsequent podcast episodes.
Listeners are encouraged to provide feedback, share the podcast, and visit virtualheartcheck.com.au to assess their heart attack risk and explore prevention options.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP397: Lucky Man

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 09:00:00 +1000

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP396: The St Luke's Health CAC Pilot Data

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +1000

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP395: AF PEMF and a Rocket Scientist

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +1000

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP394: The REAL Truth About Cholesterol

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +1000

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, discusses the importance of understanding cholesterol in his podcast. He explains that cholesterol is crucial for cell membranes, hormone formation, and vitamin transport, and that LDL and HDL are transport vehicles for cholesterol. Dr. Bishop clarifies that cholesterol's impact on heart health is complex, as high LDL doesn't always indicate artery plaque, and low cholesterol doesn't always mean healthy arteries. He emphasizes the importance of coronary artery calcium scoring, particle numbers, and other factors in assessing artery health and predicting risk. For secondary prevention, lowering cholesterol is crucial, while primary prevention requires a personalized approach, considering individual risk factors and imaging.

Takeaways:

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, discusses the importance of understanding cholesterol for better heart health.
Heart disease is prevalent in Australia, with a heart attack occurring every 20 minutes, many of which could be prevented with proper knowledge.
Cholesterol is crucial for cell membranes, sex hormones, vitamin D, and transporting fat-soluble vitamins.
LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and HDL (high-density lipoprotein) are not cholesterol themselves but transport it around the body.
The relationship between LDL, HDL, and heart disease is complex and not as straightforward as commonly believed.
Coronary artery calcium scoring, ApoB levels, triglyceride to HDL ratio, and lipoprotein(a) are important indicators of arterial health and risk.
Statin therapy is beneficial for secondary prevention (after a heart event) but more complex for primary prevention (before an event).
Social media often spreads misinformation about cholesterol and statin therapy, causing confusion and apprehension.
A personalized and balanced approach is necessary to determine who should be on cholesterol-lowering therapy.
Cholesterol is just one piece of the puzzle in coronary artery disease; other factors like inflammation, insulin resistance, and plaque stability also play significant roles.
Dr. Bishop emphasizes the importance of empowering patients with clarity about their long-term care and understanding their heart attack risk through resources like www.virtualheartcheck.com.au.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP393: Dietary Influences on Pancreatic Cancer and Heart Failure: Salt, Vitamin E, and Plant-Based Diets

Sun, 06 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +1000

In this episode, Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, discusses various health topics aimed at improving heart health and overall well-being. He emphasizes the importance of salt reduction, highlighting that the World Health Organization recommends consuming less than one teaspoon of salt daily. Research indicates that potassium-based salt substitutes can significantly reduce stroke and death risks. The podcast also covers bone health, clarifying that vitamin E may not be beneficial for bone density, while vitamins D and K2 are suggested for better bone and vascular health.

Dr. Bishop addresses the challenges of early detection in pancreatic cancer, noting its rising incidence among younger individuals and the need for awareness of risk factors. He explains heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, a condition more common in older adults, and encourages those affected to consult their specialists for appropriate medications. Lastly, he discusses the viability of plant-based diets, asserting that with proper planning, nutritional concerns can be effectively managed. The podcast concludes with a call to action for listeners to share the information and consider their heart health risks.

Takeaways:

Heart disease is a major issue in Australia, with a heart attack occurring every 20 minutes, often preventable through better awareness and management of health.
Salt intake should be limited to less than one teaspoon per day; potassium-based salt substitutes can significantly reduce stroke and death risks.
Processed foods are the primary source of excess salt, highlighting the need for legislation to encourage the use of salt substitutes in these products.
Vitamin E does not have a clear association with improved bone mineral density; vitamin D and K2 are recommended for better bone health.
Pancreatic cancer is increasingly diagnosed in younger individuals, with only 15% of cases detected early enough for effective treatment; lifestyle factors contribute to risk.
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is becoming more common in older adults, and new medications are available to manage this condition effectively.
Plant-based diets can be nutritionally adequate if planned properly, addressing potential deficiencies in B12, iron, calcium, omega-3s, and protein.
Reducing salt intake and being mindful of processed food consumption can lead to significant health benefits.
Individuals should have discussions with healthcare providers about cancer screening options, especially for pancreatic cancer if there is a family history.
Proper planning and guidance from nutrition professionals can help individuals successfully adopt a plant-based diet without compromising their nutritional needs.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP392: HDL, Vitamin D, and Triglycerides

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, discusses key health topics related to heart disease, which significantly impacts Australia. He emphasizes the importance of understanding blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol to improve health outcomes. The discussion highlights high-density lipoprotein (HDL), often labeled as "good cholesterol," noting that while higher levels are generally protective, some individuals with genetically high HDL may actually face increased heart disease risk if the HDL is not functional.

Dr. Bishop also explains the role of vitamin D in bone health, clarifying that it does not directly build bone but ensures calcium is available for bone formation. He further addresses triglycerides, which serve as significant fat transporters in the body, and how they can indicate metabolic dysfunction, particularly when linked to high carbohydrate and alcohol intake. The podcast concludes with an invitation to join the Healthy Heart Network, encouraging listeners to take proactive steps in managing their heart health. Additionally, Dr. Bishop mentions an upcoming book titled "Cholesterol Explained," aimed at debunking myths surrounding cholesterol and cardiovascular disease.

Takeaways:

Heart disease is a significant issue in Australia, with a heart attack occurring every twenty minutes, often preventable through better knowledge and lifestyle choices.
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is often labeled as “good cholesterol,” but its protective effects can vary; high levels may not always be beneficial if the HDL is not functioning properly.
HDL’s role includes reverse cholesterol transport, but dysfunctional HDL can contribute to inflammation and other health issues.
Vitamin D is essential for bone health, primarily by ensuring calcium is available for bone formation rather than directly building bone.
Vitamin D helps with calcium absorption in the gut and maintains blood calcium levels, but its relationship with bone mineralization is more complex than previously understood.
Triglycerides are a key indicator of metabolic health, often overlooked compared to cholesterol; they can rise with carbohydrate and sugar consumption.
High triglyceride levels can signal metabolic dysfunction, including insulin resistance and potential risks for fatty liver and prediabetes.
Diet and lifestyle choices significantly influence triglyceride levels, with reductions in carbohydrates and alcohol recommended for improvement.
The podcast emphasizes the importance of understanding the function of HDL, the role of vitamin D, and the implications of triglyceride levels for overall health.
A new book titled “Cholesterol Explained” is forthcoming, aimed at debunking myths surrounding cholesterol and cardiovascular disease.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP391: Gut Microbiome, Blood Pressure, and Mental Wellbeing

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, emphasizes the importance of gut health, blood pressure management, and mental well-being for overall health. He explains that the gut, often called the second brain, contains a complex microbiome that contributes to digestion, immune function, and even mood regulation. Damage to this microbiome can lead to conditions like leaky gut, which may result in inflammation and other health issues.

Dr. Bishop stresses the significance of monitoring blood pressure, describing it as a silent killer that can lead to severe health complications. Small lifestyle changes, such as reducing salt intake and improving physical activity, can significantly lower blood pressure and improve heart health. He also connects mental health to physical health, noting that good interpersonal relationships and proper sleep can enhance both. Dr. Bishop encourages listeners to prioritize their gut health, blood pressure, and mental well-being, as they are interconnected. He highlights that poor mental health can worsen physical conditions and vice versa. Lastly, he mentions an upcoming book on cholesterol and invites listeners to reach out with questions or topics they would like covered.

Takeaways:

Heart disease is a significant issue in Australia, with someone suffering a heart attack every twenty minutes, often preventable through better awareness and lifestyle changes.
Gut health is crucial for overall well-being, acting as a “second brain” due to its complex nerve structure and microbiome, which influences digestion, immune function, and mental health.
A healthy gut microbiome can be maintained through fiber-rich foods, fermented items, and avoiding excessive salt and antibiotics.
Blood pressure is a major predictor of heart attacks, strokes, and other diseases, often referred to as the “silent killer” due to its asymptomatic nature.
Small reductions in blood pressure can significantly reduce the strain on the heart and arteries, emphasizing the importance of regular monitoring and lifestyle changes.
Lifestyle factors such as physical activity, sleep quality, and stress management are essential for maintaining healthy blood pressure levels.
Mental health is interconnected with physical health, with strong social relationships linked to longevity and mental well-being.
Poor mental health can increase the risk of cardiovascular events, highlighting the need for a holistic approach to health that includes emotional and psychological aspects.
Improving physical health through movement, nutrition, and sleep can positively impact mental health, creating a beneficial cycle.
An upcoming book titled “Cholesterol Explained,” set to release in mid-2025, will explore the interconnections between cholesterol, cardiovascular risk, and overall health.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP390: Commotio Cordis and Nocturnal Leg Cramps

Sun, 15 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, discusses heart health and two specific conditions: Commotio Cordis and nocturnal leg cramps. Commotio Cordis, a rare but serious condition caused by blunt force trauma to the chest, can lead to cardiac arrest, particularly in young athletes. It is essential to have automated external defibrillators available at sporting events to improve survival chances. In contrast, nocturnal leg cramps are common, affecting around 40% of adults over 50, and can be linked to dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and certain medications.

Dr. Bishop recommends calf stretches before bed as a potential remedy for these cramps, along with considering magnesium and vitamin K2 supplements. He emphasizes the importance of understanding personal health risks, particularly regarding heart disease, which is a leading cause of death worldwide. Listeners are encouraged to share the podcast and utilize resources available on the Healthy Heart Network website for further information. Overall, the podcast aims to educate listeners on heart health and practical strategies for prevention and management.

Takeaways:

Heart disease is a significant issue in Australia, with someone suffering a heart attack every twenty minutes.
Commotio Cordis is a rare condition caused by blunt force trauma to the chest, leading to cardiac arrest, mainly affecting young male athletes.
Sports such as cricket and baseball can pose risks for commotio cordis due to potential impacts to the chest.
Access to automated external defibrillators at sporting events is crucial for survival if cardiac arrest occurs.
Nocturnal leg cramps are common, affecting nearly 40% of adults over 50, and can last from seconds to minutes.
Potential causes of leg cramps include dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and certain medications like diuretics and statins.
Stretching the calves before bed is recommended as a strategy to alleviate nocturnal leg cramps.
Vitamin K2 and magnesium supplements may also be beneficial for leg cramps, though evidence on their effectiveness is limited.
Regular feedback from listeners is encouraged to improve podcast content and engagement.
Listeners are invited to visit the website for additional resources, including an AI tool for finding information related to the podcast topics.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP389: Inflammation, CAC & Metabolic Dysfunction

Sun, 08 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, discusses the critical issue of heart disease in Australia, where someone suffers a heart attack every twenty minutes. He emphasizes the importance of understanding factors such as blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol for better health. The conversation focuses on inflammation, its role in heart attacks, and how it is often linked to metabolic dysfunction and chronic conditions like diabetes.

Dr. Bishop explains that coronary artery calcium scoring is a valuable tool for assessing heart health, providing insight into plaque presence and risk levels for heart disease. He introduces the Virtual Heart Check platform, allowing individuals to obtain a calcium score conveniently. Furthermore, he highlights the significance of lifestyle changes, including better sleep, exercise, and diet, to manage inflammation and metabolic dysfunction. Dr. Bishop warns that prediabetes carries similar heart attack risks as diabetes, urging listeners to take proactive steps in their health. He invites listeners to join the Healthy Heart Network for support in understanding heart health and mitigating risks. The podcast concludes with a call to action for individuals to get heart checks and prioritize their cardiovascular well-being.

Takeaways:

Heart disease is a significant issue in Australia, with a heart attack occurring every twenty minutes, many of which could be prevented with proper knowledge.
Inflammation plays a critical role in heart health, contributing to plaque rupture and subsequent heart attacks, rather than just being a result of blocked arteries.
Lifestyle factors such as stress, lack of sleep, and visceral fat can increase inflammation, which is linked to various chronic conditions like diabetes and arthritis.
Regular exercise and proper sleep are essential for reducing inflammation, despite the common belief that exercise generates free radicals.
Coronary artery calcium scoring is a valuable tool for assessing heart health, providing personalized insights beyond traditional risk scores.
A zero calcium score indicates low short-term risk for heart events, whereas higher scores significantly increase risk, warranting medical intervention.
Metabolic dysfunction, often characterized by insulin resistance, is a precursor to diabetes and carries similar heart attack risks.
Indicators of metabolic dysfunction include central obesity, high triglycerides, low HDL levels, and elevated blood pressure.
Simple lifestyle changes, such as reducing carbohydrates and alcohol intake and increasing physical activity, can help mitigate metabolic dysfunction.
The Virtual Heart Check platform offers an accessible way for individuals to obtain coronary artery calcium scoring without needing a doctor’s appointment, promoting proactive heart health management.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP388: Red Wine, AI, Aspirin, and Time Restricted Eating

Sun, 01 Jun 2025 09:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, discusses several important health topics. He emphasizes the significant risk of heart disease in Australia, where someone suffers a heart attack every twenty minutes, and aims to educate listeners on blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol. The episode covers the negative impact of red wine and alcohol consumption on cancer risk, stating that even moderate drinking can increase the likelihood of developing cancer.

Dr. Bishop also explores the role of artificial intelligence in interpreting coronary CT angiography, highlighting a trial that showed AI's diagnostic accuracy surpassing that of expert radiologists. He discusses a promising phase three trial on low-dose aspirin for colorectal cancer, which found a 51% reduction in recurrence for patients with a specific mutation. Lastly, he shares insights on time-restricted eating, noting its benefits for weight loss and glucose control, although its effect on visceral fat remains unclear.

Throughout, Dr. Bishop encourages listeners to make informed health decisions and to consider lifestyle changes for better longevity and wellbeing.

Takeaways:

Heart disease is a significant issue in Australia, with a heart attack occurring every twenty minutes, many of which could be preventable with better awareness and knowledge.
Moderate alcohol consumption, including red wine, is linked to an increased risk of cancer, with no safe level of alcohol identified for cancer prevention.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is proving to enhance the diagnostic accuracy of coronary CT angiography, outperforming expert radiologists in some cases.
The Pacific One trial indicated that AI can improve workflow efficiency in radiology by providing faster and more accurate interpretations of CT scans.
Low-dose aspirin has shown to significantly reduce the recurrence of colorectal cancer in patients with specific mutations, highlighting the importance of personalized treatment approaches.
The ALSAS CCA trial demonstrated a 51% reduction in cancer recurrence for patients with a particular mutation when treated with aspirin.
Time-restricted eating, where individuals consume food within a specific time window, may aid in weight loss and improve glucose control.
A study on time-restricted eating revealed better weight loss outcomes but did not show significant reductions in visceral fat within a twelve-week timeframe.
Combining time-restricted eating with exercise and healthy food choices is recommended for optimal health benefits.
The podcast emphasizes the importance of making informed health decisions and encourages listeners to share insights with loved ones to promote better health outcomes.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP387: Obesity, UPF, The Studies, and Sexual Health

Sun, 25 May 2025 09:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, discusses the significant impact of obesity on health, particularly in Australia where heart disease is prevalent. He emphasizes the concerning rise of ultra-processed foods in diets, which are linked to increased obesity rates due to their addictive nature and high calorie density. Dr. Bishop highlights that traditional weight loss studies often fail in the long term, as most dieters regain lost weight, primarily due to metabolic adaptations. He advocates for a focus on high-protein whole foods, resistance training, and lifestyle consistency to achieve sustainable metabolic health changes.

The episode also addresses the connection between obesity and sexual health, noting that weight loss can improve sexual function and hormone balance. Dr. Bishop introduces virtual health checks for heart and bone health, aiming to make preventive care more accessible. He encourages listeners to consider their health risks and take proactive steps. The podcast concludes with an invitation for feedback and ideas for future topics. Overall, the key message is the importance of understanding dietary choices and maintaining a healthy lifestyle for long-term well-being.

Takeaways:

Heart disease is a significant issue in Australia, with someone suffering a heart attack every twenty minutes, often preventable through better knowledge and lifestyle choices.
The podcast discusses obesity, focusing on ultra-processed foods, weight loss studies, and the relationship between obesity and sexual health.
Ultra-processed foods contribute to obesity due to their high calorie density and addictive properties, leading to overconsumption and metabolic dysfunction.
The gut microbiome may be negatively impacted by chemical additives in processed foods, further linking these foods to obesity.
Long-term weight loss studies often show that most dieters regain lost weight within two to three years due to metabolic adaptations of the body.
Sustainable weight loss strategies include a diet rich in high-protein whole foods and regular resistance training to maintain muscle mass and metabolism.
Lifestyle consistency, such as regular exercise and shopping for fresh produce, is crucial for achieving and maintaining metabolic health.
Obesity is associated with hormonal and psychological changes that can negatively affect sexual health, including higher rates of erectile dysfunction in men and lower sexual satisfaction in women.
Weight loss through diet and exercise can improve sexual function and hormone balance, while psychological support may be necessary for self-esteem and body image issues.
The podcast promotes the “virtual heart check” and “virtual bone check” services to help individuals assess their cardiovascular and bone health conveniently.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP386: Dr Foo and Angina Without Blocked Arteries Plus SCAD

Sun, 18 May 2025 09:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist, discusses heart health, particularly focusing on conditions affecting women, with interventional cardiologist Dr. Fiona Foo. They explore angina and ischemia in women who have non-obstructive coronary artery disease, explaining that many women experience chest pain without visible blockages in large arteries. This phenomenon, referred to as Anoca (angina with non-obstructive coronary arteries) and Inoca (ischemia with non-obstructive coronary arteries), highlights issues at the microvascular level that are often overlooked.

Dr. Foo emphasizes the importance of recognizing these conditions to improve diagnosis and management, especially since they are more prevalent in women. They also touch on coronary artery spasm and the need for functional angiograms to diagnose microvascular dysfunction. The conversation extends to spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), a condition more common in younger women, which can mimic heart attacks. Both doctors stress the need for increased awareness of these issues to prevent misdiagnoses and improve patient outcomes. The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to assess their heart health risks and seek further information.

Takeaways:

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist, emphasizes the importance of understanding heart health to prevent heart disease, which is prevalent in Australia.
The podcast features Dr. Fiona Foo, an interventional cardiologist, who discusses unique cardiovascular issues affecting women, particularly angina without blocked arteries.
Angina can occur due to non-obstructive coronary artery disease, especially in women, where arteries may be less than 50% blocked, leading to conditions known as Anoca (angina with non-obstructive coronary arteries) and Inoca (ischemia with non-obstructive coronary arteries).
A useful analogy is provided, comparing coronary artery blockages to traffic congestion, illustrating how small vessel issues can impede blood flow even without major blockages.
Coronary microvascular dysfunction and spasms are significant contributors to angina in women, which are often undetectable in standard angiograms.
Functional angiograms can diagnose these conditions, allowing for tailored treatments that differ from those for traditional coronary artery disease.
Common risk factors for these conditions include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and psychological stress, similar to those for general cardiovascular disease.
There is a noted relationship between microvascular dysfunction and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, particularly in women.
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is another condition primarily affecting younger women, where the arterial lining can shear and impede blood flow, often occurring post-pregnancy.
Awareness and recognition of these conditions are crucial, as many patients with recurrent chest pain may be misdiagnosed when their angiograms appear normal, impacting their quality of life.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP385: What You Need to Know About Mono and Poly genics in Lipid Management

Sun, 11 May 2025 09:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, discusses the significance of genetics in cholesterol-related health issues. He explains the difference between monogenic and polygenic influences on lipid profiles, with monogenic abnormalities being linked to single genetic mutations that significantly impact cholesterol levels, such as familial hypercholesterolemia. In contrast, polygenic issues involve multiple small genetic variations that collectively affect cholesterol without causing as severe elevations.

Dr. Bishop uses car accidents as an analogy to illustrate these concepts, comparing single causes to monogenic factors and multiple contributing factors to polygenic influences. He outlines four main types of lipid abnormalities: raised cholesterol, raised triglycerides, mixed dyslipidemia, and raised lipoprotein(a), each with distinct genetic implications. The podcast emphasizes the importance of understanding the: genetic factors to manage heart health effectively. Dr. Bishop encourages listeners to join the Healthy Heart Network for resources on heart health and risk assessment. Overall, the discussion aims to enhance health literacy and promote proactive measures for reducing heart disease risk.

Takeaways:

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, aims to educate people about heart health and disease prevention.
Heart disease is a significant issue in Australia, with someone suffering a heart attack every twenty minutes, often preventable through better understanding and awareness.
Genetics plays a crucial role in cholesterol-related issues, categorized into two main types: monogenic and polygenic.
Monogenic conditions involve a single genetic mutation causing significant impacts on lipid profiles, such as familial hypercholesterolemia due to LDL receptor abnormalities.
Polygenic influences consist of multiple small genetic variations contributing to cholesterol levels, typically resulting in less severe elevations compared to monogenic conditions.
Dr. Bishop uses car accidents as an analogy to explain the difference between monogenic and polygenic causes, highlighting the complexity of multiple contributing factors.
Four main clinical patterns of lipid issues are discussed: raised cholesterol, raised cholesterol and triglycerides, raised triglycerides alone, and raised lipoprotein(a).
Mixed dyslipidemia, which includes raised cholesterol and triglycerides, is usually polygenic and may relate to diabetes.
Raised triglycerides can be monogenic in severe cases, while mild to moderate elevations are often part of mixed dyslipidemia.
The Healthy Heart Network offers resources and community support for individuals interested in improving their heart health and understanding their risk of heart attack.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP384: Will Your HDL Save You?

Sun, 04 May 2025 09:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, discusses the complexities of HDL cholesterol, often referred to as "good" cholesterol. He explains the roles of different types of cholesterol, specifically Apo B proteins associated with LDL cholesterol, which contribute to plaque formation and cardiovascular risk. While HDL is involved in transporting cholesterol back to the liver, its protective role is more complicated than previously thought.

Dr. Bishop highlights that simply having high HDL levels does not guarantee cardiovascular health, as many studies indicate that raising HDL does not necessarily reduce the risk of heart disease. He points out that low HDL levels can be associated with increased heart attack risk, particularly in individuals with metabolic issues. However, the relationship between HDL and cardiovascular events is not straightforward, as both low and high HDL levels can pose risks. The podcast aims to clarify misconceptions around HDL cholesterol and emphasizes the importance of focusing on Apo B levels for a better understanding of cardiovascular health. Dr. Bishop encourages listeners to evaluate their heart health and seek further information on assessing their risk.

Takeaways:

Heart disease is a significant issue in Australia, with a heart attack occurring every 20 minutes, many of which could be preventable.
The podcast aims to educate listeners about important health metrics like blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol.
HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein) is often labeled as “good cholesterol,” but its role in cardiovascular health is more complex than previously thought.
Cholesterol exists in the bloodstream in two main types: Apo B (associated with LDL, the “bad” cholesterol) and Apo A (associated with HDL).
Apo B particles are linked to plaque formation and coronary artery disease, making them crucial for assessing cardiovascular risk.
HDL cholesterol is involved in reverse transport, carrying cholesterol from tissues back to the liver, which may reduce coronary artery disease risk.
The total cholesterol to HDL ratio is used in risk calculations, but a high ratio indicates more harmful Apo B cholesterol rather than a direct benefit from HDL.
Research indicates that while lower HDL levels are associated with higher heart attack risk, raising HDL levels through various treatments has not consistently shown a decrease in cardiovascular events.
A U-shaped curve exists for HDL levels, where both very low and very high levels may increase cardiovascular risk.
The podcast encourages a reevaluation of the importance of HDL cholesterol in cardiovascular health and emphasizes focusing on Apo B levels for better risk assessment.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP383: AUSactive Barrie Elvish Interview

Sun, 27 Apr 2025 09:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Dr. Warrick Bishop interviews Barrie Elvish, CEO of AUSactive, an organization focused on promoting physical activity and fitness in Australia. With heart disease being a significant issue, the podcast aims to educate listeners about the importance of exercise in maintaining health. AUSactive serves as a non-profit industry association representing nearly 3,000 businesses in the fitness sector and advocates for increased physical activity among Australians. They have launched the "Million Moves" campaign to encourage community participation in various forms of exercise over a 21-day period, aiming to foster healthier lifestyles.

Barrie emphasizes that exercise is crucial for extending healthy lifespans and mitigating chronic diseases. He shares his personal journey with mental health and the role of physical activity in maintaining his well-being. The discussion highlights the need for government investment in preventive health measures rather than solely focusing on healthcare supply. Barrie calls for a public health campaign to promote exercise, drawing parallels to successful past initiatives. The podcast concludes with a reminder of the importance of living a healthy life and the potential benefits of regular exercise.

Takeaways:

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist, emphasizes the importance of understanding heart health to prevent heart disease, which is a significant issue in Australia.
Barrie Elvish, CEO of AUSactive, discusses the organization’s mission to encourage Australians to be more active, addressing the high rates of chronic disease and obesity.
AUSactive serves as a nonprofit industry association for businesses in the physical activity and fitness sector, with nearly 3,000 member businesses and over 10,000 individuals working in fitness roles.
The “Million Moves” campaign encourages community participation in various forms of exercise over a 21-day period, aiming to motivate Australians to find enjoyable activities to increase physical activity levels.
Exercise is highlighted as a crucial factor in extending not just lifespan but also healthy lifespan, reducing the years of deterioration associated with aging.
The podcast discusses the mental health benefits of exercise, noting that it can be as effective as some antidepressants in alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Barrie Elvish shares his personal experience with mental health issues and how exercise, particularly running and water sports, has been vital for his well-being.
The conversation stresses the need for government investment in preventive health through exercise, as current spending focuses predominantly on reactive healthcare solutions.
Elvish calls for a renewed public health campaign to promote the importance of physical activity, similar to successful past campaigns that addressed smoking and seatbelt use.
The podcast concludes with a reminder of the importance of regular health checks, particularly regarding heart health, urging listeners to assess their risk of heart disease.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP382: Fantastic Interview With Professor and Caridologist Alan Rozanski Part 2

Sun, 20 Apr 2025 09:00:00 +1000

In the podcast, Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, discusses heart health with Professor Alan Rozanski, an experienced clinician and researcher. They explore the evolution of heart disease presentation over the decades, noting a significant decrease in myocardial ischemia among patients undergoing stress testing, from one-third in the early 1990s to just five percent by 2010. Despite these improvements, they highlight a troubling trend: patients who are unable to exercise, often due to obesity and related health issues, face a threefold increase in mortality risk.

The conversation emphasizes the importance of physical activity and lifestyle factors in managing heart health, suggesting that even small amounts of exercise can significantly improve outcomes. They advocate for a more holistic approach to patient care, encouraging doctors to consider overall risk factors rather than solely focusing on ischemic risk. The podcast underscores the link between cardiometabolic health and various chronic conditions, including cancer and dementia. Dr. Bishop shares a transformative patient story, illustrating the profound impact of lifestyle changes on health and well-being. The discussion concludes with a call to action for listeners to prioritize their heart health and seek resources to assess their risk.

Takeaways:

The podcast aims to educate listeners on critical health factors like blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol to promote better heart health.
Professor Alan Rozanski highlights a notable decrease in myocardial ischemia among patients over the decades, dropping from one-third in the early 1990s to only 5% by 2010.
Despite improvements in heart disease treatment, there is a concerning trend of patients increasingly unable to perform treadmill exercises, indicating a rise in overall risk.
The inability to exercise is linked to a threefold increase in premature mortality risk over ten to twelve years.
A holistic approach to assessing patient risk is necessary, considering factors beyond ischemic risk, including physical activity and lifestyle.
Research indicates that any amount of physical activity contributes positively to health, shifting focus from vigorous exercise to incorporating simple movements into daily life.
Sedentary behavior is associated with various health risks, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other chronic conditions.
Engaging patients in discussions about present benefits of exercise, such as increased energy and improved mood, can enhance motivation for lifestyle changes.
The podcast emphasizes the importance of early intervention and lifestyle modifications to combat cardiometabolic risks, ultimately aiming to improve overall health outcomes.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP381: Fantastic Interview With Professor and Cardiologist Alan Rozanski Part 1

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 09:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, discusses heart health and disease prevention with Professor Alan Rozanski from Mount Sinai Hospital. They emphasize the importance of understanding blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol to avoid heart disease, which is a significant issue in Australia. Rozanski shares insights from his extensive career in cardiac imaging and prevention, highlighting the six domains of health: physical health, emotional well-being, quality of thinking, social relationships, sense of purpose, and stress management. They explore the impact of mental stress on heart health and differentiate it from Takotsubo syndrome, or broken heart syndrome.

The conversation also addresses the importance of physical activity, distinguishing between cardiovascular exercise and resistance training, which is crucial for building muscle strength and preventing injury. Rozanski stresses the need for proper guidance in resistance training and the benefits it provides, such as improved metabolism and balance. Additionally, they discuss sleep hygiene and its critical role in overall health, underscoring the need for regular sleep patterns and a conducive sleep environment. The podcast concludes with an invitation for listeners to join the Healthy Heart Network to better understand their heart health and reduce the risk of heart attacks.

Takeaways:

Heart disease is a significant issue in Australia, with a heart attack occurring every twenty minutes, often preventable with proper knowledge.
The podcast emphasizes the importance of understanding factors like blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol for better health.
Professor Alan Rozanski discusses his extensive experience in cardiac imaging and his shift towards prevention and maintaining health.
Rozanski identifies six domains of health: physical health, emotional well-being, quality of thinking, social relationships, sense of purpose, and stress management.
Mental stress can significantly impact heart health, as demonstrated by studies linking emotional stress to heart function.
The podcast highlights the importance of both exercise and resistance training, noting that they serve different but complementary roles in physical health.
Resistance training is crucial for building muscle strength, metabolism, balance, and preventing falls, especially as one ages.
Sleep hygiene is essential for overall health, with regular sleep patterns and a conducive sleep environment being key factors.
Quality social relationships are a strong predictor of health and longevity, as supported by the Harvard longevity study.
The Healthy Heart Network offers resources for individuals to understand their heart health and improve their risk of heart disease for a nominal fee.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP380: Dr. Har Hari on Healing Through Mitachondria

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 09:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, discusses heart health and preventative measures against heart disease, which significantly impacts Australia. He interviews Dr. Hari Khalsa, a holistic chiropractor from Beverly Hills, who emphasizes the importance of addressing health from physical, biochemical, and energetic perspectives. Dr. Khalsa utilizes a system called Ciderscan, which measures the body's energy to identify underlying health issues. Both doctors discuss the benefits of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF), highlighting its potential to accelerate healing and improve various health conditions.

They also delve into hyperbaric therapy, which has been shown to activate genes responsible for healing and reduce inflammation, and red light therapy, which enhances mitochondrial function and ATP production. Dr. Khalsa shares that combining these therapies can optimize cellular health and facilitate recovery from chronic conditions. He encourages listeners to take advantage of natural sunlight and grounding as essential, free wellness practices. The podcast concludes with an invitation to join the Healthy Heart Network for ongoing support in heart health.

Takeaways:

Dr. Warrick Bishop emphasizes the importance of understanding heart health, as heart disease is a significant issue in Australia, with a heart attack occurring every twenty minutes.
The podcast features Dr. Hari Kaslar, a holistic chiropractor, who discusses the importance of addressing the root causes of diseases through a holistic approach.
Dr. Khalsa uses a system called Ciderscan to measure the body’s energy and identify underlying health issues, claiming high accuracy in diagnosing conditions.
Both doctors advocate for the recognition of alternative therapies, such as pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy, which has shown promising research outcomes in healing and recovery.
Hyperbaric therapy is highlighted for its ability to activate over 8,000 genes related to healing and inflammation reduction, as well as its potential to triple circulating stem cells.
Red light therapy is discussed as a method to enhance ATP production and melatonin levels, benefiting cellular energy and antioxidant capacity.
The combination of hyperbaric therapy, red light therapy, and PEMF is suggested as a comprehensive approach to optimize mitochondrial health and overall wellness.
Dr. Khalsa shares a case study of a patient with chronic lung issues who experienced significant improvement after a week of combined therapies.
The importance of sunlight exposure is emphasized as a free, natural way to enhance health, with recommendations to spend time outdoors and connect with the earth.
Listeners are encouraged to join the Healthy Heart Network for ongoing support and information on heart health and risk reduction strategies.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP379: Bad Language in Cardiology, Prevention, and Cholesterol

Sun, 30 Mar 2025 09:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, discusses the misconceptions surrounding cholesterol and its role in heart health. He emphasizes that heart disease is prevalent in Australia, with a heart attack occurring every twenty minutes, many of which could be prevented with better understanding. Dr. Bishop critiques the term "coronary artery disease," arguing that it overlooks the long-term process of atherosclerosis, which develops over decades. He highlights the importance of distinguishing between primary and secondary prevention of heart disease, noting that while cholesterol-lowering treatments are effective after an event, their role in primary prevention remains ambiguous.

He warns against the term "low risk," as it can create a false sense of security and downplay the lifelong risk individuals face. Dr. Bishop clarifies that cholesterol as a molecule differs from cholesterol in the blood, which is carried by various proteins, particularly Apo B 100, linked to cardiovascular risk. He discusses the continuum of cholesterol levels, stressing that "high cholesterol" encompasses various categories, from borderline to very high, which have different clinical implications. The podcast concludes with a call for clearer communication regarding cholesterol and cardiovascular health, encouraging listeners to seek more information on evaluating their risk.

Takeaways:

Heart disease is a significant issue in Australia, with a heart attack occurring every twenty minutes, often preventable through better understanding of health metrics like blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol.
The term “coronary artery disease” is misleading as it focuses on the final stage of a long-term process, atherosclerosis, which develops over years or decades without symptoms until an event occurs.
Shifting the conversation from managing coronary artery disease to managing atherosclerosis could enhance early identification and treatment of individuals at risk before events happen.
The concept of “low risk” in cardiovascular disease can lead to false security; everyone should be considered potentially at risk, especially over a lifetime.
Cholesterol is often misunderstood; it’s important to differentiate between the cholesterol molecule and the cholesterol associated with proteins in the bloodstream that correlate with cardiovascular risk.
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is generally protective, while very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL), and low density lipoprotein (LDL) are associated with increased cardiovascular risk.
The risk associated with cholesterol is not just about high levels but also the type and company it keeps in the bloodstream, particularly with apolipoprotein B100.
The classification of cholesterol levels (high, borderline high, very high) should be contextualized; a continuum exists rather than a strict cutoff, impacting treatment decisions.
Misuse of terms like “high cholesterol” can create confusion and misrepresent the true risk levels, particularly in discussions about borderline high cholesterol.
Understanding and communicating the nuances of cholesterol and cardiovascular risk is crucial for effective prevention and management strategies.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP378: Keto and Other Tricky Cardiovascular Situations

Sun, 23 Mar 2025 09:00:00 +1100

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, addresses heart disease's prevalence in Australia and the importance of managing blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol. In this podcast, he discusses the benefits and concerns surrounding keto diets, particularly their impact on cholesterol levels. While a reduced carbohydrate diet can lead to weight loss and better insulin control, the consumption of saturated fats may raise LDL cholesterol levels, prompting caution in high-risk patients. He emphasizes the importance of cholesterol management for women, particularly in light of recent studies confirming the benefits of statins for them.

Dr. Bishop also highlights the need for careful consideration in treating older patients and those with chronic renal disease, as they face higher cardiovascular risks. He advocates for individualized approaches to cholesterol-lowering therapies, especially for transplant candidates. The podcast aims to educate listeners on various health topics while encouraging them to share the information and seek further understanding of their heart health risks. Dr. Bishop concludes by inviting listeners to explore their heart attack risk through a dedicated website.

Takeaways:

Heart disease is a significant issue in Australia, with a heart attack occurring every 20 minutes, many of which could be prevented with proper knowledge.
The podcast aims to educate listeners about managing blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol for improved health.
A keto diet, characterized by very low carbohydrate intake, promotes fat burning and can help with weight loss and better insulin control.
Reducing carbohydrate intake can flatten blood sugar levels, leading to reduced hunger, weight loss, and improved blood pressure management.
While a keto diet can yield health benefits, it may raise LDL cholesterol levels, particularly in individuals who are hyperresponders to saturated fats.
Research is ongoing to understand the long-term effects of ketogenic diets on cardiovascular health, including potential impacts on arterial plaque.
Women benefit from cholesterol-lowering treatments, including statins, and hormone replacement therapy may provide additional health benefits during menopause.
Special considerations are necessary for managing cholesterol in pregnant women and those with chronic renal disease, where statin use may not be advisable.
Older adults may also require cholesterol management, as they can be at higher risk for cardiovascular disease despite limited data on treatment efficacy in this age group.
Patients receiving organ transplants may need cholesterol-lowering therapy to protect their cardiovascular health post-transplant, but this requires careful management due to potential interactions with transplant medications.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP377: Podcasthon Interview With Adam Weir from Surf Life Saving Australia

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 09:00:00 +1100

HELP US SUPPORT SURF LIFE SAVING

10 Commandments of Heart Health Explained
Understanding the Cause and Prevention Strategies to Reduce Your Risk of One of the World’s Most Prevalent Killers

For Every Book Sold, we donate $7 to Surf Life Saving Australia

https://drwarrickbishop.com/s/surf

Check out our Page on podcasthon.org https://podcasthon.org/podcaster/doctor-warrick-bishop

In this podcast episode, Dr. Warrick interviews Adam Weir, CEO of Surf Life Saving Australia, during the international event Podcasthon, which aims to raise awareness for various charities. Adam highlights the organization’s extensive reach, with over 315 clubs and nearly 200,000 members across Australia, who collectively perform around 10,000 rescues and contribute 1.6 million volunteer hours annually.

He discusses the challenges faced by the organization, including the increasing number of beach visitors and the need for community support amidst rising living costs. Adam emphasizes the importance of innovation in surf lifesaving, mentioning the use of drones and advancements in CPR techniques to enhance rescue operations. He also notes the organization's commitment to mental health and sun safety for its members.

The episode underscores that volunteering in surf lifesaving encompasses various roles, welcoming individuals with diverse skills beyond just lifesaving. Adam expresses a vision of achieving zero preventable drowning deaths in Australian waters. He concludes by reinforcing the need for community support and donations to sustain their life-saving efforts. The episode wraps up with a call for listeners to engage with Podcasthon and its mission.

Takeaways:

Podcasthon Initiative: The podcast is part of Podcasthon, an international event aimed at raising awareness for various charities, including Surf Life Saving Australia.
Surf Life Saving Australia Overview: The organization has 315 clubs nationwide, with a membership nearing 200,000, and plays a crucial role in ensuring coastal safety.
Rescue Statistics: Surf Life Saving Australia conducts approximately 10,000 rescues annually, highlighting the significant impact of its volunteer efforts.
Volunteer Commitment: Volunteers contribute around 1.6 million hours annually to lifesaving activities, with an estimated economic value of $6-7 billion to Australia.
Challenges Faced: The organization faces challenges in attracting volunteers due to time constraints, as well as adapting to increased beach visitation post-COVID.
Innovative Practices: Surf Life Saving Australia is embracing technology, utilizing drones and AI for improved rescue operations and monitoring beach safety.
Focus on Prevention: The organization emphasizes preventive measures to reduce drowning incidents, with a vision of achieving zero preventable drownings.
Mental Health and Safety Initiatives: Surf Life Saving Australia is actively working on mental health support for its members, providing training and counseling services.
Community Engagement: The organization encourages community involvement, welcoming diverse contributions beyond physical lifesaving roles.
Future Aspirations: The ultimate goal of Surf Life Saving Australia is to eliminate preventable drownings, reflecting its commitment to coastal safety and community well-being.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP376: Dr. Foo and Cardiovascular Risk For Women—Really Important Episode

Sun, 09 Mar 2025 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Dr. Warrick Bishop discusses cardiovascular health, particularly focusing on women's heart health, with guest Dr. Fiona Foo, an interventional cardiologist. They highlight the alarming statistic that coronary heart disease is the second leading cause of death among women in Australia, often underrecognised compared to other health issues like breast cancer. The conversation covers traditional risk factors such as cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, and how some of these pose a greater risk for women. They also delve into sex-specific risk factors, including complications from pregnancy and autoimmune diseases, which can significantly increase cardiovascular risk.

Dr. Foo emphasizes the importance of regular heart health checks and proactive lifestyle choices, such as maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine. They discuss the implications of breast cancer treatments on heart health and the link between mental health issues like depression and increased cardiovascular risk. The podcast advocates for greater awareness among both patients and healthcare providers regarding women's unique heart health risks. Finally, Dr. Bishop introduces a resource for assessing heart health risk through calcium scoring, aiming to improve accessibility to cardiovascular screening. The episode concludes with a reminder of the importance of prevention and regular check-ups for maintaining heart health.

Takeaways:

Heart Disease Prevalence: Heart disease is a significant health issue in Australia, being the second leading cause of death in women, surpassing all cancers combined.
Gender Differences in Risk: There are critical differences in cardiovascular risk factors between men and women, with some traditional risk factors posing greater threats to women.
Traditional Risk Factors: Common risk factors such as cholesterol levels, blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking affect both genders, but women with diabetes face a higher risk of coronary heart disease than men.
Sex-Specific Risk Factors: Unique risk factors for women include adverse pregnancy outcomes, early menopause, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and complications from breast cancer treatment.
Impact of Pregnancy Complications: Conditions like gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders during pregnancy significantly increase future cardiovascular risks for women.
Autoimmune Diseases: Conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis, which affect women more, contribute to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease due to their inflammatory nature.
Breast Cancer Treatment Implications: Treatments for breast cancer can lead to heart issues, including impaired heart function and increased cardiovascular disease risk, particularly among survivors.
Mental Health Connection: Depression and anxiety are significant risk factors for cardiovascular disease, especially in middle-aged women, creating a bidirectional relationship between mental and heart health.
Proactive Health Checks: Women are encouraged to take proactive measures regarding heart health by recognizing risk factors, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and undergoing regular heart health checks.
Access to Screening: Tools like calcium scoring are highlighted as valuable for assessing cardiovascular risk, with platforms available to facilitate access to such screenings without needing to visit a GP or specialist.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP375: What is the Glycocalyx?

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Dr. Warrick Bishop discusses the glycocalyx, a protective, microscopic lining within the endothelial layer of arteries. This layer plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of endothelial cells, which line blood vessels. Damage to the glycocalyx can expose these cells to harmful blood contents, potentially leading to conditions like coronary artery disease. Dr. Bishop highlights that turbulent blood flow, particularly at branch points in arteries, can disrupt the glycocalyx and contribute to plaque formation.

Although there are no established treatments for glycocalyx damage, he emphasizes the importance of controlling blood pressure to minimize turbulent flow and protect this delicate lining. He also suggests that imaging may be useful for identifying areas of arterial damage, especially in individuals without known issues. The glycocalyx is presented as a complex structure that warrants further research due to its potential implications for cardiovascular health.

Dr. Bishop encourages listeners to stay informed about developments in this area and to share the podcast with others. Overall, he aims to promote better health practices and awareness around cardiovascular risks.

Takeaways:

The glycocalyx is a protective microscopic lining within the endothelial layer of blood vessels, crucial for maintaining endothelial cell health.
The endothelial layer interacts directly with blood, while the glycocalyx serves as a slippery barrier that helps protect these cells from harmful blood contents.
Damage to the glycocalyx may lead to increased exposure of endothelial cells to blood, potentially contributing to conditions like coronary artery disease.
Turbulent blood flow, particularly at branch points in arteries, can disrupt the glycocalyx, leading to wear and tear on endothelial cells.
The glycocalyx is composed of various complex components, including integrins, immunoglobulins, and hyaluronic acid, which contribute to its protective role.
Maintaining lower blood pressure is recommended to minimize turbulent flow and protect the glycocalyx, with a target systolic blood pressure of around 110 mmHg for high-risk patients.
Current treatments specifically targeting the glycocalyx are limited, with few proprietary products available and insufficient data on their effectiveness.
Imaging may be beneficial in primary prevention settings to identify areas of arterial damage related to glycocalyx disruption.
Ongoing research into the glycocalyx is essential, as it may play a significant role in the development of atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular conditions.
The podcast encourages listeners to engage with the content and share insights, emphasizing the value of understanding the glycocalyx in relation to heart health.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP374: If It's Not My Genes, Then What Is Putting Up My Cholesterol?

Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Dr. Warrick Bishop discusses the factors influencing elevated cholesterol levels, focusing on various medical conditions and medications. He explains that elevated cholesterol can be genetic, with polygenic causes being more common than the monogenic condition known as familial hypercholesterolemia. Key conditions that can raise cholesterol include hypothyroidism, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, liver disease, Cushing's syndrome, and menopause, each affecting lipid profiles differently.

Dr. Bishop emphasizes the importance of checking thyroid function, particularly in those with previous thyroid issues. He also highlights the role of certain medications, such as steroids, protease inhibitors for HIV, and some antipsychotic drugs, which can adversely affect cholesterol levels. The oral contraceptive pill is noted for its potential impact on lipid profiles as well.

Takeaways:

Elevated cholesterol levels can be influenced by both genetic factors, such as familial hypercholesterolemia, and polygenic factors, where multiple genes contribute to the condition.
Hypothyroidism is a key condition that can lead to increased LDL cholesterol levels by reducing the effectiveness of LDL receptors in the liver.
Diabetes affects cholesterol levels by raising triglycerides and lowering HDL (good cholesterol), resulting in a detrimental lipid profile.
Chronic kidney disease, particularly nephrotic syndrome, can significantly elevate cholesterol levels due to the loss of proteins through the kidneys, prompting increased cholesterol production by the liver.
Liver diseases, such as metabolic associated fatty liver disease, can alter lipid profiles, leading to increased triglycerides and LDL cholesterol, heightening cardiovascular risk.
Cushing’s syndrome, characterized by elevated cortisol levels, can disrupt lipid profiles by increasing triglycerides and LDL cholesterol, alongside other health issues.
Menopause can result in increased LDL cholesterol and decreased HDL cholesterol due to the decline in estrogen levels.
Certain medications, including long-term steroid use, protease inhibitors for HIV, and some antipsychotic drugs, can adversely affect cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
The oral contraceptive pill may also impact lipid profiles, necessitating awareness among women who use it long-term.
Coffee consumption, particularly unfiltered coffee, can raise LDL cholesterol levels due to a compound called cafestol, which affects cholesterol metabolism; filtering coffee can mitigate this effect.

Additionally, he discusses coffee consumption, particularly the presence of cafestol in unfiltered coffee, which can increase LDL cholesterol levels significantly. Dr. Bishopin advises those concerned about cholesterol to consider filtering their coffee to reduce cafestol intake. He wraps up by encouraging listeners to be mindful of their health and cholesterol management while still enjoying their morning coffee.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP373: Coffee CACs and Questions

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Dr. Warrick Bishop addresses various health-related questions from listeners, starting with atrial fibrillation and the comparison between AV nodal ablation and drug treatment. He explains that drugs are generally preferred for rate control in atrial fibrillation, with ablation considered a last resort. He also discusses cholesterol management, particularly the effects of statins on coenzyme Q10 and vitamin K2, indicating that current studies show statins do not significantly alter coenzyme Q10 levels in muscles. Additionally, he touches on the pleiotropic effects of bempedoic acid, noting its potential similarities to statins but with less potency in lowering LDL cholesterol.

The podcast further explores coronary artery calcium scores, emphasizing that a score of zero indicates low cardiovascular risk, while even a score of one to ten triples the risk. Dr. Bishop then delves into coffee consumption, citing recent studies that suggest a J-shaped relationship where moderate coffee intake (around three cups daily) may reduce cardiovascular risk. He highlights the impact of coffee on lowering very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels and raising histidine, an amino acid linked to cardiovascular health. Overall, the podcast serves as a resource for listeners seeking clarity on these health topics.

Takeaways:

Doctor Warrick Bishop emphasizes the importance of listener engagement in his podcast, encouraging questions and feedback to tailor future content to audience interests.
Atrial fibrillation is discussed, with the AV node serving as a critical electrical gateway that helps regulate heartbeats. Drug treatment is generally preferred over AV nodal ablation, which is considered a last resort.
The impact of statins on coenzyme Q10 and vitamin K2 is explored, with findings indicating that statin use does not significantly alter coenzyme Q10 levels in muscles, although the relationship with vitamin K2 remains less clear.
Benberdic acid, a cholesterol-lowering agent, works upstream in the same metabolic pathway as statins, but its pleiotropic effects and impact on coenzyme Q10 and vitamin K2 are still under investigation.
The significance of coronary artery calcium scores is highlighted, with a score of zero indicating a very low risk of cardiovascular events, while a score of one to ten triples that risk.
Coffee consumption is linked to cardiovascular health, with studies suggesting a J-shaped curve where moderate intake (around three cups per day) may reduce cardiovascular risk, while excessive consumption may negate those benefits.
Research indicates that caffeine lowers very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels, which are associated with cardiovascular disease, suggesting a protective effect of coffee on heart health.
Histidine, an amino acid whose low levels are linked to increased cardiovascular risk, may be raised by caffeine consumption, further supporting coffee’s potential health benefits.
Doctor Bishop is in the process of writing a comprehensive book on cholesterol, collaborating with an expert to provide detailed insights into cholesterol management.
The podcast aims to serve as an informative resource, providing clarity on health topics and encouraging listeners to share the content if they find it beneficial.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP372: Magnets and Health with Mark Fox (Part 2)

Sun, 09 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +1100

The podcast features Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, discussing heart health and the prevalence of heart disease in Australia. He interviews Mark Fox, the CEO and founder of Resona Health, who specializes in electromagnetic field therapy. They explore the benefits of this therapy for cellular health, emphasizing its potential to enhance energy production in cells and aid in healing. Mark explains the design and function of his device, which resembles an old iPod and delivers electromagnetic waves to improve health.

He discusses how the device can be worn around the neck or placed in pockets to facilitate its effects on various body parts. The conversation also touches on the potential mechanisms of action, including resonance with body water and the influence on blood cells. Mark shares anecdotal evidence of the device's effectiveness in healing wounds and managing conditions like PTSD in animals. They conclude with a special offer for listeners to purchase the device at a discounted price. Dr. Bishop encourages individuals to consider this therapy for chronic health issues and highlights the importance of understanding heart attack risks.

Takeaways:

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, emphasizes the importance of understanding heart health to combat the high prevalence of heart disease in Australia.
The podcast features an interview with Mark Fox, the CEO and founder of Resona Health, who discusses the potential benefits of electromagnetic field therapy for cellular health.
Electromagnetic field therapy has been used in veterinary medicine, particularly for horses, but is less commonly applied to human health.
Mark Fox describes his device, which resembles an old iPod, as a tool that uses electromagnetic waves to energize cells, potentially improving their function and healing capabilities.
The device operates by resonating with water in the body, utilizing a low electrical current, and possibly interacting with magnetite found in human cells.
A new pendant device targeting the vagus nerve is in development, aiming to enhance health by stimulating this crucial nerve that connects the brain to various body systems.
Studies suggest that pulsed electromagnetic field therapy can significantly reduce healing times for fractures and improve overall health outcomes.
Anecdotal evidence indicates that the device has positively influenced wound healing and recovery in animals, with ongoing research into its effects on PTSD in dogs.
Mark Fox’s company offers a discount for listeners interested in purchasing the Vibe device, highlighting its affordability compared to other health technologies.
The podcast encourages listeners to explore electromagnetic field therapy as a complementary approach to managing chronic health issues and improving overall well-being.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP371: Magnets and Health with Mark Fox (Part 1)

Sun, 02 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, discusses heart disease in Australia and introduces Mark Fox, CEO and founder of Resona Health, who specializes in pulse electromagnetic field (PMF) therapy. Mark shares his journey from chemical engineering to working on the Space Shuttle program and ultimately exploring energy therapy after a personal experience with his dog’s arthritis. Initially skeptical, he became a proponent of PMF therapy after witnessing its effects on various conditions, including PTSD and anxiety.

Mark explains that PMF therapy acts as an energy exchange, helping to recharge cells and improve overall health. He emphasizes the device's potential benefits, including sleep improvement, pain relief, and blood sugar management. The conversation touches on the challenges faced in advancing PMF therapy, particularly in the U.S. medical landscape, and the importance of clinical studies to validate its effectiveness. Doctor Bishop expresses interest in further discussing the technology and its applications in future episodes. The podcast concludes with an invitation for listeners to join the Healthy Heart Network for resources on heart health.

Takeaways:

Heart Disease Awareness: Dr. Warrick Bishop emphasizes the prevalence of heart disease in Australia, with a heart attack occurring every 20 minutes, highlighting the importance of preventative measures.
Podcast Purpose: The podcast aims to educate listeners about managing key health indicators such as blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol for improved overall health.
Guest Introduction: Mark Fox, CEO of Resona Health, is introduced as an expert in post electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy, bringing a diverse background in engineering and entrepreneurship to the discussion.
Personal Journey: Mark shares his personal journey into PEMF therapy, which began with a desire to help his dog with arthritis, leading him to study energy therapies and their effects.
Skepticism to Belief: Both Dr. Bishop and Mark recount their initial skepticism towards PEMF therapy, which shifted as they researched and observed positive outcomes.
PEMF Technology Explanation: Mark explains that PEMF therapy involves energy exchange through frequencies, helping to recharge cells and improve overall health by enhancing cellular energy (ATP production).
FDA Classification: The device developed by Mark is classified as an FDA general wellness device, focusing on improving well-being rather than treating specific medical conditions.
Key Conditions Addressed: The therapy is reported to be beneficial for various conditions, including PTSD, anxiety, back pain, sleep issues, and inflammation, with anecdotal evidence supporting its efficacy.
Research and Protocol Development: Mark discusses ongoing research and protocol development for conditions like PTSD and blood sugar management, emphasizing the importance of scientific validation.
Community Engagement: The podcast encourages listeners to engage with the Healthy Heart Network, promoting health education and community support for those at risk of heart disease.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP370: Looking at Plaque in the Arteries - IVUS and OCT

Sun, 26 Jan 2025 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, discusses the importance of understanding heart health, particularly in relation to heart disease, which is a significant issue in Australia. He emphasizes that many heart attacks could be prevented with better knowledge of blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol. The episode focuses on advanced imaging technologies used to detect plaque in arteries, specifically intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). These methods allow for detailed internal imaging of arteries, helping interventional cardiologists accurately place stents and assess plaque characteristics.

Dr. Bishop highlights the role of these technologies in research, particularly in lipid-lowering trials that demonstrate the potential for reducing plaque size through effective cholesterol management. He notes that achieving an LDL cholesterol level of 1.4 millimoles per liter can lead to plaque regression in over 50% of individuals. While these imaging techniques are beneficial for specific patients, he advises that they are not for everyone and emphasizes the use of non-invasive CT scans for general assessments. Additionally, he mentions the potential future integration of artificial intelligence with these imaging technologies to enhance interpretation and clinical practice. Finally, he encourages listeners to join the Healthy Heart Network for resources on heart health and risk management.

Takeaways:

Heart disease is a significant health issue in Australia, with a heart attack occurring every 20 minutes, many of which could be preventable with better knowledge.
The podcast aims to educate listeners on critical health factors like blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol to promote better heart health.
Cardiac CT imaging is a key technology used to assess plaque in arteries before any heart-related events occur.
Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) are advanced imaging technologies that allow doctors to visualize plaque inside arteries during procedures.
IVUS uses high-frequency sound waves, while OCT employs light to capture detailed images of plaque characteristics and stability within coronary arteries.
These imaging technologies assist interventional cardiologists in accurately placing stents by providing detailed information on plaque location and extent.
Research has shown that lowering LDL cholesterol to 1.4 millimoles per liter can lead to plaque regression in over 50% of individuals, as demonstrated by studies using IVUS and OCT.
There is potential for integrating artificial intelligence with IVUS and OCT technologies to enhance image interpretation and clinical decision-making.
While these imaging techniques are valuable, they are primarily intended for patients with specific arterial issues or those involved in clinical studies, not for routine checks in healthy individuals.
The Healthy Heart Network offers resources and community support for individuals interested in understanding their heart health and reducing their risk of heart attacks.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP369: More on PEMF With Candice

Sun, 19 Jan 2025 10:00:00 +1100

Doctor Warrick Bishop hosts the Healthy Heart Network podcast, featuring guest Candice Groves to discuss pulse electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy. This therapy uses frequencies and magnetic fields to enhance cellular function, improve healing, and alleviate various health issues, including sleep and anxiety. Candice highlights significant research showing that PEMF therapy can reduce fracture healing time by nearly 50%, a benefit not widely recognized due to a lack of financial incentives for large pharmaceutical companies. She emphasizes that while PEMF therapy is generally safe, it should not be used by individuals with electrical implants like pacemakers or during pregnancy.

The conversation also touches on infrared therapy, which aids in mitochondrial function and reduces inflammation. Candice mentions that her company, Best Cellf, offers products combining both PEMF and red light therapy, providing accessible options for Australians. She shares a success story of a customer with a spinal injury who experienced improved mobility and reduced pain after using their PEMF mat. The podcast concludes with a special offer for listeners to receive a discount on Best Self products. Overall, the discussion promotes the potential of holistic therapies to improve health and well-being.

Takeaways:

Doctor Warrick Bishop interviews Candice Groves, who discusses pulse electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy and its benefits.
PEMF therapy utilizes frequencies and magnetic fields to enhance cellular function, mitochondrial energy production, nitric oxide levels, and overall healing.
Significant benefits of PEMF therapy include improved sleep, reduced anxiety and stress, and relief from pain related to injuries, surgery recovery, and cognitive issues.
Research indicates that PEMF therapy can reduce fracture healing time by nearly 50%, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic alternative.
Contraindications for PEMF therapy include individuals with electrical implants (like pacemakers), pregnant women, and those with epilepsy, requiring consultation with healthcare professionals.
Candace emphasizes the lack of financial incentives for promoting holistic therapies like PEMF, which can lead to limited awareness and advocacy compared to pharmaceutical treatments.
The podcast also covers infrared or red light therapy, which aids in mitochondrial function and ATP production, contributing to skin healing and pain relief.
Candace’s company, Best Cellf, offers PEMF and red light therapy products, aiming to make these therapies accessible in Australia and improve customer service.
The safety of PEMF devices allows for extended use, including sleeping on the mats, as they mimic the Earth’s natural electromagnetic frequencies.
Personal success stories from customers highlight the transformative effects of PEMF therapy, particularly for individuals with chronic pain and mobility issues, underscoring the positive impact on quality of life.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP368: Interview With Candice and What's PEMF Again?

Sun, 12 Jan 2025 10:00:00 +1100

In the podcast, Dr. Warrick Bishop interviews Candice Groves, the founder and CEO of BEST CELLF, to discuss pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy. Candice explains that PEMF therapy mimics the grounding effect of the Earth and utilizes low-frequency electromagnetic fields to stimulate cellular functions, promoting overall health. The conversation highlights the importance of electrical signals in the body, which are crucial for processes like circulation and nutrient absorption. Candice emphasizes that PEMF therapy can enhance blood flow, reduce inflammation, and support bone health by influencing various cellular activities, including the production of ATP.

Dr. Bishop notes the scientific backing for PEMF therapy, referencing its presence in reputable medical literature, which may help shift perceptions about its validity in Western medicine. Candice shares her personal journey into the wellness industry, driven by her passion for fitness and health, leading her to establish BEST CELLF nearly two years ago. The company offers a range of infrared PEMF mats designed for different needs, promoting circulation and detoxification. The podcast concludes with a teaser for future discussions on the therapeutic applications of PEMF and red light therapy, encouraging listeners to explore these innovative wellness options.

Takeaways:

Introduction of PEMF: The podcast introduces Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy, which aims to mimic the grounding effects of the Earth and promote overall health.
Cellular Influence: PEMF therapy stimulates cells to produce their own electromagnetic fields, enhancing biological processes and supporting optimal cell function.
Electrical Nature of Cells: Every cell in the body has an electric charge, and PEMF therapy can influence this charge, impacting overall health and bodily functions.
Frequency and Magnetic Fields: Different frequencies (measured in hertz) and magnetic flux density (measured in gauss or Tesla) are utilized in PEMF devices to target various health needs.
Therapeutic Benefits: PEMF therapy promotes circulation, reduces inflammation, and enhances nutrient delivery by stimulating mitochondria to produce ATP, the energy currency of cells.
Research Validity: There is substantial scientific literature supporting the effectiveness of PEMF therapy, including studies published in reputable sources like the Cochrane Review Library.
Background of Candice Grove: Candice Groves, founder of BEST CELLF, became involved in PEMF therapy due to her passion for health and wellness, leading her to research and promote this therapy in Australia.
BEST CELLF Products: BEST CELLF offers a range of infrared PEMF mats designed for various therapeutic benefits, including blood vessel dilation and detoxification.
Discount Offer: The podcast provides a promotional discount code for listeners to purchase BEST CELLF products, emphasizing community engagement.
Future Discussions: The podcast hints at upcoming episodes that will delve deeper into the treatments and benefits of PEMF and red light therapy, encouraging continued interest and exploration.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP367: Keto and Other Tricky Cardiovascular Situations

Sun, 05 Jan 2025 10:00:00 +1100

The podcast discusses various health topics, particularly focusing on keto diets and cholesterol management. Dr. Bishop encourages listeners to subscribe, share, and suggest topics or potential interviewees. A keto diet is defined as a very low carbohydrate diet that promotes burning ketones, often leading to weight loss and improved insulin control. However, the host cautions about the consumption of saturated fats, which can raise LDL cholesterol levels, posing a potential cardiovascular risk despite other health benefits. Research is ongoing to understand the effects of ketogenic diets on arterial plaque progression.

Takeaways:

The podcast emphasizes the benefits of a ketogenic diet, which is characterized by very low carbohydrate intake, leading to the body burning ketones for energy.
A reduced carbohydrate diet can help manage weight, stabilize blood sugar levels, and improve insulin control, which may lead to better overall health and mood.
While ketogenic diets can lead to weight loss and improved metabolic markers, there is a concern regarding the potential increase in LDL cholesterol levels, particularly from saturated fat consumption.
Research is ongoing to understand the long-term effects of ketogenic diets on cardiovascular health, specifically regarding plaque buildup in arteries.
Women benefit from cholesterol-lowering medications, including statins, which have been shown to reduce all-cause and cardiovascular-related mortality.
Hormone replacement therapy is generally considered beneficial for perimenopausal women, aiding in mood and bone health, without significantly increasing cardiovascular risk.
There is limited data on cholesterol treatment in older adults, but they may be at higher risk for cardiovascular disease, warranting individualized risk assessments and potential treatment discussions.
Chronic renal disease significantly increases cardiovascular risk, and while statins may not be clearly indicated for patients on dialysis, managing cholesterol is crucial for those awaiting transplants.
Transplant patients may require cholesterol-lowering therapy to protect their cardiovascular health, and this should be managed in consultation with specialists.
The podcast highlights the importance of tailored dietary and medical approaches for specific populations, including women, older adults, and those with chronic health conditions, to optimize their health outcomes.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP366: LDL is a Remnant or a Waste Product of Lipid Metabolism

Sun, 29 Dec 2024 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Dr. Warrick Bishop discusses the movement of lipids and lipoprotein particles in the body, emphasizing their role in delivering energy sources. He explains that dietary fats absorbed in the gut form chylomicrons, which enter the bloodstream and release triglycerides to tissues via the enzyme lipoprotein lipase. As triglycerides are removed, these particles become denser and transform into intermediate and low-density lipoproteins (IDL and LDL), which are remnants of energy delivery. The liver produces very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) to perform a similar function.

Dr. Bishop clarifies that while the liver does not produce LDL cholesterol, it can uptake it from the bloodstream, especially when cholesterol production is inhibited by medications like statins. He highlights the distinction between measured LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream and cholesterol available in cells, noting that cells can both absorb LDL and synthesize cholesterol. The discussion emphasizes the importance of understanding these processes in the context of energy delivery and cellular repair. Additionally, Dr. Bishop briefly addresses a listener's question about AV ablation, explaining its significance in managing atrial fibrillation and heart rate control. He concludes by encouraging listeners to reach out with further questions.

Takeaways:

Lipoprotein particles primarily serve to deliver energy sources throughout the body, with the gut absorbing fats and forming chylomicrons that enter the bloodstream.
Lipoprotein lipase is an enzyme that acts on chylomicrons, extracting triglycerides for use by various tissues, which leads to the formation of denser lipoprotein remnants.
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is a remnant of the lipid processing that can contribute to coronary artery disease when present in excess within blood vessels.
The liver produces very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), which functions similarly to chylomicrons by delivering triglycerides to tissues before leaving behind remnants.
Cholesterol is necessary for various bodily functions, and every tissue has LDL receptors to absorb it for synthesis and repair.
Statins and similar agents work by blocking the HMG-CoA reductase pathway, reducing cholesterol production in cells, which prompts cells to increase LDL receptor expression to absorb more cholesterol from the bloodstream.
The cholesterol measured in blood tests reflects the amount of LDL particle cholesterol circulating, not the total cholesterol present in individual cells.
Cells can either absorb LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream or synthesize cholesterol through their metabolic pathways.
Understanding the distinction between circulating LDL cholesterol and cellular cholesterol uptake is crucial for comprehending lipid metabolism and its implications for health.
Atrial fibrillation treatments, such as AV nodal ablation, may be necessary for certain patients, but it is generally preferable to manage the condition without such interventions if possible.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP365: Talking All Things Risk - Primary, Secondary, Continuum and Residual

Sun, 22 Dec 2024 10:00:00 +1100

Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses the complexities of cholesterol management and its role in cardiovascular risk in his podcast. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the difference between primary and secondary prevention of heart disease, noting that secondary prevention clearly benefits from cholesterol reduction. In contrast, primary prevention poses challenges due to the heterogeneous nature of individuals at risk.

Dr. Bishop advocates for the use of imaging techniques to identify atherosclerotic disease and better assess risk, framing it as a continuum rather than a binary state. He highlights that while lowering cholesterol reduces risk, it does not eliminate it, leading to the concept of residual risk influenced by factors like hypertension, obesity, and inflammation. Bishop compares cholesterol management to adjusting interest rates in an economy, underscoring its significance as a modifiable risk factor. He stresses the need to combine traditional risk factors with imaging results to make informed decisions for both primary and secondary prevention.

Ultimately, he encourages a comprehensive approach to managing cardiovascular risk, addressing both cholesterol and other contributing factors. The podcast aims to provide listeners with valuable insights for their health journeys.

Takeaways:

Understanding Risk: Dr. Warrick Bishop emphasizes the importance of understanding risk in relation to cholesterol and cardiovascular health, distinguishing between primary and secondary prevention.
Secondary Prevention Benefits: Lowering cholesterol is clearly beneficial for individuals who have experienced cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks or strokes, as it improves their health outcomes.
Challenges in Primary Prevention: Identifying high-risk individuals in primary prevention is more complex due to the heterogeneous nature of the population, making it difficult to treat everyone effectively.
Imaging Techniques: The use of imaging, particularly of coronary and carotid arteries, is crucial for recognizing atherosclerotic disease as a continuum and for identifying individuals at risk of plaque buildup.
Residual Risk: Even after lowering cholesterol, there remains a residual risk of cardiovascular events, indicating that other factors contribute to heart disease.
Modifiable Risk Factors: Addressing common risk factors such as hypertension, smoking, obesity, and poor diet is essential in conjunction with cholesterol management to reduce overall cardiovascular risk.
Lipoprotein(a) Awareness: There is emerging research on lipoprotein(a) as a significant contributor to residual risk, with potential treatments on the horizon for 2024.
Cholesterol as a Key Factor: While cholesterol is not the sole factor in coronary artery disease, it plays a significant role; managing LDL cholesterol can reduce modifiable risk by about 50%.
Integrating Traditional and Imaging Risks: Effective risk management involves combining traditional risk factors (like age and blood pressure) with imaging results to make informed decisions about treatment.
Long-Term Risk Consideration: It is important to consider not just immediate risks but also long-term risks over a person’s lifetime, ensuring that treatment plans are sustainable and effective in the long run.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP364: What you need to know about Protein, Supplements, and more

Sun, 15 Dec 2024 18:30:00 +1100

In this podcast, Dr. Warrick Bishop welcomes back Alastair Horscroft to discuss the importance of protein and amino acids in maintaining health, particularly as one ages. Alastair shares his journey from a vegetarian diet, which he believes hindered his athletic performance, to incorporating protein supplements like whey protein, which significantly improved his physical abilities. They emphasize the necessity of consuming adequate protein, recommending about 1 gram per pound of ideal body weight for optimal health. Alastair explains the distinction between protein and amino acids, stressing that amino acids are the essential building blocks for hormones, enzymes, and neurotransmitters.

Takeaways:

Guest Introduction: Dr. Warrick Bishop welcomes returning guest Alastair Horscroft, who has a diverse background in naturopathy, nutrition, psychology, and fitness.
Importance of Protein: Alastair discusses the significance of protein in the diet, highlighting its role in muscle and tissue structure, and how he realized its importance after experiencing health issues as a vegetarian.
Protein Requirements: A general guideline for protein intake is suggested at approximately 1 gram of protein per pound of ideal body weight, with adjustments for individual needs.
Amino Acids vs. Protein: Al emphasizes viewing protein primarily as a carrier of amino acids, which are crucial for various bodily functions, including hormone and enzyme production.
Collagen Limitations: Collagen is noted as a popular supplement, but Alastair points out that it is not a complete protein and lacks certain essential amino acids.
Sarcopenia Awareness: The discussion touches on sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass, and how it can be influenced by protein intake and exercise.
Amino Acid Supplementation: Alastair introduces his product, Frontier Amino Power, emphasizing its high absorption rate of 97-99% compared to traditional protein sources.
Dietary Choices: The conversation explores the differences between animal-based and plant-based proteins, noting that plant proteins may require higher quantities to meet protein needs.
Fasting and Protein Intake: Alastair shares his approach to fasting and how he incorporates amino acid supplements to maintain muscle mass during restricted eating periods.
Quality of Supplements: The importance of choosing high-quality amino acid supplements is stressed, with a caution against lower-quality products that may not provide the promised benefits.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP363: Cholesterol Awareness Week Nov 11 to 15

Sun, 08 Dec 2024 10:00:00 +1100

In this episode, Dee Mason discusses the critical importance of cholesterol awareness with cardiologist Dr. Warrick Bishop. As people age, conversations shift towards health concerns, particularly heart health, with cholesterol being linked to a significant number of deaths in Australia. Dr. Bishop emphasizes that cholesterol often goes unnoticed due to its asymptomatic nature, making it a "silent killer." He advocates for early awareness and screening, suggesting that individuals begin cholesterol checks as early as their 20s.

Takeaways:

Conversations about health, particularly heart health and cholesterol, often become more prominent as individuals age, especially around the age of 50.
Cholesterol is a significant health concern, linked to approximately 25% of all deaths in Australia, yet it remains under-discussed and often asymptomatic.
Doctor Warrick Bishop emphasizes the need for increased awareness and education about cholesterol, advocating for early heart health checks starting in one’s 20s or 30s.
The concept of a heart scan, specifically a calcium score, is recommended for individuals around the ages of 45-50 for men and 55-60 for women to assess heart health.
Cholesterol is an essential organic molecule necessary for cell function, but elevated levels can lead to plaque formation in arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease.
Preventative measures, such as lifestyle changes and medications, can effectively manage and lower cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of heart attacks.
Many people may not show outward symptoms of high cholesterol, making regular health checks critical for early detection and intervention.
The podcast highlights the importance of not waiting until symptoms arise to seek heart health assessments, advocating for proactive health management.
There is a push for greater inclusivity in health screenings, particularly for high-risk communities, including the LGBTQIA+ community, which may face additional health challenges.
The conversation about heart health and cholesterol awareness needs to expand beyond traditional age markers, promoting regular screenings and discussions about heart health across all demographics.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP362: Patient Lived Experience Atrial Fibrillation and More With Jim Kaveney Part 2

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast episode, Warrick Bishop interviews Jim Kaveney, a 50-year-old atrial fibrillation (AFib) survivor who was diagnosed at 38. Jim shares his journey through multiple medical procedures, including medications and pacemaker implantation, while also managing the pressures of starting a business and raising two young children. He emphasizes the emotional challenges he faced, particularly concerns about his family's future.

Jim discusses his book, "Unlimited Heart: How to Transform Your Pain into Purpose," which details his experiences and the importance of aligning the heart and mind to overcome challenges. He encourages listeners to ask their cardiology teams about the causes of AFib, lifestyle changes to prevent it, and available treatment options. Additionally, he highlights the significance of being aware of AFib warning signs and the role of wearable devices in monitoring heart health. Jim's initiative, Unlimited Health, aims to provide support and education for those living with AFib, focusing on lifestyle modifications and creating a community for accountability. He stresses the importance of small, manageable steps towards change and the need for support systems.

The episode concludes with Jim's commitment to helping others through his lived experiences and resources.

Takeaways:

Jim Kaveney’s Journey: Jim shares his personal experience with atrial fibrillation, including multiple treatments and the emotional challenges he faced as a parent and entrepreneur.
Emotional Impact: The stress of managing his health while starting a business and raising children added significant emotional pressure, highlighting the connection between mental health and physical conditions.
Book Release: Jim authored “Unlimited Heart,” which explores his journey and the intersection of emotional and physical health, aiming to inspire others to transform their pain into purpose.
Lifestyle Management: The importance of lifestyle changes in managing atrial fibrillation is emphasized, with a focus on diet, exercise, and mental well-being.
Questions for Cardiologists: Jim suggests three key questions for patients to ask their cardiology team, including the cause of their AFib, lifestyle changes to consider, and available treatment options.
Warning Signs of AFib: Jim identifies critical warning signs of atrial fibrillation, such as unusual heart rhythms and fainting, urging individuals to seek medical attention if they experience these symptoms.
Wearable Technology: The potential of wearable devices in monitoring heart health and detecting AFib is discussed, with an emphasis on their growing relevance in health management.
Unlimited Health Initiative: Jim’s company, Unlimited Health, aims to provide education, support, and accountability for individuals with AFib, focusing on lifestyle modifications and community building.
Common Sense Approach: The strategies for improving health are based on common sense principles, emphasizing small, manageable changes rather than overwhelming goals.
Global Accessibility: Jim’s book and health initiatives are available globally, including through platforms like Amazon and Audible, making resources accessible to a wider audience.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP361: Patient Lived Experience Atrial Fibrillation and More With Jim Kaveney Part 1

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 10:00:00 +1100

Doctor Warrick Bishop hosts a podcast featuring Jim Kaveney, a young individual with a personal journey through atrial fibrillation (AF). Jim shares his background in biology and corporate training, highlighting his diagnosis of AF at the age of 38, which coincided with starting his own business. He discusses the prevalence of AF, noting that it affects about 6 million people in the U.S., with numbers expected to double by 2030.

Jim recounts his symptoms, including palpitations and dizziness, and the initial misattribution of these symptoms to anxiety and stress. After trying various medications, he underwent multiple cardiac procedures, including an ablation and a pacemaker insertion, ultimately achieving five years of being AF-free. The conversation also touches on the potential triggers for AF, including stress, alcohol, and the impact of high levels of exercise. Jim emphasizes the importance of understanding the patient journey and aims to help others through his experiences. The podcast concludes with a promise for a follow-up discussion on Jim's emotional journey and his company, Unlimited Heart.

Takeaways:

Introduction of Guests: Doctor Warrick Bishop interviews Jim Kaveney, who shares his experience with atrial fibrillation (AF) and his journey of transforming pain into purpose through his book “Unlimited Heart.”
Background of Jim Cavany: Jim has a degree in biology and has worked in corporate training within the life sciences industry before starting his own learning and performance company.
Early AF Experience: Jim experienced symptoms of AF as a young athlete while rowing in college, but he initially attributed them to other factors, such as drinking.
Diagnosis and Impact: At 38, Jim was diagnosed with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation after experiencing severe symptoms, including dizziness and fainting spells.
Prevalence of AF: Atrial fibrillation is common, affecting about 1% of the population and projected to grow significantly in the coming years, with millions of cases expected in the US.
Management of AF: Jim’s treatment journey included trying different medications, such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers, before undergoing cardiac ablation procedures.
Complications: After initial treatments, Jim developed atrial flutter and tachy-brady syndrome, leading to the need for a pacemaker to manage his heart rhythm.
Long-term Outcome: Jim has been free from atrial fibrillation for five years since his last procedure, attributing his success to effective management and treatment.
Emotional Impact: The conversation hints at the emotional toll of living with a chronic condition like AF, emphasizing the importance of sharing experiences to help others.
Future Plans: Jim aims to use his experiences and insights to support others with AF through his company, Unlimited Heart, focusing on education and community support.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP360: STOP-CA to Stop Statin Bashing

Sun, 17 Nov 2024 10:00:00 +1100

In this episode, Warrick Bishop discusses the use of statin therapy in relation to chemotherapy, specifically its potential to reduce heart failure progression in patients receiving anthracycline treatments for lymphoma. He highlights the STOP CA trial, which aimed to assess the effectiveness of atorvastatin in preventing cardiac dysfunction associated with these cardiotoxic medications. The study involved a double-blind, placebo-controlled design and included patients aged 18 and older who were scheduled for anthracycline therapy. Exclusion criteria ensured a clear focus on participants without prior statin therapy or certain health conditions.

The trial's primary endpoint was the reduction in heart pumping capacity, measured by left ventricular ejection fraction. Results showed that only 9% of the atorvastatin group experienced significant heart function reduction compared to 22% in the placebo group, indicating that statins may offer protective benefits. Bishop emphasizes the importance of discussing statin use with healthcare providers for those undergoing chemotherapy. He concludes by encouraging listeners to consider this information for their health journeys and to engage in conversations with their specialists regarding statin therapy during cancer treatment.

Takeaways:

Warrick Bishop discusses the potential benefits of statin therapy in patients undergoing chemotherapy, specifically related to heart failure prevention.
The focus is on a clinical trial called STOP CA, which investigates the use of atorvastatin to mitigate cardiotoxicity from anthracycline chemotherapy in lymphoma patients.
Anthracyclines, while effective against certain cancers, significantly increase the risk of heart failure, with a 10 to 15-fold increase in risk.
Previous observational data suggested that statins might protect the heart during anthracycline therapy, prompting further investigation.
The STOP CA trial was a double-blind, placebo-controlled study aimed at clarifying the role of statins in this context.
Inclusion criteria for the trial required participants to have Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and to be scheduled for anthracycline therapy.
The primary endpoint of the study was the reduction in heart function by 10% or more, with secondary outcomes focusing on left ventricular ejection fraction.
Results showed that 9% of participants in the atorvastatin group experienced a significant reduction in heart function compared to 22% in the placebo group.
This indicates that statin therapy may significantly lower the risk of cardiac dysfunction in patients receiving chemotherapy.
Bishop encourages patients undergoing chemotherapy to discuss statin therapy with their healthcare providers, especially if they are already on statins or have concerns about heart health.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP359: Defining Family History and High Cholesterol

Sun, 10 Nov 2024 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Dr. Warrick Bishop discusses the importance of understanding family history and cholesterol levels in assessing cardiovascular disease risk. He emphasizes that a significant family history involves first-degree relatives who experienced cardiac events at a young age—males under 55 and females under 60—without other major risk factors. Dr. Bishop clarifies that having a distant relative with a cardiovascular event at an older age does not necessarily increase one's risk. He outlines cholesterol categories, indicating that for those with a previous cardiac event, an LDL cholesterol level above 1.4 millimoles per liter is considered high. For primary prevention, individuals with familial hypercholesterolemia may have total cholesterol levels exceeding 7.8 and LDL levels over 4.9. He highlights the continuum of cholesterol levels and the need for proactive treatment for individuals with very high cholesterol and a family history of heart disease. Dr. Bishop uses an analogy of parking a car by the sea to explain how LDL cholesterol can lead to plaque formation over time. He encourages listeners to engage with the podcast by asking questions and suggesting future topics. Overall, the podcast aims to enhance medical literacy regarding cardiovascular risks and cholesterol management.

Takeaways:

Family Risk Definition: Family history of cardiovascular disease is significant when it involves first-degree relatives (parents, siblings, or children) who had cardiac events at younger ages: males under 55 and females under 60.
Age Consideration: A family history involving distant relatives or events occurring at older ages does not necessarily increase an individual’s cardiovascular risk.
Cholesterol Context: Understanding what constitutes high cholesterol requires context, particularly distinguishing between primary and secondary prevention based on prior cardiovascular events.
LDL Cholesterol Levels: For secondary prevention (individuals with prior events), an LDL cholesterol level over 1.4 millimoles per liter is considered high, necessitating treatment.
Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Individuals with familial hypercholesterolemia may have significantly elevated cholesterol levels, with total cholesterol over 7.8 and LDL over 4.9 millimoles per liter.
Cholesterol Guidelines: Current guidelines suggest that total cholesterol above 7.5 millimoles per liter should prompt immediate consideration for cholesterol-lowering therapy.
Desirable Cholesterol Levels: Desirable cholesterol levels are defined as total cholesterol below 5.2 and LDL below 3.4 millimoles per liter.
Continuum of Risk: Cholesterol levels exist on a continuum, and even individuals with low cholesterol can develop arterial plaque, highlighting the complexity of cardiovascular risk assessment.
Environmental Analogy: The analogy of parking a car near the sea illustrates how prolonged exposure to high LDL cholesterol can lead to plaque formation, similar to rust on a car.
Patient Engagement: The podcast encourages listener engagement through questions and suggestions for future topics, emphasizing the importance of shared knowledge in improving medical literacy.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP358: Perry Eckert and Regeneration Technologies

Sun, 03 Nov 2024 10:00:00 +1100

Doctor Warrick Bishop hosts a podcast featuring Perry Eckert, master franchisor for OsteoStrong in Australia and New Zealand. They discuss the various technologies offered at OsteoStrong centers aimed at improving health and well-being. Key technologies include hydro massage beds, red light therapy, Normatek compression boots, and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy. The hydro massage beds utilize powerful jets to provide a deep tissue massage experience, promoting relaxation and reducing inflammation. Red light therapy is highlighted for its benefits in enhancing blood flow, collagen production, and overall skin health.

The Normatek boots use compression technology to improve lymphatic flow and reduce swelling, benefiting athletes and those with leg discomfort. Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy aims to reconnect individuals with the earth's magnetic field, promoting relaxation and reducing stress. The overall goal of these technologies is to enhance health while providing a meditative experience that leaves users feeling rejuvenated. The podcast emphasizes the importance of relaxation and stress reduction in maintaining good health. Bishop encourages listeners to explore the offerings at their local OsteoStrong center for a holistic health experience.

Takeaways:

Introduction to Technologies: The podcast introduces various technologies used at OsteoStrong Centers, aimed at improving health and wellness through innovative methods.
Hydro Massage Beds: These beds use powerful water jets to provide a massage experience equivalent to a 40-minute massage, promoting relaxation and blood flow without getting the user wet.
Red Light Therapy: This therapy utilizes specific wavelengths of red light to enhance mitochondrial function, improve skin health, and aid in healing by reducing inflammation.
Normatek Compression Boots: These boots employ air compression technology to massage the legs, improving blood flow, reducing swelling, and aiding recovery for athletes and those with leg discomfort.
Pulse Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) Therapy: This therapy connects users to the Earth’s magnetic field, promoting relaxation and reducing inflammation, while also enhancing overall health through meditative states.
Stress Reduction: The technologies aim to shift users from a sympathetic (stress) state to a parasympathetic (relaxed) state, decreasing cortisol levels and improving overall well-being.
Holistic Approach: The integration of multiple technologies at OsteoStrong Centers provides a comprehensive approach to health, addressing both physical and mental wellness.
User Experience: Many users report feeling significantly better after their sessions, highlighting the positive effects of the treatments on mood and relaxation.
Historical Context: The discussion includes references to historical practices, such as grounding and exposure to natural light, emphasizing the importance of reconnecting with nature for health benefits.
Encouragement to Explore: The podcast invites listeners to visit OsteoStrong Centers to experience these technologies firsthand, promoting a proactive approach to health and wellness.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP357: Perry Eckert and OsteoStrong

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 10:00:00 +1100

Doctor Warrick Bishop hosts a podcast featuring Perry Eckert, the master franchise owner for OsteoStrong in Australia and New Zealand. They discuss OsteoStrong, a health and wellness program aimed at improving bone and muscle health, reducing fall and fracture risks, and alleviating joint and back pain. Perry explains that the program utilizes specialized machines that apply self-applied loads to bones through a method called axial loading, which stimulates osteogenesis and enhances muscle strength and balance. Unlike conventional gym equipment, OsteoStrong's machines allow users to safely exert significantly higher forces, leading to improved bone density and strength.

The program's effectiveness is supported by studies showing dramatic improvements in strength, particularly for individuals with osteoporosis. Perry shares his personal connection to bone health issues in his family, emphasizing the importance of preventative medicine. He highlights the uniqueness of Osteo Strong as a forward-thinking solution compared to traditional exercise regimens. The podcast concludes with information about the locations of Osteo Strong centers in Australia and an invitation for listeners to explore the program for their health and well-being.

Takeaways:

OsteoStrong is a health and wellness program focused on improving bone and muscle health, reducing fall and fracture risk, and alleviating joint and muscle pain.
The program utilizes specialized machines called spectrum machines that apply self-applied loads to bones and muscles through a method known as axial loading, triggering osteogenesis and improving bone density.
Participants often experience significant improvements in bone density, muscle strength, balance, and grip strength, with many reversing conditions like osteopenia and osteoporosis within 6 to 12 months.
Unlike conventional gym equipment, spectrum machines allow users to safely exert loads significantly greater than typical gym weights, enhancing the effectiveness of the workouts.
The program emphasizes the importance of applying loads exceeding 4.2 times a participant’s body weight to effectively improve bone density, as supported by scientific studies.
Osteo Strong is described as a form of “physical medicine” rather than a typical exercise program, requiring only short, controlled sessions once a week for optimal results.
Many members report overall improved well-being, strength, posture, and reduced pain, highlighting that the benefits of the program extend beyond just bone health.
The founder, Perry Eckert, has a personal connection to osteoporosis through family history, motivating his involvement in promoting preventative health measures.
The podcast emphasizes the need for a shift in focus from chronic care to preventative medicine, advocating for innovative solutions like OsteoStrong to address health issues before they become serious.
Currently, there are eight OsteoStrong centers in Australia, providing accessible options for individuals seeking to enhance their bone and muscle health.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP356: Impact of Statins on Ubiquinone or Coenzyme Q 10

Sun, 20 Oct 2024 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Warrick Bishop discusses the biochemical processes involved in statin therapy, particularly how it affects cholesterol production. He explains the conversion pathway from acetyl CoA to HMG CoA, mevalonic acid, and ultimately cholesterol. The conversation highlights the role of coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone), which is essential for energy formation in cells and may be linked to muscle-related side effects from statins. A recent study from 2022 investigated the relationship between coenzyme Q10 levels and statin-related muscle symptoms but found no significant correlation or benefit from supplementation. Despite this, Bishop suggests that individual patients might still benefit from trying coenzyme Q10. He also introduces benberdomic acid, a new agent that works upstream of the statin pathway and may provide an alternative for those experiencing muscle aches due to statin use. The podcast encourages listeners to consider their experiences with these treatments and to reach out with feedback or suggestions for future topics. Bishop concludes with a positive message about living well.

Takeaways:

Statin Therapy Pathway: Statins influence a biochemical pathway that converts acetyl CoA into cholesterol, impacting various compounds along the way.
Vitamin K Compounds: The discussion includes vitamin K1 (phylloquinones) and vitamin K2 (menaquinones), highlighting their significance in health.
Ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q10): Ubiquinone, also known as coenzyme Q10, plays a crucial role in cellular energy production, particularly in the mitochondria.
Muscle Symptoms and CoQ10: There is a potential link between diminished levels of coenzyme Q10 and muscle aches associated with statin use.
Research Study Overview: A 2022 study involved 80 participants with mild statin-related muscle symptoms to evaluate the relationship between coenzyme Q10 levels and their symptoms.
Study Findings: The study found no significant connection between coenzyme Q10 levels and muscle symptoms, nor did supplementation show a notable impact on levels.
Individual Variability: While the study results were general, individual patients may still benefit from coenzyme Q10 supplementation, particularly if they experience muscle pain.
Benberdobic Acid: This new agent operates upstream in the same enzymatic pathway as statins and may offer an alternative solution for muscle-related side effects without affecting coenzyme Q10 levels.
Liver-Specific Action: Benberdobic acid’s mechanism is limited to the liver, potentially reducing systemic side effects associated with statin therapy.
Open Dialogue: Doctor Bishop encourages listener feedback and suggestions for future podcast topics, emphasizing the importance of ongoing communication regarding health and treatment options.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP355: Vitamin K and Lipid Lowering Therapy

Sun, 13 Oct 2024 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Dr. Warrick Bishop discusses the significance of vitamin K, particularly its roles in blood coagulation and bone health. Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin essential for blood clotting and is administered to newborns to prevent bleeding complications. The conversation highlights the two forms of vitamin K: K1, found in green leafy vegetables, and K2, which has various subtypes and is involved in bone mineralization through the protein osteocalcin. Dr. Bishop explains how vitamin K helps regulate the balance between osteoblasts (bone-building cells) and osteoclasts (bone-resorbing cells), thereby impacting conditions like osteoporosis and aortic valve disease.

He emphasizes the potential interplay between vitamin K and lipid-lowering medications, such as statins and ezetimibe, which may affect vitamin K absorption and production. While current research lacks definitive links between statin therapy and vitamin K deficiency, the mechanisms suggest a possible impact on bone health and calcium deposition. Dr. Bishop encourages patients on lipid-lowering regimens to consider vitamin K supplementation due to these potential interactions. The discussion concludes with an invitation for listeners to engage with further inquiries.

Takeaways:

Vitamin K Overview: Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin essential for blood clotting and plays a crucial role in bone health.
Types of Vitamin K: There are two main types: K1 (phylloquinone) found in green leafy vegetables, and K2 (menaquinone), which has several subtypes.
Bone Health Connection: Vitamin K facilitates the function of osteocalcin, a protein that helps incorporate calcium into the bone matrix, promoting bone mineralization.
Osteoblast and Osteoclast Balance: Vitamin K supports the production of osteoblasts (bone-building cells) while inhibiting the formation of osteoclasts (bone-resorbing cells), maintaining bone density.
Calcium Regulation: Vitamin K helps ensure calcium is deposited in bones rather than in soft tissues, which can lead to conditions like aortic stenosis.
Warfarin Interaction: Warfarin, a blood-thinning medication, blocks vitamin K, which can negatively impact bone mineralization and density.
Impact of Lipid-Lowering Drugs: Statins and ezetimibe, used to manage cholesterol, may affect vitamin K levels by interfering with its production and absorption.
Mechanisms of Statins and Ezetimibe: Statins inhibit HMG CoA reductase, which is involved in the production of vitamin K2, while ezetimibe reduces the absorption of both cholesterol and vitamin K.
Potential Risks: There may be a link between lipid-lowering therapies and calcium misallocation, potentially leading to osteoporosis and calcification in the aortic valve.
Supplementation Consideration: The speaker suggests that individuals on lipid-lowering medications may benefit from vitamin K supplementation to mitigate potential deficiencies.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP354: Metabolic Syndrome Meeting

Sun, 06 Oct 2024 10:00:00 +1100

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, discusses key insights from a recent cardio metabolic health conference he attended. He covers topics like the similar cardiovascular disease risk for type 1 and type 2 diabetics, the benefits of newer diabetes medications like SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 agonists beyond glucose control, the importance of managing conditions like fatty liver disease and PCOS to prevent cardiometabolic issues, and the links between metabolic health, inflammation, and cognitive decline. He emphasizes the interconnected nature of heart health, diabetes, fatty liver, and brain function, and encourages listeners to be proactive about monitoring and managing their cardiometabolic health through lifestyle, medication, and regular check-ups.

Takeaways:

The risk of cardiovascular disease is similar for type 1 and type 2 diabetics, contrary to the common belief that type 2 diabetics have higher risk.
Newer diabetes medications like SGLT-2 inhibitors (e.g. empagliflozin) and GLP-1 agonists (e.g. semaglutide/Ozempic) have been shown to reduce cardiovascular events, beyond their effects on glucose control and weight.
These newer diabetes medications carry small but real risks like diabetic ketoacidosis and Fournier's gangrene that prescribers should be aware of.
There are several new weight loss medications available in Australia, including Saxenda, Contrave, Ozempic, and Mounjaro.
The GLP-1 agonists like semaglutide have receptors throughout the body and appear to have benefits beyond just glucose and weight, including reducing cardiovascular risk.
Polycystic ovary syndrome is closely linked to cardiometabolic risk factors and early use of metformin may be beneficial.
Imaging techniques like CT and PET scans can detect inflammation in blood vessels and around arteries, which is linked to increased future cardiovascular risk.
Even "metabolically healthy" overweight individuals have a high risk of developing diabetes within 10-15 years.
Fatty liver disease is very common, even in non-obese individuals, and is an early indicator of cardiometabolic disease risk.
The cardiometabolic syndrome impacts the whole body, including the brain, and medications like metformin, SGLT-2 inhibitors, and GLP-1 agonists may help reduce the risk of dementia.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP353: 6 Tips For Bone Health

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 10:00:00 +1000

Doctor Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, discusses tips for preventing osteoporosis and maintaining strong bones as people age. The key points include:

1) getting enough calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin K2 to provide the building blocks for bone health;

2) incorporating resistance training to stimulate bone growth;

3) limiting processed foods and reducing alcohol consumption;

4) ensuring adequate protein intake to support muscle and bone development; and

5) quitting smoking, which can be detrimental to bone health. Dr. Bishop emphasizes the importance of taking a holistic approach to bone and muscle strength as people get older in order to maximize their health span.

Takeaways:

Osteoporosis is a major health issue, with heart disease being a leading cause of death in Australia.
Axial bone loading, such as through the OsteoStrong program, can help strengthen bones and muscles.
Key nutrients for bone health include calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin K2.
Resistance training/weight training is crucial for maintaining bone and muscle strength as we age.
Limiting processed foods and reducing alcohol consumption can benefit bone health.
Adequate protein intake, around 2g per kg of body weight per day, is important for building and maintaining muscle and bone.
Smoking is detrimental to bone health, in addition to its many other negative health impacts.
Doctor Bishop encourages listeners to join the Healthy Heart Network to better understand their heart health and risk factors.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP352: Longevity Lounge with Doctor Warrick Bishop

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 10:00:00 +1000

Dr. Warrick Bishop is a renowned Australian cardiologist who is passionate about preventing heart disease. He became interested in preventative cardiology after a personal experience where he was unable to save a patient who suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. This led him to realize the limitations of the traditional approach of waiting for problems to arise before taking action. Dr. Bishop advocates for proactive screening and monitoring of heart health, including the use of new technologies like cardiac CT scans to detect plaque buildup in arteries before symptoms appear. He emphasizes the importance of managing blood pressure, cholesterol, and other risk factors to avoid heart attacks and strokes. Dr. Bishop has authored several bestselling books on atrial fibrillation and heart attack risk assessment, and he discusses the latest research and treatment options for these conditions.

Takeaways:

Heart disease is a major issue in Australia, with someone suffering a heart attack every 20 minutes, many of which could have been prevented.
Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist, became passionate about preventative cardiology after a personal experience of witnessing a patient collapse and die during a fun run, despite having been previously evaluated and cleared.
Traditional methods like stress tests are not sufficient to detect all heart issues, as 40% of heart attacks occur in arteries that are not narrowed. Newer imaging technologies like cardiac CT scans can provide a more comprehensive look at the heart and arteries.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common and dangerous heart rhythm disorder that increases stroke risk, but many people are unaware they have it. AF can be asymptomatic, making it difficult to detect.
Medications like anti-arrhythmics, rate controllers, and anticoagulants are used to manage AF, but the condition often progresses over time despite treatment.
Emerging wearable technologies like smartwatches may help detect AF earlier, but the technology is still developing and has limitations in terms of accuracy.
Endurance athletes may be at higher risk of developing AF and other heart rhythm issues due to the strain of intense training on the heart.
Maintaining healthy blood pressure, even on the lower end of normal, is crucial for heart health and can significantly reduce risks.
Proactive screening and early detection, rather than waiting for symptoms, is key to preventing heart disease. Calcium scoring scans can provide valuable insights.
Genetics and family history play an important role in heart disease risk, so personalized screening and prevention strategies are becoming more important.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP351: Talking Heart and Aging With Dr Luong Part 2

Sun, 15 Sep 2024 10:00:00 +1000

This podcast features a discussion between Doctor Warrick Bishop and Rebecca Luong, a qualified dietitian with expertise in cardiometabolic health and sports nutrition. They discuss the importance of diet and nutrition for healthy aging, with a focus on protein, dairy, and reducing saturated fat and sodium intake. Rebecca emphasizes the need for older adults to consume adequate protein, highlighting the benefits of whole food sources over supplements. She also shares insights about her company Heartful Flavors, which aims to provide healthy, low-sodium alternatives to traditional Asian sauces and seasonings. Overall, the conversation provides practical dietary recommendations for supporting cardiovascular and metabolic health as people age.

Takeaways:

As we age, we need to pay more attention to our protein intake, as we lose some efficiency in protein absorption and utilization. The recommended intake increases to 1.2-1.6 grams of protein per kg of body weight.
Protein can come from a variety of sources like meat, fish, eggs, dairy, legumes, nuts and seeds. Spreading protein intake throughout the day in 20-30g portions is recommended.
Dairy is an important source of protein for older adults, with the recommended servings increasing to 3.5-4 serves per day.
Whole food sources of protein are preferable to supplements, as they provide additional nutrients beyond just protein.
Saturated fat intake should be limited to less than 10% of total energy intake, focusing on reducing sources like baked goods, pastries and discretionary foods.
Cholesterol intake does not directly impact blood cholesterol levels, which are more influenced by saturated fat intake.
The business "Heartful Flavors" was created to provide flavorful Asian-inspired meal options that are low in sodium and aligned with heart-healthy dietary patterns.
Heartful Flavors uses herbs, spices, yeast, fruits and vegetables to mimic the flavors of traditional high-sodium Asian sauces and seasonings.
Heartful Flavors provides nutritionally balanced recipes on the packaging to make it easier for consumers to prepare healthy meals.
Heartful Flavors has received recognition, including winning the Dietitians Australia President's Award for Innovation.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Find out more here: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/s/heartful

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP350: Talking Heart and Aging With Dr Luong Part 1

Sun, 08 Sep 2024 10:00:00 +1000

Dr. Warrick Bishop interviews Dr. Rebecca Luong, an accredited practicing dietitian with a special interest in sports and cardiometabolic health. Dr. Luong discusses her background and how she became interested in dietetics, combining her love of food with a desire to help people improve their health. The conversation focuses on cardiometabolic health, including the importance of diet in managing conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.

Dr. Luong emphasizes the value of analyzing dietary patterns rather than just individual nutrients, and she highlights healthy dietary approaches like the Mediterranean, DASH, and Nordic diets. The discussion covers the role of carbohydrates, glycemic index, and limiting processed foods high in fat, salt and sugar. Dr. Bishop and Dr. Long agree they will continue the conversation in a future episode to discuss protein, fat, and the relationship between diet and frailty.

Takeaways:

Rebecca Luong is an accredited practicing dietitian with a special interest in sports and cardiometabolic health. She is also the co-founder of Heartful Flavors.
Rebecca's journey into dietetics started with a bachelor's degree in food science and a master's in nutrition and dietetics. She then pursued a PhD in diet and cardiometabolic health.
Cardiometabolic health refers to the cluster of risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugars, and abdominal adiposity that are predictive of heart disease and diabetes.
In her research, Rebecca looked at the impact of overall dietary patterns, not just single nutrients, on cardiometabolic and frailty outcomes.
For individuals with prediabetes or high blood sugar, Rebecca recommends a carbohydrate-controlled approach, aiming for 30-45g of carbs per meal and 0-30g for snacks.
Rebecca emphasizes the importance of considering both the amount and type of carbohydrates, favoring low glycemic index and whole grain options over refined and high glycemic foods.
Healthy dietary patterns like the Mediterranean, DASH, and Nordic diets are recommended for cardiometabolic health as they are low in saturated fat, sodium, and high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and fish.
Limiting intake of discretionary, highly processed foods high in fat, salt, and sugar is also an important part of these heart-healthy dietary approaches.
Rebecca plans to discuss the role of protein and fat, particularly in relation to frailty, in a future interview.
Overall, Rebecca's approach emphasizes the importance of a holistic, food-based dietary perspective for optimizing cardiometabolic and healthy aging outcomes.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Find out more here: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/s/heartful

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP349: Climate and Environment with Dr Fiona Foo Part 2

Sun, 01 Sep 2024 10:00:00 +1000

Fiona Foo, a cardiologist, discusses the impact of traffic-related air pollution and climate change on cardiovascular health. Traffic emissions are a significant cause of death and cardiovascular disease, with idling vehicles being a particular problem. Extreme heat and heat waves also have serious cardiovascular consequences, especially for vulnerable populations like the elderly, those with underlying conditions, and outdoor workers. Climate change is worsening mental health issues like anxiety and depression, which in turn negatively impact cardiovascular health. Addressing these environmental factors is crucial for improving public health and sustainability.

Takeaways:

Traffic-related air pollution is a significant cause of death and cardiovascular disease hospitalization in Australia, contributing to over 11,000 deaths and 12,000 hospitalizations.
Idling cars, especially in front of schools, is a major contributor to air pollution exposure for children and should be discouraged through initiatives like "Idle Off" campaigns.
Active transport like walking, cycling, and public transit can reduce emissions and incidental exercise from public transit use has been shown to reduce cardiovascular disease.
Diesel vehicles and larger trucks/SUVs tend to be more polluting than smaller gasoline vehicles, emitting more harmful ultrafine particles.
Extreme heat and heatwaves are a major driver of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in Australia, causing more deaths than any other natural disaster.
Vulnerable populations at high risk during heatwaves include the elderly, those with underlying chronic conditions, pregnant women, outdoor workers, and athletes/sports participants.
Hydration, electrolyte balance, and cooling measures are critical for athletes and spectators during outdoor sporting events in hot conditions.
Climate change-driven extreme weather events and heat can worsen mental health, leading to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The combination of air pollution and mental health impacts from climate change can have synergistic negative effects on cardiovascular health.
Overall, the health impacts of climate change, including air pollution and extreme weather, are a major and growing public health crisis that requires urgent action.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP348: Climate and Environment with Dr Fiona Foo Part 1

Sun, 25 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +1000

This podcast features a discussion between Dr. Warrick Bishop and Dr. Fiona Foo, a cardiologist from Sydney, Australia. They discuss Dr. Foo's background and interest in cardiology, as well as the important link between climate change, environmental factors, and cardiovascular health. Dr. Foo explains how air pollution, extreme temperatures, and other environmental pollutants are major modifiable risk factors for heart disease that are often overlooked. She provides recommendations for how individuals can reduce their exposure to air pollution and make lifestyle changes to mitigate these environmental risks.

The discussion covers a lot of ground, and they agree to continue the conversation in a future podcast episode to dive deeper into topics like the impact of climate change on mental health.

Takeways:

Dr. Fiona Foo is a cardiologist from Sydney, Australia with expertise in women's heart health and sports cardiology.
Environmental factors, including air pollution, temperature extremes, and chemical pollutants, are significant modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Air pollution, particularly fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from sources like fossil fuel burning and wildfires, can enter the bloodstream and damage organs throughout the body.
Over 90% of the world's population is exposed to PM2.5 levels exceeding WHO guidelines, making air pollution a major global health issue.
Transitioning to renewable energy sources like solar and wind power can help reduce air pollution and improve cardiovascular health.
Reducing use of domestic gas is also important, as gas production and usage can increase respiratory illnesses.
During periods of high air pollution like wildfires, staying indoors, using air filters, and wearing N95 masks can help protect individual health.
Traffic exhaust is another major source of air pollution with negative cardiovascular impacts.
The discussion will continue in a future podcast episode to cover the impacts of climate change-driven temperature extremes and mental health effects.
Addressing environmental risk factors for cardiovascular disease requires both individual and systemic changes to policies and infrastructure.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP347: What Do You Know About Your Appendix?

Sun, 18 Aug 2024 12:35:00 +1000

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, emphasizes the importance of understanding heart health in Australia, where heart disease is a significant issue. In this podcast, he discusses a recent article on the appendix, questioning its perceived uselessness and exploring emerging research suggesting it may have important roles in gut health and the immune system. He highlights that antibiotics could serve as an alternative to appendicectomy for uncomplicated appendicitis, potentially preserving the appendix's functions. The appendix may act as a reservoir for beneficial gut bacteria, helping to restore the microbiome after infections.

Additionally, it might be involved in immune system training, with studies linking its removal to increased risks of conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and even some cancers. Dr. Bishop reflects on historical views of the appendix and encourages listeners to reconsider its significance. He invites listeners to join the Healthy Heart Network for resources on heart health.

The podcast aims to raise awareness about heart disease and the potential implications of appendicectomy. Overall, Dr. Bishop advocates for a deeper understanding of both heart and gut health for better long-term well-being.

Takeaways:

Appendix Functionality Debate: The podcast discusses the evolving perception of the appendix, traditionally viewed as useless, now being reevaluated for its potential importance.
Antibiotics vs. Appendicectomy: Emerging research suggests that antibiotics may be a viable alternative to surgical removal for uncomplicated appendicitis, prompting a reconsideration of appendicectomy practices.
Health Risks Post-Appendicectomy: Removal of the appendix may be linked to increased risks of conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, colorectal cancer, and other health issues.
Comparative Anatomy Insights: The appendix exists in some mammals and primates but is absent in others, suggesting varying evolutionary roles across species.
Microbiome Reservoir: The appendix may serve as a safe house for beneficial gut bacteria, potentially aiding in gut health recovery after infections.
Immune System Role: The appendix may have functions related to immune system training and detection of pathogens, containing specialized cells that activate immune responses.
Connection to Diseases: Studies suggest potential links between appendicectomy and diseases such as type 2 diabetes, lupus, and Parkinson's disease.
Research Gaps: There is ongoing debate and conflicting studies regarding the appendix's role in various diseases, indicating a need for further research.
Healthy Heart Network: The podcast promotes joining the Healthy Heart Network for resources on heart health and risk assessment, emphasizing community support for better health outcomes.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP346: Cholesterol and Statin Non-Believers

Sun, 11 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +1000

This podcast discusses common beliefs and skepticism around cholesterol and statin medications. The host, Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist, addresses misconceptions such as cholesterol not being harmful, heart disease not being caused by high cholesterol, and saturated fats not being harmful. He explains that while cholesterol levels alone don't directly predict plaque buildup, lowering cholesterol is crucial for those at high risk of heart disease. Dr. Bishop also responds to claims that the cholesterol hypothesis is incorrect, that statin side effects are underreported, and that statins deplete vital nutrients. He emphasizes that while lifestyle changes are important, medication is often necessary for those at high risk. Overall, the podcast provides a balanced perspective on the complex relationship between cholesterol, heart disease, and statin medications.

Takeaways:

Cholesterol is not inherently harmful, as it is an essential part of the body's functions, but it can end up in the wrong places like the arteries and cause problems.
The relationship between cholesterol levels and heart disease risk is complex - high cholesterol doesn't always directly correlate with plaque buildup, but for those at high risk, lowering cholesterol is crucial.
The role of saturated fats is still debated, but if someone has significant plaque buildup, lowering cholesterol through diet and medication is recommended.
The "cholesterol hypothesis" linking cholesterol to atherosclerosis is supported by evidence, especially for high-risk individuals where lowering cholesterol reduces risk.
Cholesterol can potentially reach the arteries from the outside via the vasa vasorum, not just from the bloodstream, but this doesn't negate the benefits of lowering cholesterol.
LDL particle size is not the sole driver of atherosclerosis, as the process is more complex involving inflammation and other metabolic factors.
Statins are highly beneficial for those with significant heart disease, reducing risk of recurrent events, but may be less warranted for low-risk individuals.
Statin side effects tend to be over-reported rather than underreported, and most people can tolerate them well.
Concerns about statins depleting nutrients like CoQ10 or impairing cognitive function are not strongly supported by the evidence.
Lifestyle changes alone can improve cholesterol and heart health, but are very difficult for most people to implement and sustain to the degree needed to reverse advanced disease.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP345: 5 Highlights From PD 2024

Sun, 04 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +1000

The podcast is hosted by Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network. He discusses highlights from the 2024 Port Douglas Heart Meeting, an important cardiology conference. Key topics covered include the use of new medical devices like the AngioVac to treat endocarditis, the trend towards earlier intervention for valve issues, the management of heart conditions in pregnant women, and the effects of intensive athletic training on the heart. Dr. Bishop also encourages listeners to get their heart health checked at virtualheartcheck.com.au

Takeaways:

The podcast discusses highlights from the 2024 Port Douglas Heart Meeting, a major cardiology conference.
One presentation covered the use of a device called AngioVac to vacuum out bacterial clumps (vegetations) from heart valves in cases of infective endocarditis.
There is a trend towards earlier intervention for aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation, as waiting too long can lead to irreversible ventricular damage.
Experts discussed the high-risk cardiac conditions that require special consideration for women during pregnancy, such as pulmonary hypertension, poor ventricular function, and aortic dilation.
The podcast covered how the "athlete's heart" can undergo structural changes depending on the type of training, with endurance sports leading to heart enlargement and strength training leading to thickening.
Advances in mitral valve assessment and repair techniques, including the use of percutaneous mitral valve clips, were discussed.
The podcast host encourages listeners to check their heart attack risk at the website www.virtualheartcheck.com.au.
The podcast aims to provide clinically relevant information that cardiologists use in their day-to-day practice.
The conference is described as a highlight in the host's calendar and highly regarded by other general cardiologists.
The host plans to share more highlights from the rest of the conference in future podcast episodes.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP344: Climate Change and CVD and PFO at PD 2024

Sun, 28 Jul 2024 10:00:00 +1000

Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist, discusses highlights from a medical conference he attended. He focuses on two key topics - the impact of climate change on cardiovascular health, and the treatment of patent foramen ovale (PFO), a common heart condition.

Climate change is linked to increased inflammation, coagulation, heat stress, electrolyte imbalances, and air pollution - all of which can negatively impact heart health. Studies have shown that reducing secondhand smoke exposure can significantly lower heart attack risk in affected communities.

PFO is a hole in the heart that typically closes at birth, but remains open in about 25% of people. This can allow blood clots to pass from the venous to arterial circulation, potentially causing strokes. Minimally invasive procedures can be used to close the PFO and prevent this complication.

Doctor Bishop shares his own experience of having a PFO-related stroke, which resolved without lasting symptoms. He plans to have his PFO closed as a preventive measure.

Takeaways:

Climate change and environmental factors are having a significant impact on cardiovascular health, including increasing inflammation, coagulation, and electrolyte imbalances.
Thermoregulation issues due to increased heat can be detrimental for those with cardiac conditions like heart failure.
Air pollution, including particulate matter and secondhand smoke, is linked to increased risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular events.
Noise pollution is associated with higher blood pressure and increased cardiovascular disease risk.
A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a common condition where a hole in the heart does not close properly after birth, which can allow blood clots to pass from the venous to arterial circulation and cause strokes.
Doctor Bishop had a personal experience with a PFO-related stroke and is planning to get it surgically closed.
Procedures to close a PFO involve minimally invasive catheter-based techniques rather than open heart surgery.
Closing a PFO carries a risk of developing atrial fibrillation, which needs to be considered.
Doctor Bishop emphasizes the importance of understanding and managing cardiovascular risk factors, including those related to environmental and climate changes.
Doctor Bishop promotes his podcast and website as resources for helping people live healthier and longer lives by addressing heart disease.

Overall, the podcast highlights important connections between environmental factors, cardiovascular disease, and emerging treatment approaches that can help people live healthier, longer lives.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP343: Triglycerides and Heart DIsease (Part 2)

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 10:00:00 +1000

This podcast episode discusses the importance of managing elevated triglyceride levels for heart health. The host, Dr. Warrick Bishop, explains that triglycerides are not directly involved in atherosclerosis, but are a marker of metabolic processes like insulin resistance that contribute to cardiovascular disease risk. He covers lifestyle approaches like diet, exercise, and reducing alcohol to lower triglycerides. The episode also examines the research on fish oil supplements and the medication fenofibrate as triglyceride-lowering treatments. Overall, the podcast emphasizes that while triglycerides are not the direct cause of heart disease, managing them through lifestyle and targeted interventions can be beneficial for cardiovascular health.

Takeaways:

Triglycerides are not directly involved in the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, but are a marker of metabolic processes that contribute to cardiovascular disease, such as insulin resistance, central weight gain, inflammation, and high blood pressure.
Lifestyle changes like reducing dietary fat and sugar, exercising regularly, and limiting alcohol consumption are the first-line approach to managing high triglycerides.
Fish oil supplements, particularly those rich in omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, have shown potential benefits in reducing cardiovascular events, especially in those who have already had a heart attack.
The evidence for fish oil's cardiovascular benefits in primary prevention (for those without prior events) is more mixed, with some studies showing limited or no significant impact.
The omega-3 index, which measures EPA and DHA levels in red blood cells, appears to be a strong predictor of cardiovascular risk, with higher levels associated with lower risk.
The fibrate medication fenofibrate has been shown to improve some microvascular complications of diabetes, such as kidney and eye health, but did not significantly reduce the primary endpoint of coronary events.
The quality and purity of over-the-counter fish oil supplements can vary widely, and they may interact with blood-thinning medications or have other potential side effects.
Saturated fats from different sources (e.g., processed foods vs. dairy vs. fish/vegetables/nuts) can have varying effects on cardiovascular risk.
The optimal combination and dosage of EPA and DHA for cardiovascular benefits is still being investigated, with some evidence suggesting EPA may be more important for heart health.
A comprehensive approach that includes lifestyle modifications, targeted supplementation (if appropriate), and medication (if necessary) is likely the most effective way to manage high triglycerides and reduce cardiovascular risk.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP342: Triglycerides and Heart Disease (Part 1)

Sun, 14 Jul 2024 10:00:00 +1000

Triglycerides are a type of fat that travel in the bloodstream and are associated with increased risk of heart disease. High triglyceride levels are linked to low HDL (good) cholesterol, high LDL (bad) cholesterol, and excess abdominal fat. Factors that can raise triglycerides include diet high in carbohydrates and alcohol consumption. Exercise is an effective way to lower triglyceride levels by using them as an energy source. Triglycerides themselves do not directly contribute to plaque buildup, but are a marker of overall metabolic health and cardiovascular disease risk.

Takeaways:

Triglycerides are a type of fat that travels in the bloodstream and are linked to an increased risk of heart disease.
High triglyceride levels are associated with low HDL ("good") cholesterol and small, dense LDL ("bad") cholesterol particles, which can contribute to plaque buildup in arteries.
Factors that can increase triglyceride levels include a diet high in carbohydrates, excessive alcohol consumption, and insulin resistance/obesity.
Exercise is an effective way to lower triglyceride levels by using them as an energy source.
Triglycerides themselves are not a direct cause of atherosclerosis, but are more of a marker of overall metabolic health.
The combination of high triglycerides, low HDL, small LDL particles, central obesity, high blood pressure, and inflammation is linked to increased cardiovascular disease risk.
Insulin resistance, which is common in those who are overweight or obese, is closely tied to elevated triglyceride levels.
Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes per week of physical activity to help manage triglyceride levels.
Lowering triglycerides is important, as heart disease is a major cause of death, with someone suffering a heart attack every 20 minutes in Australia.
The podcast host, Dr. Warrick Bishop, is a cardiologist dedicated to helping people improve their heart health through education and lifestyle changes.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP341: The Art 2 Aging - A Healthy Heart Even In Your 90s...

Sun, 07 Jul 2024 10:00:00 +1000

Dr. Warrick Bishop is a preventative cardiologist who aims to help people avoid heart problems before they occur. He believes that proactive measures like lifestyle changes, monitoring cholesterol and blood pressure, and imaging the coronary arteries can significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks and other heart issues, even as people age. Dr. Bishop emphasizes that associations like diet and exercise are not the same as direct causes of heart disease, and that imaging tests like a coronary calcium scan are crucial for identifying underlying plaque buildup. He has written several books and created an online Healthy Heart Network to educate people on preventative heart health strategies. Overall, Dr. Bishop advocates for a proactive, personalized approach to heart care focused on prevention rather than just treatment.

Takeaways:

Dr. Warrick Bishop is a "preventative cardiologist" who focuses on preventing heart problems before they occur, rather than just treating them after the fact.
As people age, the heart muscle can gradually wear out, leading to conditions like atrial fibrillation. However, lifestyle factors like high blood pressure, obesity, and excessive alcohol can accelerate this process.
An ECG provides information about the electrical activity of the heart, but imaging tests like echocardiograms and coronary artery calcium scans are crucial for evaluating the actual structure and health of the heart and arteries.
Dr. Bishop recommends a Mediterranean-style diet focused on vegetables, healthy proteins, and healthy fats as the ideal diet for heart health. Reducing carbohydrates is key for managing weight.
Exercise alone is not enough to manage weight - diet is the primary factor. Cutting carbs is the first step for weight loss.
There is an important distinction between associations (like diet and exercise) and direct causation when it comes to heart disease risk factors. Associations increase risk but don't guarantee an event.
For older adults, the key is a willingness to make lifestyle changes, education on healthy habits, accountability, and ongoing coaching and support.
Depression and social isolation are major risk factors that must be addressed alongside physical heart health.
There can be philosophical differences between preventative cardiologists like Dr. Bishop and interventional cardiologists who focus more on procedures and treatments.
Dr. Bishop has created the Healthy Heart Network to educate the public on preventative heart health through books, podcasts, videos, and other resources.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP340: Fish Oils and Where We Are

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 10:00:00 +1000

This episode discusses omega-3 fish oils, also known as marine triglycerides, and their role in heart health. The speaker explains that not all omega-3 supplements are the same - some are highly purified pharmaceutical-grade products, while over-the-counter versions often contain less EPA and DHA than advertised and can be oxidized. Clinical trials have shown mixed results on the cardiovascular benefits of omega-3 supplements, but studies specifically on high-dose EPA have demonstrated a reduction in major adverse cardiac events. The speaker recommends eating fresh fatty fish as the best way to get beneficial omega-3s, as the oils remain in the body for several days. Overall, the podcast provides insights into the complexities around omega-3 supplementation and heart health.

Takeaways:

Not all omega-3 fish oil supplements are the same - there are differences in the formulations, purity, and regulation between over-the-counter and prescription versions.
Many over-the-counter fish oil supplements do not actually contain the amounts of EPA and DHA they claim, and may have high levels of oxidation.
The research on omega-3 supplements for cardiovascular benefits has been mixed, with some trials showing no clear benefit, while others indicate that pure EPA supplements (without DHA) can reduce major adverse cardiovascular events.
Trials like REDUCE-IT have shown that high-dose prescription EPA (icosapent ethyl) can provide a 15-20% relative risk reduction in recurrent cardiovascular events.
The mechanism of benefit for EPA appears to be related to maintaining normal cholesterol distribution, reducing inflammation, and stabilizing vulnerable plaque.
Eating fresh, fatty fish is a better way to get beneficial omega-3s compared to over-the-counter supplements.
Prescription EPA is now available but is regulated as a drug, unlike the unregulated over-the-counter supplements.
Triglyceride levels may just be a marker of metabolic processes, and lowering them alone may not be the key driver of cardiovascular benefits.
The research suggests EPA alone, rather than the combination of EPA and DHA, is the key component responsible for the cardiovascular benefits seen in some trials.
More research is still needed to fully understand the nuances and differences between various omega-3 formulations and their impacts on cardiovascular health.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP339: What's This ApoB All About?

Sun, 23 Jun 2024 10:00:00 +1000

Doctor Bishop discusses the importance of understanding blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol for better heart health. He explains that Apo B is a lipoprotein that provides a measure of the number of cholesterol particles in the bloodstream, which can indicate heart disease risk. While Apo B is a useful metric, Dr. Bishop notes that the standard lipid panel can often provide sufficient information to assess and manage heart health. He encourages listeners to subscribe to the podcast and join his Healthy Heart Network community.

Takeaways:

Apo B is a lipoprotein that is a key component of cholesterol and fat transport particles in the bloodstream.
Measuring Apo B provides information about the number of cholesterol/fat carrying particles, rather than just the concentration like LDL cholesterol.
Higher Apo B levels are associated with increased risk of plaque formation and heart disease.
LDL particles can vary in size, with smaller dense particles potentially having as much cholesterol as fewer larger particles. Apo B can help distinguish this.
Triglyceride levels provide a good proxy for assessing the presence of smaller, denser LDL particles without needing to directly measure Apo B.
Lowering triglycerides and LDL cholesterol through lifestyle and medications will also lower Apo B levels.
Apo B is not routinely used in clinical practice in Australia currently due to lack of Medicare coverage.
Doctor Bishop highlights the importance of understanding particle number versus concentration when assessing heart disease risk.
Doctor Bishop thanks Dr. Peter Attia for raising awareness of Apo B in the general population.
Doctor Bishop encourages listeners to join the Healthy Heart Network to better understand their heart health and risk.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP338: Placebo Nocebo With James Buckley

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 10:00:00 +1000

This podcast episode features a discussion between Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist, and James Buckley, a hypnotherapist, about the placebo and nocebo effects. They explain that the placebo effect is the brain's ability to create a positive physical response without any actual medication, while the nocebo effect is the negative response from a sham treatment. They discuss research showing the powerful impact of these mind-body effects, even on conditions like high cholesterol and statin side effects. The conversation highlights how the brain's beliefs and expectations can profoundly influence physical outcomes, and emphasizes the importance of empowering patients through techniques like meditation and hypnosis to harness this mind-body connection for better health. The podcast encourages listeners to explore the untapped potential of the mind to find "solace, peace, harmony, and resolution" in addressing health challenges.

Takeaways:

The placebo effect is the brain's ability to create a chemical reaction and physical experience without the presence of an actual drug or substance.
The nocebo effect is the negative counterpart, where the brain can produce adverse symptoms and side effects from a sham or inert substance.
The placebo and nocebo effects can be remarkably powerful, with studies showing they can account for up to 50-60% of the expected response from an actual medication.
The brain's incredible power to influence physical and emotional states through belief, expectation, and thought processes is a largely untapped human potential.
Unresolved emotional and psychological issues can manifest as physical symptoms or intolerances, which may be better addressed through techniques like meditation, hypnosis, and mindfulness rather than just medication.
The case study of the patient who overcame a long-standing phobia about crossing a bridge illustrates how the mind-body connection can be harnessed to overcome perceived limitations.
Doctors and patients may need to explore the role of the placebo/nocebo effect more deeply, rather than automatically attributing side effects solely to the medication.
The speaker's own experience with feeling relaxed after having a glass of wine suggests the power of anticipation and belief in shaping physiological responses.
There are free resources available through the Mindmastery Institute and the speaker's social media channels to explore meditation, hypnosis, and harnessing the mind-body connection.
Overall, the discussion highlights the immense untapped potential of the human mind and the need to approach health and wellness from a more holistic, mind-body perspective.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP337: High Fructose Corn Syrup and Red Wine Headache

Sun, 09 Jun 2024 10:00:00 +1000

This episode discusses two main topics related to health and nutrition. The first is the potential link between high fructose corn syrup in sugary beverages and obesity, type 2 diabetes, and fatty liver disease. The speaker notes that more research is needed, but the connection seems plausible given how high fructose corn syrup is an inexpensive sweetener used in many drinks.

The second topic is the tendency for red wine drinkers to experience more severe hangovers compared to other alcohols. Dr. Bishop explains this may be due to a compound in red wine that inhibits the enzyme that breaks down acetaldehyde, the substance responsible for hangover symptoms.

Dr. Bishop encourages listeners to be aware of these potential health impacts and to share the podcast with others, as it may help save lives. He also promotes his website where people can assess their risk of heart attack.

Takeaways:

High fructose corn syrup used in sugary, sweetened beverages has been linked to increased obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
There is a potential genetic survival mechanism where fructose from high fructose corn syrup may impact adenosine triphosphate, leading to energy imbalance and changes in energy regulation.
Similar to the case of trans fats, more research is needed to determine if high fructose corn syrup should be banned or severely limited in sugary drinks.
Hangovers from red wine may be more common than other alcohols due to a compound in red wine that inhibits the enzyme that converts acetaldehyde to acetate.
Acetaldehyde is the metabolic component that drives the unpleasant symptoms of a hangover, while acetate is relatively benign.
People of Asian ancestry are more genetically predisposed to having a mutated acetaldehyde dehydrogenase enzyme, leading to alcohol intolerance.
The drug disulfiram (Antabuse) works by blocking acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, causing acetaldehyde buildup and making people feel terrible to deter alcohol consumption.
The amount of red wine consumed can impact the severity of a hangover, as higher levels of the inhibiting compound may accumulate.
There is potential for future compounds that could block the interaction between red wine components and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase.
The podcast host encourages listeners to check their risk of heart attack at the website www.virtualheartcheck.com.au.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP336: Time-Restricted Eating & Liproprotein A

Sun, 02 Jun 2024 10:00:00 +1000

Dr. Warrick Bishop discusses various health hacks to maintain cardiovascular health, including time-restricted eating and high-intensity interval training (HIIT). A study called the PLOS ONE study found that the combination of time-restricted eating and HIIT led to the greatest weight loss, improved body composition, and reduced LDL cholesterol and blood pressure compared to either intervention alone. Dr. Bishop also discusses the importance of understanding the association versus causation when it comes to elevated lipoprotein(a) levels, and how imaging can provide valuable insights before further testing. He encourages listeners to adopt healthy habits and share the podcast, as it may help save lives.

Takeaways:

Time-restricted eating (e.g. 8-16 or 6-18 hour eating windows) can provide benefits for weight loss and cardiovascular health.
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) also offers cardiovascular benefits and helps maintain/increase fat-free mass during weight loss.
Combining time-restricted eating and HIIT appears to provide the greatest benefits, leading to more weight loss, improved BMI, waist circumference, and LDL cholesterol reduction.
HIIT helps preserve muscle mass during weight loss, whereas time-restricted eating alone can lead to loss of fat-free mass.
Fasting and exercise both reduced calorie intake across the study groups, even though exercise is often associated with increased hunger.
The combination of time-restricted eating and HIIT led to significant improvements in glucose levels and insulin resistance.
Elevated lipoprotein(a) levels are associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk, but individual variation in lipoprotein structure and function can impact its effects.
Imaging tests like coronary calcium scoring can provide valuable insights about an individual's actual cardiovascular risk, beyond just biomarker levels.
The podcast host, Dr. Orec Bishop, personally practices time-restricted eating and finds it helps manage his arthritis symptoms.
Dr. Bishop encourages listeners to share the podcast and leave positive reviews, as it may help save lives by spreading this health information.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP335: Death & Dying Part 2

Sun, 26 May 2024 10:00:00 +1000

This podcast episode features a discussion between Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist, and James Buckley, an expert on the mind-body connection. They explore the stages of the grieving process, including denial, anger, depression, and acceptance. James explains how each stage impacts the body's physiology and nervous system. He recommends techniques like breathwork, walking in nature, cold exposure, and stretching to help move through the grieving process. The discussion emphasizes the importance of understanding the physical and psychological aspects of grief to support oneself and others experiencing loss.

Takeaways:

Denial is a common initial response to grief, as it allows the mind to avoid confronting the reality of a loss. This denial can have physiological effects on the body.
Anger is a protective mechanism that the body uses to defend against unwanted emotions. Extreme anger can even trigger physical responses like "broken heart syndrome."
Depression represents the opposite of the sympathetic nervous system's anger response, as the body and mind try to process and balance the emotional turmoil.
Breath work, such as controlled breathing techniques, can help regulate the nervous system and guide it through the grieving process.
Physical movement, like walking in nature, can help process and release the emotions and chemicals associated with grief.
Cold exposure, such as cold showers, can have a soothing effect on the body and mind during grief.
Stretching and body posture can also impact the physiological experience of grief and depression.
The mind and body are deeply interconnected, so attending to both physical and psychological needs is important when coping with loss.
Grief is a highly personal experience, with the intensity and duration of each stage varying based on the individual and their relationship to the deceased.
Seeking support, whether through professional guidance or community resources, can be invaluable when navigating the grieving process.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP334: Death & Dying Part 1

Sun, 19 May 2024 10:00:00 +1000

This podcast episode features a discussion between Dr. Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist, and James Buckley, a personal guide and spiritual teacher, about the topic of death and dying. They share personal experiences with the loss of loved ones, including Dr. Bishop's mother and friend, as well as James' great aunt. The conversation explores the different stages of grief, including denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. They emphasize the importance of being prepared to deal with death and the grieving process, and how acceptance is a skill that can be developed. The podcast aims to provide listeners with insights and perspectives on this difficult but inevitable part of life.

Takeaways:

The podcast discusses the complex and emotional topic of death and dying, drawing from Warrick's personal experiences with the passing of his mother, his friend's mother, and a close friend.
Warrick highlights how the circumstances surrounding a person's death - their age, the duration and nature of their illness, and the level of preparedness - can significantly impact the grieving process for those left behind.
The guest, James, shares his own recent experience of losing his great aunt, describing the physical and emotional toll of being present during her passing.
The podcast explores the five stages of grief - denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance - and how individuals may experience and move through these stages differently depending on the specific loss.
The concept of "bargaining" is discussed, where people try to rationalize or make sense of a loss as a way to accept it.
Warrick notes that acceptance of a loss seems more achievable when the person's age and circumstances align with societal expectations, versus when a death is sudden or premature.
The physical and somatic impacts of grief, such as increased sleeping and lack of motivation, are highlighted as an area to be explored further in a future episode.
Developing the skill of acceptance is emphasized as an important way to not only process one's own grief, but also support others experiencing loss.
The podcast encourages listeners to reflect on their own experiences with loss and the varying degrees of acceptance they have been able to achieve.
The overall message is that death and dying, while difficult, are inevitable parts of the human experience that should be discussed openly to better prepare people to cope with them.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP333: Two Case Studies For Your Interest

Sun, 12 May 2024 10:00:00 +1000

The podcast discusses two case studies of patients with high cholesterol and heart disease risk. The first patient, Sue, had high cholesterol and blood pressure that were successfully managed through a combination of medication and lifestyle changes. The second patient, Phil, had a strong family history of heart disease and had adopted a ketogenic diet that raised his cholesterol levels. After trying multiple cardiologists, Phil was advised to get a CT scan to evaluate the type of plaque buildup in his arteries before deciding on the best treatment approach. The podcast emphasizes the importance of personalized care, as different patients may respond differently to cholesterol-lowering medications. It also highlights the value of advanced testing like CT scans to get a more complete picture of cardiovascular health.

Takeaways:

Cholesterol management requires a personalized approach, as different individuals may respond differently to the same treatments.
Monitoring blood pressure is crucial for long-term heart health, as it impacts risks of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, and other conditions.
Combining lower doses of two blood pressure medications can be more effective and have fewer side effects than using a single high-dose medication.
Statin medications can have varying effects on different patients, and trying alternative statins or intermittent dosing may be necessary to find the right fit.
Ezetimibe can have a synergistic effect when used with statins to lower LDL cholesterol.
Calcium scoring and CT coronary angiography can provide valuable insights into a patient's plaque buildup and cardiovascular risk.
Patients following a ketogenic diet may experience elevated cholesterol levels, which requires careful monitoring and management.
Checking for carotid artery plaque is important to ensure stroke risk is not being overlooked.
Women are affected by heart disease as much as men, and it is a leading cause of death among women.
Proactive health management and a willingness to try different approaches are key to achieving the best outcomes for patients.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP332: The Importance of Exercise With Dr Jason Kaplan

Sun, 05 May 2024 10:00:00 +1000

The podcast discusses the importance of exercise for heart health with cardiologist Dr. Jason Kaplan. Dr. Kaplan recommends at least 150-300 minutes per week of moderate exercise like walking or 75-115 minutes of vigorous interval training. He stresses finding enjoyable activities and gives advice for starting an exercise program. Weight training is also beneficial but aerobic exercise is most important for reducing blood pressure and improving heart function. Regular exercise leads to positive changes in muscles, metabolism, blood vessels, and an enlarged but stronger and more efficient heart.

Takeaways:

Exercise is one of the most important things people can do for cardiovascular health and prevention of heart disease.
The biological effects of exercise are wide-ranging and impact the cardiovascular system, metabolism, vascular function, and heart health.
An "exercise prescription" should include the type, intensity, duration and frequency of exercise for optimal health benefits.
Moderate intensity exercise like walking for 150-300 minutes per week provides good cardiovascular benefits.
Vigorous interval training for 75-115 minutes per week can achieve similar benefits as moderate exercise.
Strength training is also beneficial but should be combined with aerobic exercise.
It's important to find types of exercise someone enjoys to ensure adherence and motivation.
Exercise has significant mental health benefits comparable to antidepressant medications.
Fitness levels can be improved over time through consistent exercise via changes in muscle fibers, metabolism, vascular function and cardiac remodeling.
Monitoring heart rate during exercise provides guidance on intensity levels for cardiovascular training.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP331: Who Is At Risk of Thin Bones?

Sun, 28 Apr 2024 10:00:00 +1000

Dr. Warrick Bishop discusses bone health and osteoporosis risks in this podcast. He outlines who should be considered for bone mineral density scans according to Australian guidelines, including those over age 70 and younger individuals with risk factors like family history, smoking, alcohol use, or low body weight. Certain medical conditions and medications can also increase osteoporosis risk, such as corticosteroids, thyroid issues, antidepressants, and proton pump inhibitors. Dr. Bishop provides this information to help educate listeners and patients of his Osteo Strong business, while noting he is a cardiologist first and wants people to discuss their bone health with their doctor. He hopes listeners live as well as possible for as long as possible.

Takeaways:

Heart disease is a major issue in Australia, with someone suffering a heart attack every 30 minutes on average. Many of these could be prevented through lifestyle changes.
The podcast aims to educate listeners about blood pressure, weight, cholesterol and how to improve health in these areas.
Bone health is an important topic. The speaker owns a business called Osteo Strong that focuses on improving bone strength.
Guidelines recommend bone mineral density scans for those over 70, and men over 60 or women over 50 if additional risk factors are present like family history or smoking.
Women are at higher risk of bone issues earlier than men due to hormonal changes during menopause.
Certain medications like corticosteroids, thyroid medication, antidepressants and proton pump inhibitors can negatively impact bone health.
Conditions like kidney disease, liver disease, inflammatory conditions and cancers being treated with hormones can also influence bone mineral density.
Multiple myeloma is a bone marrow cancer associated with thin bones.
More discussion of appropriate blood tests for those with osteoporosis or osteopenia is warranted.
While not an expert in bone health, Dr. Bishop aims to provide information to facilitate discussions between listeners and their doctors.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP330: Safe Lower Limits For Cholesterol Treatment

Sun, 21 Apr 2024 10:00:00 +1000

Dr. Warrick Bishop discusses lowering LDL cholesterol levels and whether it is safe to lower them very low. He explains that babies are born with very low cholesterol, and people with genetic mutations also have low cholesterol without negative effects. Studies show that lowering LDL to very low levels, even under 0.2 mmol/L, significantly reduces heart disease risk without increasing other health issues. Tests found no cognitive impacts of lowering LDL cholesterol levels using PCSK9 inhibitors. While statins may slightly increase diabetes risk, other cholesterollowering drugs do not appear to have this effect when lowering cholesterol alone.

Takeaways:

LDL cholesterol, also known as "bad cholesterol", can be lowered to very low levels safely through medications like statins and PCSK9 inhibitors without adverse effects.
Clinical trials have shown reductions in heart disease risk and events as LDL cholesterol levels are lowered further, down to levels as low as 0.2 mmol/L.
Babies are born with very low LDL cholesterol levels around 1.5-1.8 mmol/L, showing the body can function well at these levels.
People with genetic mutations resulting in very low lifelong cholesterol also appear healthy with no issues.
Studies found no increased risks of side effects like cognitive impairment or diabetes from extremely low LDL levels achieved through non-statin drugs.
Statins themselves may not increase dementia risk as previously thought.
HDL ("good") cholesterol, not LDL, is more closely linked to sex hormone production.
Lowering LDL does not appear to impact important cholesterol-dependent bodily functions.
More aggressive LDL lowering can significantly reduce heart disease recurrence rates.
Joining the "Healthy Heart Network" offers heart health resources and monitoring for a small fee.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP329: Bloods For Bone Health

Sun, 14 Apr 2024 10:00:00 +1000

Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses various blood tests that can be done if someone has concerns about their bone health such as osteopenia or osteoporosis. He recommends checking kidney and liver function, as well as calcium, phosphate, magnesium and vitamin D levels. Hormone levels should also be analyzed, including testosterone, estrogen, thyroid and adrenal functions. Additional tests may provide information about bone markers, prostate health, inflammation and growth. Regular screening through blood work in combination with lifestyle changes can help detect bone issues early and slow or prevent further bone loss.

Takeaways:

Heart disease is a major issue in Australia, with one in four people suffering a heart attack. Lifestyle changes could prevent many cases.
Bone mineral density scans can assess bone health and detect osteopenia or osteoporosis early. Medicare rebates may cover the cost.
Blood tests that may be done if low bone density is detected include electrolytes, liver and kidney function, calcium/magnesium/phosphate, full blood count, ESR, thyroid function, vitamin D, and hormones like testosterone.
Inflammation markers like ESR may indicate issues like myeloma affecting bone health.
Thyroid function and vitamin D are important for bone health and should be checked.
Adrenal function impacts bone and should be assessed via DHEAS test.
Sex hormones like estrogen, progesterone and testosterone all impact bone health.
Growth hormone levels impact bone and IGF-1 can be checked.
PSA screening in men yearly can detect early prostate issues affecting bone.
Lifestyle programs like those at Osteo Strong can help naturally improve bone density when issues are detected. Early intervention leads to better outcomes.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP328: Discussing Statin Intolerance

Sun, 07 Apr 2024 10:00:00 +1000

Dr. Warrick Bishop discusses statin intolerance and the nocebo effect in his podcast. He describes a study that found 78% of patients believed to be statin intolerant were actually able to tolerate the medications. Another study found 72% of self-reported statin intolerant patients could take statins without issues when blinded to the therapy. A trial called Samsung found that 90% of reported muscle symptoms were from the nocebo effect rather than the statins themselves.

Dr. Bishop concludes that lowering statin dosage frequency or adding other drugs can help many more patients achieve health benefits from cholesterol lowering therapies.

Takeaways:

Heart disease is a major issue in Australia, with many heart attacks potentially preventable through lifestyle changes like managing blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol.
Statins are an important medication for lowering cholesterol but some patients report side effects or intolerance.
Studies show that a significant percentage of patients who report statin intolerance are actually able to tolerate the medications if given in a blinded manner.
The nocebo effect, where negative expectations cause side effects, appears to account for a large percentage (around 90%) of reported statin side effects in some studies.
Intermittent dosing of statins, like 2-3 times per week, can still achieve cholesterol goals for many while reducing side effects.
Adding other medications like PCSK9 inhibitors can further boost cholesterol lowering when used with statins, even at reduced doses or frequency.
Evaluating for other potential causes of muscle pains is important before attributing them to statins.
Social media has contributed to negative perceptions of statins that may worsen the nocebo effect.
Large studies have found similar rates of side effects between different statins and non-statin medications when blinded.
Coronary artery disease is a leading cause of death, so understanding risk factors is important for prevention.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP327: Statins, Co Enz, Q10, Sams and Metformin

Sun, 31 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +1100

Dr. Warrick Bishop discusses various topics related to heart health in this episode. He talks about coenzyme Q10 and how exercise can help increase levels of it, even for those taking statins which are known to lower Q10. He also discusses the drug metformin, how it is commonly used for diabetes but is being studied for other potential benefits like reducing cancer and Alzheimer's risk, though these benefits seem mostly applicable for those who are overweight or prediabetic.

The podcast aims to educate listeners about lifestyle factors like weight, cholesterol, and blood pressure that can impact heart health. Dr. Bishop encourages listeners to join his Healthy Heart Network for support and information on improving heart health and reducing heart attack risk.

Takeaways:

Statins can lower coenzyme Q10 levels in the body and muscle, which some suggest may contribute to statin side effects like muscle aches and pains.
A study found that while statin use lowers muscle CoQ10 levels, levels did not differ between those with and without statin side effects.
The study showed that exercise training increased muscle CoQ10 levels across statin users and non-users, and may help counteract oxidative stress from statins.
Metformin is commonly used to treat diabetes by reducing insulin resistance and lowering blood sugar levels.
Some research suggests metformin may reduce cancer and Alzheimer's risk by lowering insulin and glucose levels.
Metformin is also used to treat conditions related to insulin resistance like PCOS, gestational diabetes, and weight gain from antipsychotics.
Most of metformin's benefits seem to be in overweight, pre-diabetic individuals by reducing hyperinsulinemia.
The podcast discusses increasing heart health through understanding risk factors like blood pressure, weight, cholesterol.
It encourages exercise and reviews studies on supplements like CoQ10 and drugs like statins and metformin.
The host, Dr. Bishop, is a cardiologist who founded the Healthy Heart Network to help people reduce heart attack risk.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP326: Conference Time

Sun, 24 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +1100

This episode discusses a recent cardiology conference attended by Dr. Warrick Bishop. Several interesting talks were presented, including ones on polygenic risk scores, links between cholesterol and amyloid, and new RNA therapies for lowering lipids. Dr. Bishop found talks on improving care for rural communities and a condition called CHIP (clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential) particularly fascinating. The conference provided valuable insights and opportunities for networking with colleagues. Overall, Dr. Bishop felt it was well worth attending to learn the latest advances and perspectives in cardiology.

Takeaways:

The NCC Congress was a cardiology conference held in Sydney that brought together local and international experts to discuss various topics related to cardiovascular health.
One session involved case presentations of different types of patients by a panel of specialists, giving insights into how different experts approach patient care.
Professor Florian Cronenberg's talk discussed using polygenic risk scores to more precisely assess individuals' genetic risk levels and guide screening and prevention efforts.
Professor John Mamo presented research linking LDL particles to amyloid and its potential role in vascular disease and brain health.
New drugs using small interfering RNA are being developed and used to target cholesterol, triglycerides, and hypertension in innovative ways with long-lasting effects.
Professor Roxanne Merin highlighted gender disparities in cardiovascular research, outcomes, and care around the world.
Ventricular assist devices are improving and allowing for longer term bridging to transplant or recovery of heart function.
Initiatives like the Heart of Australia truck are increasing access to cardiology services in remote areas.
Social media presents challenges and opportunities for sharing medical information.
Professor Cronenberg's talk on lipoprotein(a) discussed its role in atherosclerosis and limitations in modifying it through lifestyle and medications.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP325: Gladiator and Trainer to the Stars: Lourene Bevaart (Part 2)

Sun, 17 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +1100

This episode features a discussion between Dr. Bishop and Lourene Bevaart about health and wellness. Lourene discusses how she helps people improve their health through lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, and supplements. She talks about redox signaling molecules and how replenishing these can help cells repair and combat aging. An interesting point she makes is that our levels of these molecules decrease by 10% each decade, which helps explain aging. Lourene finds the supplements especially helpful for issues like brain fog, fatigue, and digestive problems reported by many of her clients.

Takeaways:

Lourene Bevaart is a former gladiator, karate champion, and fitness trainer who now helps people with health and wellness through supplements and lifestyle coaching.
She discusses redox signaling molecules, which are nano-sized molecules in cells that help repair and replace damaged cells. Supplementing with redox molecules can help support cellular health and signaling.
Lourene recommends taking redox supplements in both liquid and gel form daily to support skin, gut, immune system and overall health and reduce signs of aging.
Other supplements and lifestyle factors she recommends include protein, hydration, sleep, resistance training and steps.
She discusses how lack of protein can lead to blood sugar crashes and cravings, and emphasizes getting enough protein with each meal and snack.
Lourene shares success stories of clients improving brain fog, gut issues and more with redox supplements.
Her own health and financial transformation inspired her to help others through lifestyle coaching and a business opportunity in health supplements.
Contact details are provided for people to learn more about redox supplements or coaching from Lourene.
Dr. Bishop emphasizes lifestyle factors like nutrition, hydration and sleep in addition to supplements.
The podcast aims to help listeners live as well as possible for as long as possible through understanding health risks and taking preventative steps.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP324: Gladiator and Trainer to the Stars - Lourene Bevaart (Part 1)

Sun, 10 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +1100

Doctor Warrick Bishop interviews Lourene Bevaart, a former world champion karate athlete and one of the original Australian Gladiators. Lourene shares how she achieved her childhood dreams of becoming a phys ed teacher, world champion, and mother. She describes her experience competing on the first season of Gladiators and being selected to join the show. Lourene went on to become a personal trainer, working with famous clients like Russell Crowe and Shane Warne. Her passion now is helping others improve their heart health and live active, healthy lives for longer.

Takeaways:

Lourene Bevaart was a world champion karate athlete and one of the original gladiators on the TV show Gladiators.
As a young girl, Lourene dreamed of going to university, becoming a physio, being a world champion, and being a mother. She achieved all but one of these goals.
She credits being surrounded by high achievers in school for motivating her own success. Her parents and teachers were also very supportive.
Lourene went to university to become a physical education teacher. She then saw an ad for Gladiators and tried out, eventually becoming one of the show's gladiators.
Through Gladiators, she started her personal training business. She then trained Russell Crowe and Shane Warne.
Loreen is passionate about health and fitness. She wants to help people be active and healthy as they age.
Heart disease is a major issue, and many heart attacks could be prevented through lifestyle changes and screening.
Lourene uses activities like coloring in a grid to represent one's lifespan to motivate taking health seriously.
She had many interesting stories from training celebrities like Russell Crowe and Shane Warne.
Lourene's focus now is on helping people improve their "health span" or quality of life through their aging years.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP323: Interview With Dr Kaplan Part 2: A Day in the Life of a Cardiologist

Sun, 03 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +1100

Dr. Warrick Bishop and Dr. Jason Kaplan discuss their daily routines to maintain cardiovascular health and longevity. They both wake up early, do meditation or yoga, exercise regularly, and follow a mostly plant-based diet for meals. Dr. Kaplan also practices intermittent fasting a few mornings a week. They emphasize the importance of sleep, relationships, and stress management. An interesting point made is that even small, consistent lifestyle changes can have significant long-term health benefits when done cumulatively over years.

Takeaways:

Jason and Warrick both practice intermittent fasting a few mornings a week, not eating breakfast and having black coffee or tea instead.
Exercise is important - both do yoga, with Jason also doing higher intensity exercise a few times a week.
Meditation and contemplative practice in the morning is beneficial for their mental well-being and stress levels.
They emphasize spending quality time with family and close relationships every day.
Plant-based, whole foods diets with lots of vegetables, legumes, nuts and fruits are emphasized.
Getting enough sleep of 6-7 hours is crucial for health according to their advice.
Practices like essential oils, red light, meditation before bed help promote better sleep quality.
Disconnecting from screens before bed and limiting light exposure is recommended.
Oral health like brushing twice daily and flossing is an important routine.
Gratitude, appreciating what goes right each day and having a positive mindset is part of their philosophy.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP322: Interview With Dr Kaplan Part 1: Cardiologist Talking Diet.mp3

Sun, 25 Feb 2024 10:00:00 +1100

The episode features a discussion between doctors Warrick Bishop and Jason Kaplan about lifestyle choices to prevent heart disease. Dr. Kaplan shares that he follows a mostly plant-based diet and engages in regular exercise like swimming and yoga. He noticed improvements in his cholesterol and biomarkers after changing his diet. The doctors discuss research showing that a low-fat plant-based diet can potentially reverse coronary artery disease. They emphasize educating patients so they have the tools to make heart-healthy lifestyle changes.

An interesting point discussed is research by Dean Ornish in the 1990s that used angiography to show regression of plaque in patients following a plant-based diet, providing evidence that diet can potentially reverse heart disease progression.

Takeaways:

Jason Kaplan follows a mostly plant-based diet and has seen improvements in his LDL cholesterol levels, inflammation markers, and triglycerides.
Both Jason and Dr. Bishop aim to educate people on lifestyle changes that can prevent heart disease and reduce the need for medical interventions like stents and bypass surgery.
Dean Ornish's research from the 1990s showed regression of plaque in coronary arteries through lifestyle changes including a plant-based diet.
Aerobic exercise and getting adequate sleep are important parts of Jason's routine for heart health.
Moving towards a plant-based diet can be challenging but making gradual changes a few nights a week is a good starting point.
The blue zones like Loma Linda and the Mediterranean diet involve predominantly plant-based eating patterns.
Olive oil, nuts, legumes, whole grains are components of the Mediterranean diet associated with heart benefits.
Reviewing studies like PREDIMED can provide more evidence for plant-based diets and heart health.
Virtualheartcheck.com.au is mentioned as a website people can use to assess their heart disease risk.
The podcast aims to educate listeners on preventing heart disease through lifestyle.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP321: Aortic Aneurysms, Anxiety and Exercise

Sun, 18 Feb 2024 10:00:00 +1100

The episode discusses ascending aortic aneurysms and their potential "silver lining" of lower rates of coronary artery disease. The host Doctor Warrick Bishop shares his experience with an ascending aortic aneurysm repaired through a Pairs procedure. While noting the importance of repairing aneurysms due to the high risk of rupture, he questions the clinical relevance of potentially lower coronary risks. The podcast also discusses a study finding that just 10 minutes of daily physical activity may help reduce anxiety. In summary, while ascending aortic aneurysms pose serious health risks, even minimal daily exercise may benefit mental wellbeing.

Takeaways:

Doctor Warrick Bishop is a cardiologist and CEO of Healthy Heartnet. He gives podcasts on heart health topics like blood pressure, weight, cholesterol.
He had an ascending aortic aneurysm that was treated with a Pairs procedure, which involves a bespoke sleeve printed from a 3D image of the aorta.
A study found patients with ascending aortic aneurysms tended to have clear coronary arteries, called a "silver lining."
Possible reasons for clear arteries included reduced aorta intima thickness and lower LDL cholesterol.
An ascending aortic aneurysm needs attention if over 45mm and should be operated on by 55mm.
The common operation removes the affected section and grafts a replacement piece.
A study found 10 minutes of daily activity for 5 days a week reduced risk of anxiety.
Exercise has many benefits beyond physical health like better mood.
Listeners are encouraged to ask questions and share or subscribe to the podcast.
Healthy Heart Network offers membership for heart health information and risk assessment.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP320: Blindsided (Almost)

Sun, 11 Feb 2024 10:00:00 +1100

The episode discusses Doctor Warrick Bishop's experience with eye issues over several years. After noticing vision problems, he discovered small retinal tears that required laser treatment. Regular checkups then revealed elevated eye pressure, though no glaucoma damage yet. He now must use eye drops indefinitely to control his pressure. Doctor Bishop emphasizes the importance of maintenance and regular health screenings to catch issues early when they can be managed.

Takeaways:

The speaker, Dr. Warrick Bishop, is a cardiologist who hosts a podcast about heart health and shares his own experience dealing with eye issues.
He noticed issues with blurriness and clarity in his right eye, which led him to see an optometrist and ophthalmologist.
Examinations revealed tears in his retina which were treated with laser surgery.
His eye pressures were also borderline high, so he underwent another laser procedure to improve fluid drainage.
Over a year later he again noticed vision issues in his right eye and it felt heavy. Testing found high pressure in that eye.
High pressure can damage the optic nerve if left untreated, leading to vision loss - a condition called glaucoma.
He feels lucky his issues were caught early before nerve damage occurred.
He now takes eye drops regularly to manage his condition.
Key risk factors for eye pressure issues are age and family history.
Regular eye exams are important for monitoring conditions like glaucoma that can be managed if caught early.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP319: Buffing Up Your Immune System

Sun, 04 Feb 2024 10:00:00 +1100

The episode discusses ways to boost immunity including eating whole foods, exercising regularly, managing stress, getting sufficient sleep, and potentially taking supplements like vitamin D, vitamin A, and zinc. It emphasizes that lifestyle habits are most important for a strong immune system and reducing inflammation. Doctor Bishop also notes the link between periodontal disease and heart health as highlighted by a patient's experience.

The episode provides evidence-based tips for maintaining immune function through daily practices like nutrition, movement, stress management and rest. It encourages developing these behaviors long-term for ongoing health benefits.

Takeaways:

The episode discusses ways to boost immunity and overall health, including eating whole foods, exercising regularly, managing stress, getting sufficient sleep, and potentially supplements.
Processed foods, sugary foods, and foods that are too fatty are not recommended as they don't provide the necessary vitamins and minerals. Whole foods that are cooked sensibly are preferred.
Exercise is important to reduce inflammation and maintain health. Both strength training and endurance activities are recommended.
Stress has many negative health impacts like increased cortisol, blood pressure and sugar levels. Managing stress is important for well-being.
Getting sufficient, quality sleep is foundational for health. Routines like dim lights, essential oils and relaxation techniques can help induce sleep.
Dental health is important to prevent periodontal disease which can increase inflammation.
Inflammation may be linked to conditions like heart disease and high blood pressure.
Mitochondria are important for energy production in cells and exercise helps maintain their function.
A virtual heart check website is recommended to assess heart attack risk factors.
The podcast aims to help listeners understand factors like blood pressure, weight, cholesterol and lifestyle changes for better health and longevity.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP318: Interview With Jason Curtis - Strength and Conditioning Coach (Part 2)

Sun, 28 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +1100

This episode discusses approaches to strength training and fitness for older adults. It recommends twice-weekly full-body strength sessions focusing on compound exercises like squats, deadlifts, and presses. Intensity should start low and progressively increase to build strength and injury resistance. Additionally, sessions should end with high-intensity interval training to develop cardiovascular fitness.

The discussion delves into how different rep ranges trigger distinct muscle responses for strength, hypertrophy, or endurance. Supplemental techniques like blood flow restriction may help with rehabilitation by enhancing muscle pump. Overall, the podcast provides a science-based yet practical blueprint for improving fitness through resistance and metabolic training.

Takeaways:

Dr. Warrick Bishop interviews health coach Jason Curtis about strength training programs for 50-year-old men.
Curtis emphasizes assessing movement quality through exercises like squats and lunges before designing a program. He progresses difficulty slowly to avoid injury.
Programs include compound lifts targeting fundamental movements like hinging, squatting, pushing, and pulling using free weights for their functional benefits.
Sessions start with strength training and end with conditioning, progressing from steady-state to high-intensity work over weeks.
Twice-weekly 1-hour sessions are optimal, focusing on strength then metabolic conditioning. More frequent lighter sessions can also provide benefits.
Muscle can hypertrophy across rep ranges with progressive overload. Lower reps build more strength through neural and fast-twitch fiber recruitment. Higher reps improve endurance.
Programs should incorporate different rep ranges to fully develop strength, hypertrophy and endurance.
Blood flow restriction can augment muscle pump and growth factors from exercise.
Explosive exercises like jumps potentiate the nervous system for strength training.
Health and enjoyment should guide choices like fasting, not just potential physiological effects. Slow progress prevents injury and burnout.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP317: Interview With Jason Curtis - Strength and Conditioning Coach (Part 1)

Sun, 21 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +1100

This episode discusses health and fitness, featuring an interview with strength coach Jason Curtis. Curtis discusses his background in the military and passion for physical training. He now owns a gym and has authored over 20 books. Curtis finds that many people become more focused on healthspan than lifespan as they age. He sees more motivation from paying gym members than forced military trainees. While exercise is important, Curtis believes nutrition requires a different skillset and refers clients to specialists. The episode concludes by discussing Curtis' process for writing books and passion for publishing physical copies.

Takeaways:

Jason Curtis is a strength and conditioning coach based in the UK who has authored over 20 books. He discusses his journey from a military background into the fitness industry.
Jason found that civilians seeking out personal training were often more motivated than those in the military who were required to exercise. Many civilians now pursue fitness goals beyond just appearance.
The concept of "health span" over lifespan is becoming increasingly important as people focus on being active and independent in their older years.
Free or discounted content tends to have lower completion rates compared to paid content, since payment represents investment on the user's part.
Jason has coined the term "conventional fitness racing" to describe low-barrier athletic events involving running and bodyweight exercises that are growing in popularity.
Nutrition is an important complement to exercise but requires a different skill set than programming workouts. Jason refers clients to specialized nutrition coaches.
Jason writes detailed books by first outlining the table of contents and section headings, then filling in content details.
The middle stage of a writing project can be challenging as initial momentum wanes before completion.
Publishing a physical book provides satisfaction beyond digital formats.
Heart disease is a major global killer that can often be prevented through lifestyle changes like managing risk factors.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP316: Understanding Heart Health

Sun, 14 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +1100

This episode discusses heart rate and heart health. Dr. Bishop explains that a normal resting heart rate is around 60-100 beats per minute. He outlines factors that impact heart rate like age, fitness level, and medical conditions. Target heart rates for exercise are discussed as well as how medications can influence stress test results. The episode also explores heart rate variability and new technologies for monitoring heart rate.

An interesting point is how devices like the Apple Watch have potential for irregular rhythm detection but have limitations in older populations.

Takeaways:

Heart rate, or the number of times the heart beats per minute, is a common vital sign measured to understand heart health. The normal resting heart rate for adults is around 60-100 beats per minute.
Factors like age, fitness level, medications, and medical conditions can impact one's normal heart rate range. Rates above 100 bpm at rest or below 50 bpm may warrant further examination.
Target heart rates for exercise are typically 50-70% of one's maximum predicted heart rate, which is 220 minus one's age. This provides a range for moderate intensity exercise.
Stress tests aim to raise the heart rate to around 85% of maximum predicted rate to thoroughly evaluate heart function under strain. Some medications that regulate heart rate may interfere with stress test results.
Heart rate variability, the variation in time between heartbeats, provides insight into cardiac health and ability to respond to demands on the body. Lower variability can indicate issues.
Smartwatches and fitness trackers are increasingly used to monitor heart rate but have limitations, especially for older users and arrhythmia detection. Medical-grade ECGs remain more reliable.
Long-term heart rate monitors via patches can track heart rate over days to better understand any irregular rhythms.
Genetics may play a role in normal heart rate ranges, with some families naturally running on the slower side.
Infections, arrhythmias, and anxiety can cause temporary elevated heart rates above normal ranges.
Maintaining overall heart health involves understanding heart rate metrics and risks, engaging in moderate exercise, and seeking medical guidance when readings seem abnormal.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP315: Stay in Your Lane

Sun, 07 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +1100

This episode discusses heart health and risks of heart disease. Doctor Bishop critiques another podcast where a lecturer suggests his high calcium score was due to inflammation from long-term endurance exercise. However, Doctor Bishop argues this oversimplifies the complex causes, noting age and genetics also impact calcium levels. He questions why inflammation would only affect the coronary arteries, not all arteries evenly.

The lecturer did not mention other important risk factors like cholesterol levels. Doctor Bishop believes too much responsibility was placed on exercise alone and cautions people to carefully evaluate health information. High intensity exercise may actually stabilize plaque by increasing calcium deposits. The causes of heart disease are multifaceted and require considering multiple risk factors, not just exercise habits.

Takeaways:

This episode discusses the importance of getting a coronary artery calcium score, or cardiac CT scan, to be proactive about heart health.
Doctor Bishop shares his reaction to another podcast where a university lecturer in his 60s discussed reluctantly getting his own calcium score due to family history of heart issues.
The lecturer's score was very high for his age, but he claimed to have no major risk factors as an avid lifelong exerciser with good diet and habits.
The lecturer concluded that inflammation from his long-term endurance exercise was the cause of his heart disease, which the host disputes.
Doctor Bishop argues exercise more likely reduces inflammation and almost eradicates heart disease, rather than causes it.
Key risk factors like cholesterol levels were not mentioned by the lecturer.
Calcium buildup may indicate plaque stabilization from exercise rather than active inflammation.
The complexity of heart disease is not fully understood, so oversimplifying causes can mislead listeners.
Listeners need to be careful about where they get information from—even qualified professionals can provide misleading or inaccurate information if they aren't an expert in this field. Experts can help by "staying in their lane."
Doctor Bishop's goal is to provide listeners the best information to live as long and healthy as possible.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP314: Navigating Heart Disease - Treatment Options and Beyond

Sun, 31 Dec 2023 10:00:00 +1100

This episode discusses options for treating heart disease from lifestyle changes to medications, procedures, and surgery. Lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, reducing stress and alcohol are emphasized. Medications are commonly used to lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and prevent blood clots. Procedures include tests, ablation for abnormal heart rhythms, and angiograms.

Surgery options covered coronary artery bypass grafting and aortic wrap procedures. The future may bring genetic and stem cell therapies. The podcast encourages listeners to prioritize heart health through joining the Healthy Heart Network. In summary, from lifestyle to cutting-edge therapies, a range of approaches were presented for navigating heart conditions.

Takeaways:

Lifestyle changes are foundational for managing heart health conditions like losing weight, reducing stress, limiting alcohol, and exercising regularly.
Medical management plays an important role through medications that lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and prevent blood clots.
Procedures can help with diagnosis through tests or improve treatment like placing pacemakers, clearing arrhythmia, or opening arteries.
Surgery options include coronary artery bypass grafting to reroute blood flow or valve/aorta repairs which require opening the chest.
Risks and benefits of any treatment need to be carefully evaluated for each individual patient.
Conditions discussed include coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, palpitations, and high blood pressure.
Future therapies may involve gene therapy, stem cells, or RNA interference to restore cardiac function.
Joining the Healthy Heart Network provides heart health resources and risk assessments.
The podcast aims to help listeners understand and improve their heart health.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and working with medical professionals can help manage many heart conditions.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP313: The Brain and Low Cholesterol

Sun, 24 Dec 2023 10:00:00 +1100

This episode discusses a scientific statement from the American Heart Association on the impact of aggressive LDL cholesterol lowering on the risk of dementia and hemorrhagic stroke. The statement finds that lowering LDL cholesterol reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and does not increase the risks of dementia or hemorrhagic stroke.

While some older studies suggested potential cognitive effects, larger and randomized studies do not support this. The risk of hemorrhagic stroke is also small and nonsignificant for those without a history of cerebrovascular disease. The statement concludes that concerns about these risks should not prevent clinicians from treating patients to the recommended LDL cholesterol targets.

Takeaways:

Heart disease is a major issue in Australia, with many heart attacks potentially preventable through lifestyle changes like diet and exercise.
The podcast aims to educate listeners about blood pressure, weight, cholesterol and their impact on heart health.
The American Heart Association reviewed studies on the effects of aggressively lowering LDL cholesterol on the brain.
Lowering LDL cholesterol reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease according to available data.
Large observational studies and randomized trials do not show statins or LDL lowering increase risk of cognitive impairment or dementia in the short term.
Studies found no clear evidence LDL lowering increases risk of hemorrhagic stroke.
Populations with lifelong low LDL cholesterol do not have higher stroke risk.
Lower LDL correlates with lower overall and recurrent stroke risk mainly due to reducing ischemic strokes.
Concerns about hemorrhagic stroke should not deter clinicians from treating patients to LDL guidelines.
More research is needed on very low LDL's effects and statins' risks in patients with prior brain bleeds.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP312: QLD Lipid Meeting October 2023

Sun, 17 Dec 2023 10:00:00 +1100

This episode discusses presentations from the annual Queensland lipid group meeting. Professor Derek Connelly spoke about overcoming inertia in cholesterol lowering. A new drug called Inclisiran was discussed, which reduces LDL cholesterol through the PCSK9 protein system and only requires dosing every 6 months. Karam Kostner presented on lipoprotein(a), an emerging risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Professor David Cahun emphasized the importance of measuring the omega-3 index through a blood test. Talks addressed inflammation and how diet and certain drugs may help reduce it. Imaging techniques are blurring the line between primary and secondary prevention by finding plaque in asymptomatic patients. Coronary calcium scoring provided insights into risk assessment. The meeting covered various topics around optimizing cardiovascular health and risk reduction.

Takeaways:

The podcast discusses a recent Queensland lipid group meeting attended by Dr. Warrick Bishop, covering topics like overcoming inertia in cholesterol lowering.
Professor Derek Connelly presented on challenges with statin medication adherence and a new PCSK9 inhibitor called Inclisiran that could be available on Australia's PBS next year.
Inclisiran works through the PCSK9 protein system to increase LDL receptor expression in the liver and lower LDL cholesterol levels, with dosing every 6 months after an initial period.
Karam Kostner presented on lipoprotein(a), a risk factor for premature coronary artery disease and inflammation. Testing costs $60 currently without a Medicare rebate.
Professor David Cahun discussed the importance of measuring omega-3 index levels via a $100 blood test to understand benefits of omega-3 oil consumption better.
Talks covered targets for reducing inflammation like C-reactive protein and the inflammasome pathway.
Dietary intervention studies on inflammation and weight management were discussed as having the most robust evidence.
Imaging techniques like coronary calcium scoring and cardiac CT were presented, showing how they can redefine primary and secondary prevention.
The episode recommends the Healthy Heart Network as a resource for understanding heart health risks.
A variety of cardiac risk factors, treatments, and preventative strategies are reviewed based on presentations at the lipid group meeting.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP311: Fat Bellies and Skinny Brains

Sun, 10 Dec 2023 10:00:00 +1100

This episode discusses a study finding that both visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat are linked to lower brain volume in middle-aged adults. Visceral fat around the organs and subcutaneous fat under the skin were associated with brain atrophy on MRI scans, especially in women. Excess abdominal fat was found to predict reductions in total gray and white matter as well as specific brain regions.

While the effects were small for individuals, trends emerged across large samples. Lifestyle factors like physical activity and diet were not fully accounted for. The research suggests abdominal fat may help explain previously reported connections between obesity and cognitive decline.

Takeaways:

Abdominal fat, both visceral fat around the organs and subcutaneous fat under the skin, is linked to lower brain volume according to a new study of over 10,000 middle-aged adults.
Higher amounts of both visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat predicted lower total gray matter and white matter brain volume.
The hippocampus, frontal cortex, and other brain regions also showed lower volumes associated with increased abdominal fat.
Women appeared to have a higher burden on brain atrophy from increased visceral fat compared to men.
While statistically significant, the effect sizes of visceral fat on gray matter changes were generally small in individuals.
The study was cross-sectional so it cannot determine if increasing fat causes brain shrinkage.
Lifestyle factors like physical activity and diet that could impact this relationship were not fully accounted for.
Previous studies linked obesity to cognitive decline and dementia risk, and this study suggests a potential mechanism.
Reduced brain volumes may be tied to problems with thinking, memory, and everyday tasks.
Maintaining a healthy weight and active lifestyle both physically and mentally could help minimize risks.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP310: Common Cardiac Drugs and Common Interactions

Sun, 03 Dec 2023 10:00:00 +1100

The episode discusses common cardiac drugs and some potential drug interactions. It covers aspirin, warfarin, clopidogrel, proton pump inhibitors, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, digoxin, nitrates, and amiodarone. Notably, grapefruit can increase serum levels of beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and some statins, potentially leading to toxicity.

Takeaways:

Aspirin is commonly used to thin the blood and prevent clotting by blocking platelets. It can interact badly with other blood thinners like clopidogrel.
Warfarin works by interfering with vitamin K and the coagulation cascade. It can be affected by foods high in vitamin K like leafy greens. Consistency is important.
Clopidogrel blocks platelets and works with aspirin, but proton pump inhibitors like omeprazole can reduce its effectiveness.
Beta blockers can have their levels increased by grapefruit juice through metabolic interactions.
Grapefruit can also increase calcium channel blockers and some statins through similar mechanisms.
ACE inhibitors and diuretics like furosemide can interact around potassium - monitoring is important.
Digoxin toxicity is a risk with low potassium.
Sublingual nitroglycerin and Viagra-like drugs can dangerously lower blood pressure together.
Amiodarone absorption is increased by high fat meals due to its fat solubility.
The podcast provides information on common cardiac drugs and warns of important drug-drug interactions.

Warfarin's effects can be altered by foods high in vitamin K like leafy greens. Clopidogrel's effectiveness may be reduced when taken with proton pump inhibitors like omeprazole. Combining nitrates with phosphodiesterase inhibitors like sildenafil can cause profound blood pressure drops. The host recommends being aware of possible drug interactions and maintaining regular communication with doctors.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP309: 10 Commandments of Heart Health Explained

Sun, 26 Nov 2023 10:00:00 +1100

This episode discusses 10 commandments for heart health, including not smoking, regular exercise, healthy eating, limiting alcohol, controlling blood pressure and weight, managing diabetes and cholesterol, understanding heart medications, and building a support system. It recommends getting a heart scan to precisely determine cardiovascular risk beyond standard risk calculators. An interesting finding mentioned is that a study on the artificial sweetener aspartame showed it could increase anxiety levels even in subsequent generations of mice not directly exposed.

Takeaways:

The 10 Commandments of Heart Health are: don't smoke, exercise regularly, eat well and maintain a healthy weight, limit alcohol consumption, keep blood pressure under control, monitor diabetes, know your cardiovascular risk, know your cholesterol levels, understand aspirin and heart medications, and have your own support team.
Smoking greatly increases the risk of heart disease and is very addictive.
Regular exercise can help reduce risks of heart attack, stroke, dementia and improve mental health.
Processed and artificial foods may negatively impact health in unintended ways over generations.
Moderate alcohol intake is best, with complete abstinence having no detrimental effects.
High blood pressure increases risks of stroke, heart attack and other conditions.
Being overweight increases risks of diabetes and heart disease.
Knowing precise cardiovascular risk requires artery imaging beyond standard risk calculators.
Cholesterol levels should be monitored and managed with doctor guidance.
Surrounding oneself with a supportive team is important for lifestyle changes.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP308: Myocardial Bridging—a Bridge Too Far

Sun, 19 Nov 2023 10:00:00 +1100

Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses heart disease risks and prevention on his podcast. He talks about an interesting presentation he saw on myocardial bridging, where the coronary artery runs through the heart muscle in 20% of people. This was thought to not impact blood flow, but can in rare cases limit flow and cause angina symptoms. This is a cause of MINOCA syndrome, where ischemia occurs despite clear arteries.

Doctor Bishop describes diagnostic tests like CT scans and intravascular ultrasound to identify bridging arteries. Surgery called deroofing can be done to free up a compressed artery. Medications may also help symptoms but stents are unlikely to. The podcast highlights this potential new cause of angina symptoms from a rare arterial variation.

Takeaway:

Heart disease is a major problem in Australia, with someone suffering a heart attack every 20 minutes. Most cases could be prevented through lifestyle changes.
The podcast aims to educate listeners about blood pressure, weight, cholesterol and how to live a long and healthy life.
Myocardial bridges occur when the coronary arteries run through the heart muscle instead of over its surface, which can happen in up to 20% of people.
It was previously thought myocardial bridges did not restrict blood flow, but new research shows they can in rare cases limit blood flow and cause angina-like symptoms.
This condition is called MINOCA (myocardial ischemia with non-obstructive coronary arteries).
Tests like CT scans, stress tests and invasive angiography may not provide clear diagnosis for MINOCA, but intravascular ultrasound can identify compression of arteries in myocardial bridges.
Surgery to remove the surrounding heart muscle (deroofing) may help in some cases of myocardial bridge-related chest pain.
Stents do not typically help MINOCA caused by myocardial bridges.
Medications like beta blockers, calcium channel blockers and nitroglycerin can relieve angina symptoms from myocardial bridges.
The website heartcheck.com.au allows people to assess their heart disease risk and learn more about prevention.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP307: Long QT, Blood Pressure and Pregnancy

Sun, 12 Nov 2023 10:00:00 +1100

Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses various topics from a cardiology conference, including long QT syndrome and how stress testing can help evaluate it. He highlights that only 32% of patients with high blood pressure have it adequately controlled. Doctor Bishop also notes the complexities of managing pregnant patients with mechanical heart valves, as anticoagulation treatment needs careful monitoring. The podcast provides insights from medical experts on important cardiovascular issues like blood pressure management and risks during pregnancy, helping listeners understand heart health.

Takeaways:

Heart disease is a major issue in Australia, with someone suffering a heart attack every 20 minutes. Lifestyle changes like managing blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol can help reduce risks.
Long QT syndrome is a condition where the QT interval on an ECG is abnormally long, increasing risks of cardiac arrhythmias. Stress tests can help evaluate how the QT interval changes.
Different beta blockers may be better than others for long QT syndrome. Seeking guidance from experts is recommended.
Measuring central blood pressure within the aorta may provide additional clinical insights compared to arm blood pressure readings.
Only 5% of home blood pressure machines in Australia have been validated against standards, making their readings potentially unreliable. 24-hour blood pressure monitors are a better option.
Over 60% of high blood pressure cases in Australia are not well controlled, increasing health risks. Getting blood pressure checked is important.
Managing heart conditions during pregnancy, like with mechanical heart valves, can be very complex and require careful anticoagulation monitoring.
Discussing any heart issues with cardiologists and obstetricians before trying to get pregnant is strongly advised.
Coronary artery disease is a major killer, affecting 1 in 4 people. Understanding personal risks can help.
The podcast aims to provide information to help people live as well as possible for as long as possible through better heart health.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP306: Inflammation, White Cells, Stroke and Salt

Sun, 05 Nov 2023 10:00:00 +1100

Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses various topics related to heart health and inflammation in this podcast. He talks about a study that found intensive periodontal treatment reduced blood pressure by 5-10 mmHg by reducing inflammation. Another interesting finding was that rats who experienced a stroke showed changes in their gut microbiome and increased gut permeability, leading to systemic infection.

Doctor Bishop also discusses how a high-salt diet can directly damage the gut microbiome and allow inflammatory proteins to enter the bloodstream, triggering inflammation in blood vessels even before high blood pressure occurs. He recommends keeping salt intake low, staying hydrated, and consuming fiber to help protect the gut from these salt-related harms.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP305: Syncope CSANZ 2023

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 10:00:00 +1100

The episode discusses different causes of non-traumatic loss of consciousness or syncope, including cardiac, epileptic, and psychogenic reasons. Cardiac causes could be things like structural heart issues, arrhythmia, or orthostatic hypotension from standing up. Doctor Warrick highlights how an epileptic seizure may involve jerking at the onset of loss of consciousness unlike cardiac syncope. Taking a thorough history from witnesses is important to determine the likely cause. One interesting point was how tongue biting on the sides suggests epilepsy while biting the tip suggests falling during cardiac syncope. Distinguishing the etiology helps guide appropriate workup and management.

Takeaways:

Syncope refers to a temporary loss of consciousness, often called a blackout. It can be caused by cardiac issues, epilepsy, or rare conditions like brain hemorrhages.
Cardiac causes include structural heart problems, arrhythmias, orthostatic hypotension, and vasovagal syncope triggered by emotions or bodily stimuli.
Epileptic seizures may involve jerking movements at the onset of loss of consciousness while cardiac causes typically do not.
The history surrounding a syncope episode, including details from witnesses, is important for determining the underlying cause.
Vasovagal syncope is linked to overstimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system and often involves prodromal symptoms.
Orthostatic hypotension causes fainting when standing up due to low blood pressure.
Structural heart issues like valve problems can trigger syncope, especially with exertion.
Family history of sudden cardiac death raises suspicion of an inherited cardiac condition.
Tongue biting patterns differ between cardiac and epileptic causes.
Risk factors for coronary artery disease should be evaluated using an online heart risk checker.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP304: Grip Strength and Chocolate Follow-up

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 10:00:00 +1100

The episode discusses grip strength as an indicator of overall health, with weaker grip linked to various illnesses. Data from the Swedish army found men with weaker grips were 20% more likely to die by age 55. Exercises like weightlifting can strengthen grip indirectly. The host also updates on heavy metals in chocolate, noting some studies found links to lower bone density but chocolate has antioxidants too. Listeners provided more data, suggesting raw cacao may be healthier than dark chocolate. In summary, grip strength and chocolate content were insightful topics covered to help listeners improve their health.

Takeaways:

Heart disease is a major issue in Australia, with someone suffering a heart attack every 20 minutes. Lifestyle changes can help prevent many cases.
Grip strength can reveal health issues beyond just hand strength, like diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and more. Weaker grip strength is linked to higher mortality and suicide rates.
Regular exercise of any kind can help improve grip strength as part of overall body strength. Weight lifting requires grip strength.
Getting grip strength checked and knowing your age norms can flag potential health issues to address.
Chocolate may contain heavy metals that are linked to lower bone density, though it also has antioxidants that benefit bone health and mood.
The effects of chocolate on health are still unclear, but checking supplier reliability on heavy metals is advised.
Raw cacao has more antioxidants than dark chocolate and may be a healthier option than chocolate.
The podcast offers information to help understand heart health risks and improve prevention of heart attacks.
Listeners can join an online community for heart health for a low lifetime membership fee.
Feedback from listeners provided additional studies on chocolate and bone health risks.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP303: Take Homes From ESC August 2023

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 10:00:00 +1100

The episode discusses several studies presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress, including one finding that completely opening blocked arteries in older heart attack patients led to better outcomes. Another study surprisingly showed iron infusion did not help heart failure patients as expected. The episode also mentions that ablation seems to be more effective for atrial fibrillation in advanced heart failure cases.

Managing weight through drugs like Ozempic was found to benefit those with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction as well. Throughout, Doctor Warrick emphasizes the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach to genetic heart conditions.

Takeaways:

Complete revascularization for older heart attack patients (over age 75) provided better outcomes than just treating the culprit lesion.
Treating atrial fibrillation through ablation procedures can be more effective for patients with end-stage heart failure.
New ESC guidelines on cardiomyopathy emphasize a multidisciplinary approach integrating genetics, imaging, and cardiology.
Genetic testing allows for better screening and targeting of care for specific genetic forms of heart disease.
A study on iron infusion found no benefits for heart failure patients, contrary to previous evidence. More research is needed.
Weight loss drugs like Ozempic can provide benefits for obese heart failure patients by improving symptoms.
Checking risk factors like weight, cholesterol, blood pressure is important for better heart health outcomes.
One person dies of a heart attack every 20 minutes in Australia and every 60 seconds in the US.
The virtualheartcheck.com.au website allows people to assess their heart attack risk and next steps.
Lifestyle changes like weight loss through drugs can improve quality of life for heart failure patients.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP302: Discussing Low Carb and Keto and CAD with Doctor Kostner and Doctor Sangster

Sun, 08 Oct 2023 10:00:00 +1100

The episode discusses reduced carbohydrate diets and their effects on cardiovascular health. While such diets may help with weight control and blood sugar levels, there is debate around their long-term safety, especially for those with heart disease or diabetes. Saturated fat intake is known to raise LDL cholesterol, which can increase heart risks. However, monounsaturated fats may be more favorable.

The experts discuss how individual responses to diet and cholesterol-lowering medications can vary greatly. They agree these diets can be appropriate for healthy people without heart conditions, but more research is still needed on long-term outcomes. The potential benefits must be weighed against risks for each individual patient.

Takeaways:

There is an ongoing debate about the health effects of reduced carbohydrate diets, especially those that promote ketosis, for people with cardiovascular disease or diabetes.
High LDL cholesterol levels are a concern for some people on low-carb, high-fat diets long-term, though other factors like reduced inflammation may be beneficial.
Medications like statins are generally recommended to lower LDL for those with heart disease or diabetes.
Saturated fat intake increases LDL levels, but the type (small dense vs large buoyant particles) and food source may matter.
Monounsaturated fats like olive oil are likely more favorable than saturated fats or polyunsaturated seed oils.
More data is needed on long-term outcomes for arteries and plaque of those on low-carb diets.
Individual responses to diet and medications can vary significantly.
Low-carb diets appear safe for healthy individuals without heart or metabolic issues.
Experts disagree on recommendations for low-carb diets, especially for diabetics.
Multiple dietary and non-dietary factors influence heart disease risk.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP301: Discussing Bad cholesterol and CAD Dr Kostner and Dr Sangster

Sun, 01 Oct 2023 10:00:00 +1100

This episode discusses LDL cholesterol and its link to coronary artery disease. While LDL is generally considered a risk factor, it may not predict outcomes for every individual. Different types of LDL particles can vary in their risks, with smaller, denser particles posing more issues. Triglyceride levels were also noted as important. Guest Doctor Sangster shared how investigating particle size led to insights. Lowering LDL through diet, statins, or other means seemed to provide benefits to those with demonstrated artery problems.

Takeaways:

LDL cholesterol is considered a major risk factor for coronary artery disease by most cardiologists. High LDL can progress plaque buildup in arteries.
However, not everyone with high LDL will develop heart disease, so LDL levels alone can't accurately predict risk. Other factors like lifestyle are involved.
There are different types of LDL particles - some are larger and fluffier while others are smaller and denser. The smaller, denser particles seem to correlate more strongly with heart disease.
Triglyceride levels are also important, as high triglycerides are associated with more of the atherogenic small, dense LDL particles.
For those who have already demonstrated plaque buildup or heart issues, lowering LDL through diet, statins, or other means can reduce future risk.
Diet, especially low-carb, can help control LDL particle size and triglycerides for some people like diabetics.
Residual high triglycerides in diabetics may also increase risk of microvascular complications affecting small blood vessels.
Statins may have additional benefits beyond LDL lowering, such as anti-inflammatory and anti-coagulant effects.
Imaging arteries can help determine if an individual's cholesterol is actually affecting their arteries in a problematic way.
The relationship between LDL and heart disease risk is complex with many factors involved, not a simple direct causation.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP300: Dangers of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

Sun, 24 Sep 2023 10:00:00 +1000

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common condition where the muscles in the throat relax during sleep, causing partial or complete airway blockage. Risk factors include obesity, age, family history, and being male. Symptoms include loud snoring, gasping, and excessive daytime sleepiness. Left untreated, OSA can increase risks of high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and vehicle accidents.

Diagnosis involves an overnight sleep test to measure breathing disruptions. Weight loss and lifestyle changes can help mild cases. Treatment often involves using a CPAP machine, which blows air to keep the airway open during sleep and reduces daytime sleepiness by 70%. This episode highlights how undiagnosed OSA in truck drivers increases safety risks on the road.

Takeaways:

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects around 20 million adults in the US and tens to hundreds of thousands in Australia, with risk factors including obesity, age, family history, and being male.
Symptoms of OSA include loud snoring, choking, gasping, waking up from sleep, and excessive daytime sleepiness.
OSA can be diagnosed through an overnight sleep test called a polysomnogram that measures things like breathing rate and oxygen saturation.
Untreated OSA is linked to increased risks of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, accidents, and early death from cardiovascular causes.
Initial treatment focuses on lifestyle changes like losing weight, avoiding sleeping on the back, and not drinking alcohol before bed.
The primary treatment is a CPAP machine that blows air into the nose and mouth to keep the airway open during sleep.
CPAP therapy can reduce daytime sleepiness by up to 70% for those who use it properly.
Getting a good mask fit is important for long-term CPAP use and adherence.
OSA can impact relationships if a partner finds the CPAP mask disturbing.
Getting tested is recommended if symptoms are present or risk factors apply, especially for safety critical roles like driving.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP299: CSANZ 23 - Athletes and SCA

Sun, 17 Sep 2023 10:00:00 +1000

The episode discusses various topics in sports cardiology and cardiac health. It explores the potential link between endurance exercise and atrial fibrillation in athletes. It also notes that exercise is generally good for heart health but may be associated with increased calcium buildup in arteries for long-distance runners. The episode covers genetic testing for cardiac conditions in athletes and reviews causes of sudden cardiac death in young people, finding that coronary artery disease is a leading cause. It highlights the importance of identifying people with familial hypercholesterolemia to reduce cardiac risks.

Takeaways:

Heart disease is a major issue in Australia, with someone suffering a heart attack every 20 minutes. Many cases could be prevented through lifestyle changes.
Exercise is generally good for heart health but may increase risk of atrial fibrillation in highly trained endurance athletes, especially men.
Endurance athletes may experience structural remodeling of the heart muscles that increases risk of arrhythmias.
Genetic testing is important for identifying cardiac issues in athletes, but requires pre-test counseling to understand results.
Sudden cardiac death in young people under 35 is a complex issue with multiple potential causes like coronary artery disease, drug toxicity, and genetic heart muscle conditions.
Coronary artery anomalies are not a major risk factor for sudden cardiac death in young people as previously believed.
Identifying and treating familial hypercholesterolemia could significantly reduce sudden cardiac deaths from early coronary artery disease.
Increased calcium buildup is seen in heart artery scans of long distance runners but may not necessarily lead to heart attacks.
Combining calcium scans and coronary angiograms provides more accurate picture of artery health than calcium scans alone.
Drug overdoses are a leading preventable cause of sudden cardiac death behind coronary artery disease in young people.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP298: Blue Light Glasses and Smells to Remember

Sun, 10 Sep 2023 10:00:00 +1000

Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses the risks of heart disease and introduces his podcast aimed at helping listeners understand factors like blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol. He reads an article questioning the effectiveness of blue light glasses, noting that screens expose us to only a tiny fraction of blue light compared to daylight and glasses filter only 10-25% of that. The episode also covers a study finding that inhaling pleasant scents during sleep was linked to dramatically improved memory and brain activity, with those exposed to essential oils experiencing a 226% boost in memory performance. This preliminary research suggests the olfactory system may directly impact memory centers in the brain.

Takeaways:

Heart disease is a major cause of death in Australia and other Western countries, responsible for over 9 million deaths globally per year.
The podcast aims to educate listeners about modifiable risk factors for heart disease like blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol.
A study found that blue light blocking glasses likely do not reduce eye strain from screen time or improve sleep, as the amount of blue light from screens is very small compared to natural daylight.
Inhaling pleasant scents during sleep, like rose, orange, and eucalyptus essential oils, was linked to a dramatic 226% improvement in memory performance.
Functional MRI scans showed those exposed to the scents had improved brain activity in areas linked to memory and cognition.
The olfactory nerves connect directly to memory areas of the brain, providing a "super highway" of input not seen with other senses.
Websites like virtualheartcheck.com.au can assess an individual's heart disease risk factors and provide recommendations.
One person dies of a heart attack every 30 minutes in Australia and every 60 seconds in the United States.
Heart disease causes over 9 million deaths globally per year.
Regular breaks, limiting screen time before bed, and cutting down on overall screen time can help reduce eye strain.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP297: Treating Kids Cholesterol and Testosterone Therapy

Sun, 03 Sep 2023 10:00:00 +1000

Dr. Warrick Bishop discusses two important health stories in the podcast. First, he disagrees with a US task force recommendation against screening children for high cholesterol, citing evidence that early treatment can help those with a genetic condition called familial hypercholesterolemia. Second, he outlines findings from a large trial showing that testosterone therapy for men aged 45-80 does not increase risks of heart issues or prostate cancer. However, it may slightly raise risks of atrial fibrillation, kidney injury, and pulmonary embolism. Interestingly, it also seemed to increase fracture risk, possibly because the men felt better and became more physically active.

Takeaways:

Dr. Warrick Bishop is a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, focused on helping people live long and healthy lives by understanding factors like blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol.
One in five Australians suffer a heart attack each year, many of which could be prevented through lifestyle changes.
Early treatment of elevated cholesterol levels in children with familial hypercholesterolemia may help prevent early heart attacks later in life.
Genetic testing can accurately identify familial hypercholesterolemia and enable early treatment from ages 7-8.
A large study found no increased risks of heart attack, stroke, or prostate cancer from daily testosterone gel treatment in men aged 45-80 over 2 years.
Testosterone treatment was associated with a small increased risk of atrial fibrillation, acute kidney injury, and pulmonary embolism.
Counterintuitively, testosterone treatment was linked to an increased risk of fractures.
Increased activity and muscle from feeling better on testosterone may explain the fracture finding.
Testosterone improved sexual function and well-being without major health risks.
The Healthy Heart Network offers membership to help understand heart health risks and positive steps people can take.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP296: Ingredients to Happiness & Screening Cancers

Sun, 27 Aug 2023 10:00:00 +1000

Dr. Warrick Bishop hosts a podcast about health and wellness. He discusses findings from the Harvard Study of Adult Development, which found that close relationships and good health were the two major factors for happiness. Strong relationships were actually a better predictor of good health outcomes than other factors like career success. The study also showed that happiness fluctuates and loneliness can be problematic if one does not have close relationships.

Dr. Bishop then talks about research on detecting cancers like colorectal cancer through blood tests by finding abnormal DNA and RNA fragments in the bloodstream. He highlights that non-invasive blood tests for cancer may soon replace colonoscopies. In closing, Dr. Bishop encourages living well and building relationships for a happy life.

Takeaways:

The podcast aims to help listeners understand blood pressure, weight, cholesterol and live as healthily as possible for as long as possible to avoid heart disease.
One of the longest longitudinal studies found that good relationships and health are most important for happiness.
Loneliness can be problematic, so it's important to build relationships through community, hobbies, sports or volunteer work.
Happiness fluctuates and is not constant, as portrayed on social media. Relationships help build resilience during ups and downs.
There is significant research into blood-based biomarkers that could detect cancers like colorectal cancer through simple blood tests.
DNA and RNA fragments from cancers may enter the bloodstream and be detectable to identify issues.
Non-invasive blood tests may eventually replace procedures like colonoscopies for cancer screening.
The podcast host recommends maintaining relationships and health for a happy life.
An article discussed research on detecting colorectal cancer through blood biomarkers.
The Healthy Heart Network is provided to check one's heart attack risk and learn how to reduce it.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP295: Bitter Sweets

Sun, 20 Aug 2023 10:00:00 +1000

Dr. Bishop discusses heart health and the importance of controlling blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol. He then reports on two recent studies. The first found that some dark chocolate bars contained potentially harmful levels of heavy metals like lead and cadmium. The second study surprisingly discovered that the artificial sweetener aspartame may increase anxiety-like behaviors in mice and possibly even affect their descendants. This indicates aspartame's effects may not be as harmless as previously thought and more research is needed.

Takeaways:

Dr. Bishop is a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network who aims to help people live long and healthy lives by understanding risks like blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol.
Dark chocolate was found to contain potentially harmful levels of heavy metals like lead and cadmium in a Consumer Reports study, with some bars exceeding guidelines.
The study urged chocolate companies to reduce heavy metal levels in dark chocolate by Valentine's Day.
Long term exposure to lead and cadmium from chocolate can cause nervous system, immune system, and kidney problems, especially in pregnant women and children.
Artificial sweetener aspartame was found to cause anxiety-like behaviors in mice even at doses below FDA limits when consumed.
Aspartame consumption also affected gene expression related to anxiety in mice brains.
The anxiety effects of aspartame extended to later generations of mice not directly exposed.
This suggests aspartame's mental health risks may impact more than just consumers.
Dr. Bishop advises reducing chocolate and aspartame intake based on these studies.
The Healthy Heart Network offers a membership to help understand heart health risks and steps to reduce heart attack risk.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP294: What Is A Cardiac Arrest?

Sun, 13 Aug 2023 10:00:00 +1000

Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart's electrical system malfunctions, causing an irregular heartbeat. This requires immediate CPR and defibrillation to restore a normal rhythm. A heart attack is caused by blocked arteries and may lead to cardiac arrest over time. While some studies have found a link between mRNA vaccines and myocarditis or pericarditis, particularly in young men, there is no evidence these vaccines cause sudden cardiac death. For anyone experiencing chest pain, if there is any uncertainty about the cause, it is important to get it checked by a doctor to rule out a potential heart issue.

Takeaways:

Heart attack is caused by a blocked artery, while cardiac arrest is due to electrical instability of the heart muscle.
In cardiac arrest, the priority is to restore the heart rhythm using CPR and defibrillators. In heart attack, the priority is opening the blocked artery.
There has been a link found between mRNA vaccines and increased risk of myocarditis and pericarditis, but it is infrequent and short-lived.
There is no clear evidence that vaccines cause sudden cardiac death.
Family history of sudden cardiac death and conditions like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can increase risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
Trauma or impact to the chest can in rare cases trigger sudden cardiac arrest in athletes.
If you're unsure if a pain is heart-related or not, you should get it checked out to be safe.
Statins are an effective treatment for high cholesterol, but new alternative therapies are being developed.
Coronary artery disease is a leading cause of death.
Checking your cardiovascular risk factors can help identify ways to reduce that risk.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 live

s are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP293: Heart Rate Variability

Sun, 06 Aug 2023 10:00:00 +1000

In this episode, Doctor Bishop delves into the complex topic of heart rate variability and its implications for overall health. Doctor Bishop acknowledges that understanding heart rate variability is challenging but emphasizes the importance of exploring it further. Heart rate variability has been linked to the health of the heart, gut, and gas exchange in the body. It is influenced by the autonomic nervous system and can fluctuate over time. Doctor Bishop expresses optimism about the future of understanding and utilizing heart rate variability, especially with the help of wearable monitoring devices.

Takeaways:

Doctor Bishop discusses the concept of heart rate variability and its importance in relation to heart health, gut health, and gas exchange in the body.
Heart rate variability is a measure of the autonomic nervous system balance and reflects the body's ability to quickly accelerate or decelerate heart rate as needed.
The autonomic nervous system has two modes: fight or flight and rest and digest, and heart rate variability is closely linked to maintaining a balance between these modes.
Heart rate variability can be influenced by various factors, such as diseases, the brain's impact on the heart, and changes in the body's environment.
Doctor Bishop acknowledges that understanding heart rate variability can be complicated and mentions the need for consistent measures and data sets to better assess and compare heart rate variability in individuals.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP292: Interview With Angela Peris Discussing Cardiac CT Results

Sun, 30 Jul 2023 10:00:00 +1000

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP291: Cardiac Testing Explained - How Doctors Assess The Heart

Sun, 23 Jul 2023 10:00:00 +1000

In this episode, the host speaks with Angela Perris, a cardiac nurse and author, about the importance of understanding and interpreting heart disease risk. They discuss the role of calcium scores in assessing plaque build-up in the arteries, the impact of smoking on cardiovascular health, and the differences in risk between men and women. Angela shares personal experiences and emphasizes the importance of early detection and prevention to avoid fatal heart attacks. The episode also highlights the value of CT scans and the significance of comparing images over time to track changes in plaque formation. Overall, the conversation aims to educate listeners about heart disease and provide insights on managing risk factors for a healthier life.

Takeaways:

Heart disease is common in Australia, with someone suffering a heart attack every 20 minutes. Most cases could have been prevented with proper knowledge.
Physical examinations like checking pulse, blood pressure, listening to the heart, and ECGs are routinely used to evaluate heart health.
Chest x-rays and echocardiograms are also commonly used to assess the size and function of the heart.
Tests are used to evaluate risk factors, symptoms, and heart function.
Risk factors can be assessed through blood tests, blood pressure monitors, and cardiac CT scans.
Stress tests are used to evaluate symptoms like shortness of breath by monitoring the heart during exertion.
Blood tests for proteins like BNP can indicate if shortness of breath is heart-related.
MRI scans can provide detailed information about the heart but are time consuming.
Heart biopsies are occasionally used as a last resort diagnostic tool.
Most cases of coronary artery disease, which kills 1 in 4 people, could be prevented with proper knowledge.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP290: Undestanding Blackouts: Causes and Treatments

Sun, 16 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +1000

Blackouts can have many causes including heart issues, brain problems, low blood pressure, and nerves. The heart can cause blackouts due to valve problems, fast rhythms, or slow rhythms. The brain can cause blackouts from strokes or seizures. Low blood pressure, especially in older people or those on medication, can lead to blackouts. Simple faints from overheating or stress on the nerves are the most common cause of blackouts. Tests like echocardiograms and electroencephalograms can help determine the root cause. Driver's licenses may be held until the cause of blackouts is properly identified to ensure safety.

Takeaways:

Blackouts can be caused by heart issues, brain issues, blood pressure problems, or nerves.
Heart issues that cause blackouts include problems with heart valves, abnormal heart rhythms that are too fast or too slow.
Brain issues that cause blackouts include strokes and seizures.
Blood pressure that drops too low, especially in dehydrated or medicated patients, can cause blackouts.
Simple fainting episodes due to the vagus nerve can also cause blackouts but are generally not serious.
Diagnosing the cause of blackouts often requires tests like echocardiograms, electroencephalograms, and loop recorders.
Blackouts due to heart or brain issues may require holding a driver's license until the cause is determined.
Abnormal heart rhythms that cause blackouts can originate from the upper or lower chambers of the heart.
Blackouts due to nerves are usually caused by a strong vagal response that lowers blood pressure and heart rate.
Coronary artery disease is a major cause of heart issues and deaths, so understanding risk factors is important.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP289: Cardiovascular Treatment

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 10:00:00 +1000

This episode discusses treatments for cardiovascular health. Lifestyle changes like a Mediterranean diet, exercise and weight loss are the first line of treatment. Medications are also used for both prevention and symptom relief, including aspirin, blood pressure drugs and cholesterol drugs.

Procedures like stents and bypass surgery can open blocked arteries while valve replacements and ablation procedures can treat valve issues and irregular heartbeats. Exciting new technologies like stem cell therapy and mRNA treatments may play a larger role in the future. Overall, a combination of lifestyle changes, medications and procedures can help improve cardiovascular health.

Takeaways:

Lifestyle changes like a Mediterranean diet, exercise, and weight loss are the first line of treatment for cardiovascular health.
A Mediterranean diet consists of foods like olive oil, fish, nuts, and limited amounts of meat and carbohydrates.
Exercise like brisk walking for 30 minutes 5 times a week or 10,000 steps a day is recommended for cardiovascular health.
Weight loss can help reduce risk of cardiovascular issues, so losing weight before it becomes a major problem is advised.
Medications are used for both prevention and treatment of cardiovascular symptoms, including aspirin, blood pressure drugs, and cholesterol drugs.
Stents can be used to open blocked arteries and improve blood flow.
Valve replacement and repair surgeries are options for treating valve issues. Newer minimally invasive procedures are becoming available.
Ablation procedures can be used to correct abnormal heart rhythms.
Future treatments may include stem cell therapy and mRNA technologies.
Lifestyle changes are the most important first step for cardiovascular health.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP288: Chewing The Fat

Sun, 02 Jul 2023 10:00:00 +1000

This episode discusses the difference between white fat and brown fat. White fat stores energy and can cause health problems, while brown fat helps regulate temperature in young mammals through non-shivering thermogenesis. This process involves mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 that generates heat instead of ATP.

Though humans have less brown fat as adults, we still possess some. Scientists are researching ways to activate brown fat to help burn calories and promote weight loss, such as blocking purines that inhibit mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1. Cold exposure may also stimulate brown fat thermogenesis and metabolism. Activating brown fat could help reduce weight by consuming excess calories.

Takeaways:

There are two types of fat in the body: white fat and brown fat.
White fat is the type that accumulates around the stomach and is an energy store. However, too much white fat can cause inflammation and insulin resistance.
Brown fat is typically found in babies and young children. It helps regulate body temperature through non-shivering thermogenesis.
Brown fat can generate heat by bypassing the ATP synthesis process in mitochondria through a protein called mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1.
Activating brown fat could help burn calories and potentially aid in weight loss.
Cold exposure may help stimulate and activate brown fat.
Cold showers and exposure can trigger proteins that increase metabolism and brown fat activity.
Targeting the process that blocks mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 may help activate brown fat for weight loss in the future.
Coronary artery disease kills one in four people. Evaluating risk factors is important.
www.virtualheartcheck.com.au provides information on heart disease risk evaluation.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP287: Heart Attack vs. Heart Failure and the Role of AI

Sun, 25 Jun 2023 10:00:00 +1000

This episode discusses the differences between heart attacks and heart failure, and the potential for AI tools to help in diagnosis and treatment of heart conditions.

Heart Attacks vs Heart Failure

A heart attack occurs when a major artery to the heart is suddenly blocked, cutting off blood flow and oxygen. This can cause the heart rhythm to become irregular and lead to collapse.

Heart failure means the heart is not pumping enough blood to the organs. This can cause fatigue, shortness of breath and fluid retention in the body.

Does AI Have a Place in Medicine?

AI tools have the potential to make doctors' jobs easier and improve care for patients:

reading cardiac scans faster and more accurately than humans, potentially spotting abnormalities that doctors may miss. This could lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment
automating routine tasks like note drafting to free up doctors' time
analyzing patient data and research to gain insights

However, there are valid concerns about:

patient privacy and data security
maintaining medical standards and the integrity of the profession
understanding the limitations of AI and how it should be used to assist, not replace, doctors

Takeaways:

Heart attack is caused by a sudden blockage of an artery to the heart, cutting off blood flow and oxygen. Heart failure is when the heart cannot pump enough blood to the body's organs.
Symptoms of heart failure include fatigue, shortness of breath, and swelling of the ankles and legs due to fluid buildup.
Heart failure can develop slowly over time or come on suddenly, requiring emergency care.
Medications can help treat heart failure but early identification and treatment is important for the best outcomes.
New AI technology has potential to improve diagnosis of heart conditions by analyzing scans faster and more accurately.
There are concerns about privacy, data protection, and the impact on the healthcare system from widespread AI adoption.
Changes should be made carefully and deliberately to ensure AI benefits patients while maintaining the integrity of medicine.
AI tools could help save doctors time by drafting notes and reports but questions remain about data ownership and security.
Bespoke AI systems housed on secure servers may be needed to properly implement AI in healthcare.
Early detection of plaque buildup could help identify those at risk of heart attack before symptoms develop.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP286: Heart Anatomy and Function

Sun, 18 Jun 2023 10:00:00 +1000

The heart is the most important organ as it pumps blood to supply oxygen to cells and remove carbon dioxide waste. Blood returns to the heart through veins and is pumped to the lungs by the right side of the heart. In the lungs, blood releases carbon dioxide and takes up oxygen. Oxygen-rich blood then enters the left side of the heart which pumps it to the body tissues. The heart has valves to ensure blood flows in one direction. Each heart cell can generate its own electrical signal which coordinates the heart's pumping action. The electrical system acts like a timing mechanism for the heart's pumping function.

Takeaways:

The heart's main function is to pump oxygenated blood to the tissues and remove deoxygenated blood from the tissues. This ensures cells receive oxygen and remove carbon dioxide.
The heart has two pumps - the right heart pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs, and the left heart pumps oxygenated blood from the lungs to the body.
The atria are pre-pumping chambers that push blood into the ventricles. The ventricles are the main pumping chambers.
The heart has valves that ensure blood flows in one direction through the heart.
The heart has an electrical system that acts as a timing mechanism, ensuring the heart chambers contract in the proper sequence.
The cells in the heart have the ability to generate their own electrical impulses, which allows the heart to beat on its own.
The right atrium initiates the heart's electrical signal which then spreads to the ventricles.
The blood flow from the left ventricle is more fluid compared to the right ventricle.
The heart's structure and function can be likened to an engine, with pistons, valves, and a timing system.
Joining the Healthy Heart Network provides information to understand current heart health and risks, and steps to improve heart health.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP285: Heart Related Problems and Symptoms

Sun, 11 Jun 2023 10:00:00 +1000

This episode discusses heart-related symptoms and how to think of the heart like a car engine with an electrical system, pistons and valves, and fuel lines. Problems with the electrical system can cause palpitations or blackouts. Issues with the pistons and valves often lead to shortness of breath and swelling. Blocked fuel lines can cause chest pain or angina due to lack of blood flow. Women tend to experience more shortness of breath rather than chest pain from coronary artery disease. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek medical attention immediately.

Takeaways:

Symptoms of heart problems include chest pain and shortness of breath but there are other symptoms as well.
Palpitations, an irregular or fast heartbeat, can indicate electrical issues in the heart. Blackouts can also be a symptom of electrical problems.
Shortness of breath and fluid retention in the ankles can indicate issues with the heart muscle or valves pumping blood properly.
Women with coronary artery disease tend to have shortness of breath rather than chest pain as their main symptom.
Sudden blockages in the arteries that supply the heart with blood can cause chest pain, shortness of breath and even heart attack.
Angina or chest tightness during exertion indicates a gradual narrowing of the heart's blood vessels.
Getting checked out right away for any heart symptoms is important as they can indicate something serious developing.
Joining the Healthy Heart Network can help people understand their current heart health and risks, and take steps to improve.
Making changes to blood pressure, weight and cholesterol can help prevent heart disease.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.VirtualHeartCheck.com.au www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP284: Risk Factors

Sun, 04 Jun 2023 10:00:00 +1000

This episode discusses strategies to prevent heart attacks and improve heart health. Many heart attacks could be avoided if people knew how to reduce their risk. The host, Doctor Warrick Bishop, talks about risk factors like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, age, diabetes, obesity, lack of exercise, depression and socioeconomic status that can increase the risk of heart disease and heart attacks. Other heart conditions like valve problems and electrical issues in the heart's atria or ventricles can also have genetic risk factors or arise due to infections, alcohol use and high blood pressure. Leading a healthy lifestyle with a good diet, exercise and managing stress can help reduce heart disease risk and enable people to live longer.

Takeaways:

The main risk factors for heart disease are age, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, being overweight, lack of exercise, and depression.
Keeping blood pressure and cholesterol under control can significantly reduce the risk of heart attack.
Some people have genetic conditions like familial hypercholesterolemia that increase their risk of early heart disease.
Valve problems can be congenital or caused by infection and lead to heart disease.
Atrial fibrillation risk increases with age, alcohol use, high blood pressure, and obesity.
Ventricular arrhythmias from damaged heart tissue can cause sudden cardiac death.
Dilated cardiomyopathy and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are genetic heart muscle conditions.
Lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, and sleep can impact heart health.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP283: Heart Disease - What is it?

Sun, 28 May 2023 10:00:00 +1000

This episode discusses ways to prevent heart attacks by reducing risk factors. Heart disease commonly refers to problems with arteries like atherosclerosis where cholesterol builds up in the arteries and can rupture causing a heart attack. Electrical issues, valve problems, heart muscle inflammation, infections, toxins and drugs can also cause heart disease. Amyloid protein can infiltrate the heart and disrupt its function.

Takeaways:

The buildup of cholesterol in the arteries, known as atherosclerosis, can rupture suddenly and cause a heart attack when blood flow to the heart is blocked.
A heart attack is medically known as a myocardial infarction, where heart muscle tissue dies from lack of blood flow.
Narrowing of arteries from atherosclerotic plaque can starve the heart of oxygen, especially during exercise.
Heart disease can also involve electrical problems, valve issues, heart muscle inflammation, infections, toxins, and infiltration of substances into the heart tissue.
Alcohol, chemotherapy drugs, and amyloid protein deposits can damage the heart.
The podcast aims to inform and educate people about heart disease risks and prevention strategies.
The Healthy Heart Network provides information and resources to help people understand and reduce their risk of heart attack.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP282: St Lukes Joins Forces With Healthy Heart Network To Combat Heart Disesase in Tasmania

Sun, 21 May 2023 10:00:00 +1000

In this episode, Doctor Warrick Bishop, CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, discusses heart disease and ways to prevent it. Heart disease is a leading cause of death in Tasmania, with approximately one in eight deaths attributed to it.

Doctor Bishop has partnered with St. Luke's Health to develop a pilot study to better screen for cardiovascular disease. The study will focus on identifying 100 people to undergo a virtual heart assessment and recommend a coronary artery calcium score CT scan based on their results. The calcium score shines up bright and white on CT scanning, making it a great way to identify plaque buildup in arteries. Doctor Bishop's website, Virtual Heart Check, allows people to proactively see if they're appropriate for scanning and purchase the scan online.

The current population-based risk assessment tool used to determine heart disease risk is not precise enough, and Doctor Bishop advocates for precision care by looking at individual hearts. Calcium scoring has been criticized for not being mainstreamed, but Doctor Bishop believes it's a quick, cheap, and effective way to identify people at risk.

Takeaways:

Heart disease is a significant health issue in Australia, with heart attacks occurring every 20 minutes.
The Healthy Heart Network, led by Doctor Warrick Bishop, aims to help people live healthier lives and prevent heart disease.
St. Luke's Health has partnered with Doctor Bishop to develop a pilot study to better screen for cardiovascular disease in Tasmania.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Tasmania, with approximately one in eight deaths attributed to it.
The pilot study will focus on identifying 100 people to undergo a virtual heart assessment and recommend a coronary artery calcium score CT scan.
The calcium score CT scan is a quick, cheap, and effective way to identify plaque buildup in arteries, which can lead to heart attacks.
Population-based risk assessment tools are not always accurate in predicting an individual's risk of heart attack.
Calcium scoring has not been universally adopted due to ethical concerns around randomized controlled trials.
The Healthy Heart Network offers a free risk check to help individuals understand their risk of heart attack.
Being proactive about heart health, through measures such as regular CT scans and risk assessments, can help prevent heart attacks and improve overall health outcomes.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP281: Drunk Mice and Grafting Hearts

Sun, 14 May 2023 10:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses two interesting studies. The first study is about a liver hormone called fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) that can be used to help severely drunk people regain their balance and alertness. The study was conducted on mice and showed that the hormone stimulated the brain to release norepinephrine, which increases alertness. The hormone is not a party drug and only has an impact on alcohol.

The second study was conducted in Australia and looked at the best conduits for coronary artery bypass grafting. The study found that the left internal mammary artery was the best conduit, followed by the radial artery.

Takeaways:

A liver hormone called fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) has shown promising results in treating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, weight loss, and insulin control.
FGF21 has also been shown to help severely drunk mice regain their balance and alertness nearly twice as fast as those who didn't receive the shot.
FGF21 stimulates the brain to release norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter that increases alertness and attention, preparing the body for fight or flight.
The hormone seems to only have an impact on alcohol and not other sedatives like diazepam or valium, barbiturates like phenobarbital, or ketamine.
FGF21 is not a party drug and won't serve as a cure for hangovers or make someone ready to drive home.
The left internal mammary artery is the best conduit for coronary artery bypass grafting, followed by the radial artery.
The right internal mammary graft and vein grafts are also used for coronary artery bypass grafting.
The Healthy Heart Network offers people the opportunity to understand their present state of heart health, their current level of risk, and the positive steps they can take to prevent heart attack and improve their risk of heart attack in the future.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP280: Talking Osteoporosis With Doctor Cooley (Rhuematologist) Part 3

Sun, 07 May 2023 10:00:00 +1000

In this episode, Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses osteoporosis and its treatment options with Doctor Cooley. They cover various drugs used to treat osteoporosis, including bisphosphonates, denosumab, and anabolic agents. The decision to treat someone with medication for osteoporosis is patient-centered and involves assessing the patient's risks, lifestyle, and medical history. The PBS limits drug choices, and eligibility for medication is based on factors such as age, T-score, and previous fractures. Compliance with medication is a concern, and missing injections can lead to a rapid loss in bone density and fractures. The anabolic agents build bone, and newer drugs are being developed to improve treatment options.

The conversation also covers the risks and side effects of different drugs, including dental complications and atypical fractures. Doctor Bishop emphasizes the importance of identifying osteoporosis early and taking steps to maintain good bone health. He invites listeners to join the Healthy Heart Network to learn more about heart health and reducing the risk of heart attack.

Osteoporosis is a major problem, and lifestyle changes can help mitigate the risk.
Medication for osteoporosis must be patient-centered, and the patient must be fully involved in the decision-making process.
Bisphosphonates work by slowing the bone turnover rate, so bone is not lost as fast.
Denosumab is an antibody that blocks a chemical in the bone that switches on the cells that eat up bone faster.
Anabolic agents build bone and are used for patients who have had a fracture on other treatments and have a bone density score of less than minus three.
Treatment for osteoporosis is limited to 18 months because of the risk of an atypical fracture.
There are some studies looking at giving anabolic agents and denosumab at the same time to augment bone density gain.
Lifestyle changes that promote good bone health also reflect good cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of cancer.
Perimenopause is a good time to start thinking about exercise and other lifestyle changes to address bone density.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP279: Talking Osteoporosis With Doctor Cooley (Rhuematologist) Part 2

Sun, 30 Apr 2023 10:00:00 +1000

In this episode, Doctor Warrick Bishop continues his interview with Doctor Helen Cooley, a Hobart-based rheumatologist, about how to approach individuals with suspicion of osteoporosis. Doctor Cooley emphasizes the importance of lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and exercise, as well as diet and supplements. She recommends getting calcium from the diet rather than supplements, and suggests taking vitamin D and K2 supplements if necessary. She also mentions the Garvan risk calculator, which can help determine a person's fracture risk. An interesting point she makes is that calcium supplements should be taken with meals to ensure optimal absorption.

Osteoporosis is a condition that can lead to fractures and is more common in postmenopausal women.
Risk calculators can be used to determine an individual's risk of fracture.
Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can have a negative impact on bone density.
Weight-bearing exercise is important for maintaining bone density.
Calcium should be obtained from the diet rather than supplements.
Vitamin D is important for optimal absorption of calcium and phosphate.
Vitamin K2 may have a role in calcium metabolism, but its benefits in osteoporosis are uncertain.
Leafy green vegetables are a good source of vitamin K.
Coronary artery disease kills one in four people, so it is important to evaluate risk.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP278: Talking Osteoporosis With Doctor Cooley (Rhuematologist) Part 1

Sun, 23 Apr 2023 10:00:00 +1000

In this episode, Doctor Warrick Bishop and Doctor Helen Cooley, a rheumatologist, discuss osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition where bones become thin and fragile, making them more prone to breaking. Age is the main factor in developing osteoporosis, but other factors such as genetics, diet, and lifestyle can also contribute. It is estimated that over a million Australians have osteoporosis, and 60% of people over 50 have either osteoporosis or osteopenia. Bone density scans are available at 70 years of age and are covered by Medicare. It is interesting to note that if someone has a fracture and is in the osteopenic range, it is considered to be osteoporosis.

Age is the main risk factor for developing osteoporosis, but other factors such as diet, genetics, and certain medical conditions can also increase the risk.
A DEXA scan is used to measure bone density and compare it to a normal bone density when you were in your 20s and 30s.
It is estimated that over a million Australians have osteoporosis and if you are 50 or over, it is estimated that about 60% of the population has osteoporosis or osteopenia.
A bone density scan at 70 is recommended for screening, but if you have any of the risk factors listed, you should be screened earlier.
There is a Medicare rebate for the bone density scan at 70.
Family history of osteoporosis is a risk factor and can trigger earlier screening.
Hip fractures in older people have a 50% chance of never returning home and a 30% chance of death within a year.
The Healthy Heart Network offers a lifetime membership for $5 which provides access to resources and information about heart health and risk of heart attack.
Positive steps can be taken to improve your risk of heart attack and osteoporosis.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP277: ABC Interview 2: The Silent Killer, Blood Pressure

Sun, 16 Apr 2023 10:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist, discusses the importance of understanding blood pressure for better health.

He explains that blood pressure is a silent killer that can fly under the radar, and that it is a spectrum from low to high, with a perfect level that is different for each individual. He notes that stress, genetics, and aging can all contribute to high blood pressure.

Losing weight can help reduce blood pressure, with one kilogram of weight loss resulting in a one millimeter mercury reduction in blood pressure.

The website www.virtualheartcheck.com.au can be used to check your risk and learn more about how to be even more precise in reducing your risk. The podcast ends with a reminder of the importance of maintaining healthy blood pressure levels to prevent heart disease.

Blood pressure is a spectrum, and there is a perfect level for each individual.
Elevated blood pressure causes wear and tear on arteries, leading to health problems.
Stress can cause a temporary increase in blood pressure.
Genetics can play a role in high blood pressure.
As we age, our arteries get stiffer, leading to higher blood pressure.
Losing weight can help reduce blood pressure.
One kilogram of weight loss equals one millimeter of mercury reduction in blood pressure.
Alcohol consumption can increase blood pressure.
Virtualheartcheck.com.au can help individuals assess their risk for heart disease.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

In this episode, Doctor Bishop discusses the importance of understanding blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol for better health. He explains that blood pressure is a spectrum, and that there is a point for any individual where their lowest blood pressure is ideal. He also explains that stress, genes, and age can all contribute to high blood pressure, and that losing weight can help reduce it.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP276: ABC Interview - Why is Blood Pressure Important?

Sun, 09 Apr 2023 10:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist, discusses the importance of blood pressure and its impact on overall health.

Blood pressure is the measured pressure within the vascular system with each beat of the heart and each relaxation of the heart. It is critical to keep blood pressure low to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, atrial fibrillation, cardiac failure, renal impairment, and even dementia.

Blood pressure is a range, and for any individual, there is a low as possible, and once they get below that, they get symptoms of low blood pressure. It is essential to get blood pressure checked regularly and talk to a GP about wearing a monitor for 24 hours to get clear information.

Lifestyle changes such as weight loss and exercise can help reduce blood pressure, and there are also medications available. A 5mmHg reduction in blood pressure can give a 10% reduction in major cardiovascular events.

Finally, Dr. Bishop recommends visiting the website www.virtualheartcheck.com.au to evaluate the risk of coronary artery disease.

Heart disease is a major problem in Australia, with someone suffering a heart attack every 20 minutes.
Blood pressure is the measured pressure within the vascular system with each beat of the heart and each relaxation of the heart.
Blood pressure is important because it represents the wear and tear on our entire vasculature, and high blood pressure can lead to heart attack, stroke, atrial fibrillation, cardiac failure, renal impairment, and even dementia.
Low blood pressure is generally better than high blood pressure, but there is no one-size-fits-all number for what is considered low blood pressure.
Blood pressure can fluctuate throughout the day, and it's important to get it checked regularly and wear a monitor for 24 hours if there are any concerns.
Smartwatches and other wearable devices are not currently reliable for measuring blood pressure, but there may be medical-grade devices in the future.
Panic attacks and stress can put a strain on the heart and increase blood pressure, so it's important to manage stress properly.
Lifestyle changes, such as losing weight and exercising, can help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of cardiovascular events.
Dropping one kilogram of body weight can drop systolic blood pressure by one millimeter of mercury.
Coronary artery disease kills one in four people, and evaluating the risk and taking preventative measures is crucial for maintaining heart health.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

In this episode, Doctor Bishop discussed the importance of blood pressure and how it affects our overall health. He explained that blood pressure is the measured pressure within the vascular system with each beat of the heart and each relaxation of the heart. He also discussed the importance of getting your blood pressure checked and how lifestyle changes such as weight loss and exercise can help reduce blood pressure. He also mentioned the importance of 24-hour blood pressure monitoring and the availability of a Medicare rebate for this testing. Finally, he highlighted the fact that even a 5% reduction in blood pressure can lead to a 10% reduction in major cardiovascular events. This podcast is a great resource for anyone looking to learn more about blood pressure and how to manage it.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP275: Interview With Heart Surgeon Peter Tesar

Sun, 02 Apr 2023 10:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop interviews Peter Tessa, a cardiothoracic surgeon, about patient journeys and how people travel differently through that path depending on such things as whether it's an elective case, an emergency case, their pre-morbid personality.

Surgery is pretty confronting for people and surgery as well is accepted by people very differently depending upon age because there's an age where you anticipate having to having serious illness and there's an age where you don't anticipate yet and so it's quite threatening. There's a mindset where the person goes through to actually show that.

The differentiation between them, that you're actually taking them all of them, doesn't matter how they present, you're taking them on the journey that they want to participate and join a team and the coach of that team happens to be the cardiac surgeon and different personalities and different ethnic groups address that differently where you almost have to reel them in.

The families then become a support structure to that team to maintain that going forward when they see all of this happening. The language we use actually dictates outcome as well, because the long-term outcome, and the long-term outcome is the outcome of the disease.

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community.

The podcast is about helping people understand blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol for better health.
The speaker interviews a cardiothoracic surgeon named Peter Tessa.
Patient journeys can differ depending on whether it's an elective or emergency case, pre-morbid personality, and age.
Surgery is accepted differently depending on age and the severity of the illness.
Patients who are asymptomatic but need an operation may need more convincing to join the team.
Different personalities and ethnic groups address surgery differently, and doctors need to adjust their approach accordingly.
Emergency cases can be incredibly stressful for patients and their families, and doctors need to engage with them differently.
Coaching patients through the surgery process is critical, and doctors need to establish trust and confidence with their patients.
The language used by doctors can dictate outcomes, and positive language can help patients feel more positive about their recovery.
The family can be a support structure for patients during and after their hospital stay, and they can help patients continue to improve their health.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

This episode is about helping people understand the risks and potential adverse outcomes of surgery, and how to cope with the mental and physical challenges of the process. Peter Tesar shares his experience of helping patients through the process, emphasizing the importance of having a positive attitude and a supportive family. He emphasizes the need to make patients feel part of the team and to help them understand that they can take control of their own health. He also encourages them to grab life and to enjoy it, even after a major surgery. This episode is a great resource for anyone looking to understand the process of surgery and how to cope with it.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP274: What Do Cardiologists Eat?

Sun, 26 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop and four other cardiologists share their daily eating habits.

Doctor Bishop follows an eight-hour eating window and fasts for 16 hours, recommending the Mediterranean diet and avoiding processed and sugar-dense foods.

Dr. Deirdre Matina follows a pescatarian Mediterranean diet, but is not too strict with herself and allows occasional indulgences.

Dr. Carmen Landreau eats a balanced diet, avoiding fad diets and not depriving herself of occasional treats.

Dr. C. Ngo Byrie Murs is predominantly pescatarian and refers to her eating habits as nutrition instead of diet.

Dr. Gramma G. Nallamothu is a vegetarian who enjoys spicy food and believes in eating mostly plants.

All five cardiologists stress the importance of good sleep, regular exercise, reducing stress, and periodic health checks and screening for overall good health. Doctor Bishop also recommends minimizing food with barcodes and avoiding processed and sugar-dense foods.

The Healthy Heart Network, of which Doctor Bishop is CEO, offers help to understand present heart health and improve the risk of heart attack in the future.

Heart disease is a major issue in Australia, with someone suffering a heart attack every 20 minutes.
Doctor Warwick Bishop is a cardiologist, author, and keynote speaker who is focused on helping people live as well as possible for as long as possible.
Doctor Bishop recommends following the Mediterranean diet, minimizing processed and sugar-dense foods, and focusing on good sleep, regular exercise, reducing stress, and periodic health checks and screening.
Dr. Deirdre Matina from the Cleveland Clinic follows a mostly Mediterranean diet as a pescatarian, and tries to keep her eating on a spectrum without being too strict with herself.
Dr. Carmen Landreau from the Memorial Herman Hospital in Houston emphasizes balance in her eating and avoids fad diets, while allowing occasional treats in moderation.
Dr. C. Ngo Byrie Murs from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles is predominantly pescatarian and refers to what she eats as nutrition instead of diet.
Dr. Gramma G. Nallamothu from the University of Michigan and the Ann Arbor VA Medical Center is a vegetarian who aims for balance in his eating and believes in the importance of understanding the diversity of personal food choices.
All five cardiologists interviewed have different eating habits and preferences, but they all emphasize the importance of good nutrition for heart health.
The article from the Huff Post surveyed five cardiologists to share exactly what they eat and drink during the day.
The Healthy Heart Network offers resources to help people understand their present state of heart health, their current level of risk, and the positive steps they can take to improve their risk of heart attack in the future.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

In this episode, Doctor Bishop discusses the Mediterranean diet and avoiding processed and sugar-dense foods. He emphasizes that diet is only one pillar of good health and that regular exercise, good sleep, reducing stress, and periodic health checks are also important. The podcast also features interviews with four other cardiologists who share their daily eating habits. They all emphasize the importance of balance and nutrition, with a focus on mostly plant-based diets.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

In this podcast, Dr. Warwick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, discusses heart disease and how it can be prevented through understanding blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol. He recommends following the Mediterranean diet and avoiding processed and sugar-dense foods. Dr. Bishop emphasizes that diet is only one pillar of good health and that regular exercise, good sleep, reducing stress, and periodic health checks are also important. The podcast also features interviews with four other cardiologists who share their daily eating habits. They all emphasize the importance of balance and nutrition, with a focus on mostly plant-based diets. Dr. Bishop encourages listeners to join the Healthy Heart Network to understand their present state of heart health and take positive steps to improve their risk of heart attack in the future.

Heart disease is a major issue in Australia, with someone suffering a heart attack every 20 minutes.
The Mediterranean diet is recommended by Dr. Warwick Bishop, as it has been shown to be effective.
Diet is only one pillar of good health, and other factors such as good sleep, regular exercise, reducing stress, and periodic health checks are also important.
Dr. Deirdre Matina from the Cleveland Clinic mostly follows the Mediterranean diet, but allows herself occasional indulgences.
Dr. C. Ngo Byrie Murs from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is predominantly pescatarian and believes in striving for balance in eating.
Dr. Gramma G. Nallamothu from the University of Michigan is a vegetarian and believes in eating mostly plants.
It is important to understand the diversity of diets and be inclusive in how we think about diet and nutrition.
The Healthy Heart Network offers help to people to understand their present state of heart health and their current level of risk.
Joining the Healthy Heart Network for only $5 as a lifetime member represents $55 worth of value.
Dr. Warwick Bishop is the CEO of the Healthy Heart Network and is all about trying to help people live as well as possible for as long as possible.

EP273: Aging and Red Wine

Sun, 19 Mar 2023 10:00:00 +1100

Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses two papers related to aging and red wine in this podcast. The first paper, published in 2013, identified molecular indicators important in assessing aging in mammals.

Since then, approximately 300,000 articles have been published on the topic. The Mediterranean diet is recommended for slowing down aging, and eating nuts, fibre-rich foods, and a diet low in fatty meats and sugars is associated with less chronic disease.

The second paper discusses a study on the effects of red wine on gut microbiota in men with coronary artery disease. The study found that red wine consumption possibly improved antioxidant levels in the blood, but there is no clear evidence that alcohol consumption is beneficial in this space.

Doctor Bishop emphasizes the importance of living as well as possible for as long as possible and encourages listeners to visit the Healthy Heart Network's website to evaluate their risk of coronary artery disease.

Heart disease is a significant problem in Australia, with someone suffering a heart attack every 20 minutes.
A Mediterranean diet, rich in fibre and antioxidants, is associated with better health and may help slow down aging.
There are various molecular indicators of aging, including genomic instability, telomere wear, and mitochondrial dysfunction.
Dysregulation of nutrient sensing, chronic inflammation, and imbalances in the microbiome is also associated with aging.
Red wine consumption may improve antioxidant levels in the blood, but there is no clear evidence that alcohol consumption is beneficial for health.
There is no healthy amount of alcohol, and excess alcohol consumption is harmful.
The gut microbiota can be analyzed using RNA sequencing techniques to determine the number and species of bugs within the gut.
Synthetic prebiotics, fermented foods, and polyphenols can interfere with gut microbiota analysis.
There is no clear-cut diet tie to longevity, but reducing chronic conditions and improving their management can impact age and health.
Coronary artery disease kills one in four people, and evaluating the risk is important for maintaining heart health.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP272: Heart Failure and Lipid Conference Part 2

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 10:00:00 +1100

Doctor Warrick Bishop is a cardiologist, author, and keynote speaker who aims to help people live as well as possible for as long as possible.

In Australia, heart disease is a significant issue, with someone suffering a heart attack every 20 minutes. This podcast aims to help people understand blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol for better health.

The podcast covers a conference on heart failure and cholesterol management, where experts discussed lipoprotein A, a lipid particle that can increase the risk of coronary artery disease and aortic stenosis. The conference also covered the use of artificial intelligence in risk calculation and the importance of weight reduction in individuals with fatty liver disease.

The conference also discussed the intersection of genetics and heart failure and the future of understanding it.

The podcast concludes with a free risk check at www.virtualheartcheck.com for those interested in knowing more about their risk of heart attack.

Heart disease is a major issue in Australia, with someone suffering a heart attack every 20 minutes.
The podcast is focused on helping people understand blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol for better health.
Lipoprotein A is a lipid particle that is not commonly known but is important in understanding residual risk in individuals with high cholesterol.
Lipoprotein A can accumulate in the arteries and increase the chance of coronary artery disease and aortic stenosis.
There are guidelines and recommendations on who should be tested for lipoprotein A and when they should be tested.
Artificial intelligence can be used to refine current risk factor tools and give causal information in regard to risk factors that we're trying to manage, such as cholesterol or blood pressure.
Fatty liver disease is becoming a major cause of cirrhosis, and individuals with fatty liver disease benefit from weight reduction.
Visceral fat is more problematic for cardiovascular risk than subcutaneous fat.
Strain evaluation is used in surveillance during chemotherapy to evaluate the heart's muscle structure and how it behaves.
Heart failure can be caused by genetics and external triggers such as chemotherapy, alcohol, or an infected process.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP271: Heart Failure and Lipid Conference Part 1

Sun, 05 Mar 2023 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist, shares insights from a recent conference on heart failure and cholesterol management.

The conference discussed four pillars of care for patients with cardiac failure, with a heart that doesn't pump properly, including beta blockers, the Mineralocorticoid system, neprilysin, and SGLT2 blockers.

The conference also discussed heart failure with reduced pumping, reduced ejection fraction, and atrial fibrillation, and the importance of keeping people in normal rhythm. Dr. Josephine Harris shared research around heart failure with reduced ejection fraction in specific populations, focusing particularly on the elderly and frail.

The conference also discussed a case study of a patient with high cholesterol who was apprehensive about taking medication. Finally, the conference discussed the potential toxicities to the heart of some commonly used chemotherapeutic agents and the importance of ongoing surveillance.

Doctor Bishop invites listeners to check out a free risk check at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au to understand their risk of heart attack.

Heart disease is a major issue in Australia, with someone suffering a heart attack every 20 minutes.
The podcast is focused on helping people understand blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol for better health.
The foundation of care for heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction is centered on four pillars: beta blockers, mineralocorticoid system modification, neprilysin, and SGLT2 blockers.
Atrial fibrillation can lead to reduced pumping and efficiency of the heart, and addressing it through ablation can improve heart failure outcomes.
Elderly and frail individuals can benefit from appropriate therapy for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.
Familial hypercholesterolemia can be difficult to diagnose, particularly in individuals with high-fat diets.
Chemotherapeutic agents can have toxic effects on the heart, and surveillance is important during and after treatment.
Genetic markers may be able to identify individuals at risk for side effects from chemotherapeutic agents.
Heart attacks are the single biggest killer in the Western world, accounting for nine million deaths globally.
The podcast offers a free risk check for individuals interested in understanding their risk of heart attack.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP270: Talking Salt, The Heart, and Antibiotic Prophylaxis

Sun, 26 Feb 2023 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses heart disease and how to improve heart health.

He emphasizes the importance of understanding blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol for better health. Doctor Bishop then talks about the impact of salt on the heart, stating that high salt intake can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of stroke and heart attack. He recommends limiting salt intake to 3 grams or less per day and suggests using potassium-based salt substitutes to lower salt intake.

Doctor Bishop also discusses antibiotic prophylaxis, which is the use of antibiotics to reduce the risk of bacterial infection in the heart. He explains that antibiotic prophylaxis is necessary for individuals with prosthetic cardiac valves, repair material in their heart, or a history of subacute bacterial endocarditis. Dental hygiene is also important in reducing the risk of bacterial endocarditis.

Finally, Doctor Bishop encourages individuals to evaluate their risk of coronary artery disease and visit the website www.virtualheartcheck.com.au for more information.

Heart disease is a significant problem in Australia, with someone suffering a heart attack every 20 minutes.
Raised salt intake can increase blood pressure, which is a significant risk factor for stroke and heart attack.
The Heart Foundation of Australia and the American Heart Foundation recommend limiting salt intake to approximately 3 grams or less per day.
Salt substitution, using potassium-based salts instead of sodium-based salts, can be a cost-effective way to lower salt intake and reduce the risk of cardiovascular events.
Antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended for individuals with prosthetic cardiac valves, repair material within their heart, subacute bacterial endocarditis, congenital heart disease, and rheumatic heart fever.
Dental hygiene is essential in reducing the risk of bacterial endocarditis, and dental procedures can increase the likelihood of bacteria entering the bloodstream.
High-risk dental procedures, such as dental extraction and significant periodontal work, require a high-risk antibiotic regime.
Low-risk dental procedures, such as a dental oral exam or a local injection, are considered lower risk and may require a lower dose of antibiotics.
Clindamycin and amoxicillin are commonly used antibiotics for prophylaxis.
The website www.virtualheartcheck.com.au provides information on evaluating the risk of coronary artery disease.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP269: Talking Brain Naturetic Peptides & LDL, HDL, and VDL Choelsterol

Sun, 19 Feb 2023 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses the brain natriuretic peptide system and its role in reducing strain on the heart.

The peptides released by the heart help to offload the heart and improve its function, reduce blood pressure, dampen down sympathetic tone, and reduce aldosterone production. The natriuretic peptides also reduce inflammation and can have a positive effect on remodeling of the heart. Brain natriuretic peptide levels are used in the acute setting to determine whether shortness of breath is lung or heart-related. The neprolysin system breaks down the natriuretic peptides, but an agent called Secubitril can block neprolysin and elevate the body's level of natriuretic peptides.

Doctor Bishop also discusses LDL, VLDL, and HDL, which are lipoprotein particles that carry cholesterol and fats around the body. LDL is tied to plaque and coronary artery health, while HDL is the reverse transport particle. VLDL is the main carrier of triglycerides around the body and is elevated when triglyceride levels are raised.

Doctor Bishop recommends checking the lipid profile simultaneously with looking for insulin resistance to cover a more holistic approach to risk management.

Heart disease is a significant issue in Australia, and many heart attacks could be prevented with proper knowledge and action.
The brain natriuretic peptide system is a chemical messenger system that helps reduce strain on the heart.
Brain natriuretic peptides lead to fluid loss through the kidneys, lower blood pressure, and reduce stress on the heart.
Testing brain natriuretic peptide levels can help determine if shortness of breath is related to the lungs or heart.
Brain natriuretic peptide measurements can be used to track cardiac failure and valvular abnormality.
The neprolysin system breaks down the natriuretic peptide system, but an inhibitor of neprolysin can elevate natriuretic peptides and be beneficial for the heart.
LDL, VLDL, and HDL are lipoprotein particles that carry cholesterol and fats around the body.
LDL is the main particle that contributes to plaque formation and coronary artery disease.
HDL is the reverse transport particle that can pick up cholesterol from the periphery and bring it back to the liver.
Elevated VLDL levels are associated with metabolic syndrome, which is generally associated with central adiposity and features of inflammation.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP268: Talking Blood Thinners

Sun, 12 Feb 2023 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Doctor Warwick Bishop discusses blood thinners, including anti-platelet agents and anticoagulants.

Anti-platelet agents are critical in managing atherosclerosis, and patients with ischemic heart disease, stroke, or peripheral vascular disease require some sort of anti-platelet therapy. In the setting of cardiac disease, individuals who need a stent will require two anti-platelet agents for a period of time. The nuances of that implantation may determine the recommendation for dual anti-platelet therapy.

Warfarin is an old anticoagulant that is still used in certain situations, such as rheumatic heart disease and mechanical valves. Non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are beneficial for the management of non-valvular atrial fibrillation and pulmonary embolism.

Stopping dual anti-platelet therapy or anticoagulants prior to surgery requires a conversation with the patient, the cardiologist who commenced the anticoagulant regime, and the surgeon. It is important to discuss the risks of bleeding related to surgery and the risk of clot forming if stopping the anticoagulant. Patients should not stop anticoagulants without deferring to someone who knows the risks inherent with stopping that anticoagulation.

Heart disease is a major issue in Australia, with someone suffering a heart attack every 20 minutes.
Blood thinners are used to keep platelets less sticky and prevent clot formation.
Anti-platelet agents and anticoagulants are critical in the management of atherosclerosis.
Patients with ischemic heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease require some sort of anti-platelet therapy.
Patients who need a stent require dual anti-platelet therapy for a period of time.
The nuances of stent implantation may determine the recommendation for dual anti-platelet therapy.
Warfarin is still used in certain situations where it outperforms non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants.
Non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants are beneficial for the management of non-valvular atrial fibrillation and pulmonary embolism.
Stopping dual anti-platelet therapy or anticoagulant therapy prior to surgery needs to be guided by the individual who put the stent in or the cardiologist who's responsible for the patient.
Patients need to have a discussion about the risks of bleeding related to surgery and the risk of clot forming if stopping the anticoagulant.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP267: Body and Soul with Al Horscroft Part 3

Sun, 05 Feb 2023 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Doctor Warwick Bishop and Dr Alistair discuss the concept of happiness and how it relates to change. They explore different models of will, including the will to pleasure, power, meaning, and consciousness.

They suggest that happiness is a byproduct of living a certain way and that people who pursue a life of meaning or power often have more experiences of it. They also discuss the importance of falling in love with the present moment and what's happening, even in difficult situations like illness or surgery.

Dr Alistair shares his experience of using hypnosis and neuro-linguistic programming to stabilize his vitals during a pulmonary embolism. They emphasize the inevitability of struggle and the importance of embracing it to break the loop of suffering.

Finally, they encourage listeners to invest time, money, and support into change and to embrace the inevitability of struggle and problems.

The podcast is about understanding blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol for better health.
Pursuing a life of meaning or power often leads to more experiences of happiness than pursuing happiness directly.
People have different drivers that give them happiness, such as pleasure, power, knowledge, meaning, or consciousness.
When illness arrives, change occurs in people's lives, and their emotional journey can affect their recovery.
Falling in love with the present moment and what's happening can help people deal with illness and move back into a realm of happiness.
The investment required for change can be time, money, or support, and there will be irritation, agitation, and frustration.
Embracing the inevitability of struggle, problems, and effort required to become more aware and conscious can help people break the loop of suffering.
People need to do enough work to fall back in love with what they can be and ignore the resistance to change.
Inevitability is a powerful concept that can help people adapt to most things and reduce resistance and suffering.
Heart attack is the single biggest killer in the Western world, accounting for 9 million deaths globally, and it seems to be able to affect anyone.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP266: Body and Soul with Al Horscroft Part 2

Sun, 29 Jan 2023 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop interviews Alistair Horscroft, CEO of the Mind Academy, about habits and behavior change.

Horscroft explains that the brain has two ways of processing information: basic association and meaning. He gives an example of how changing the association of Coca-Cola from positive to negative can help change a habit.

However, he also emphasizes the importance of understanding the meaning behind a habit and replacing it with something else that meets the same need. Horscroft believes that successful habit change requires a synthesis of different approaches, rather than a one-size-fits-all solution. He also stresses the importance of the client being motivated to make the change, rather than the therapist or coach.

Finally, Doctor Bishop and Horscroft discuss the importance of recognizing the art of medicine, rather than relying solely on evidence-based practice.

The podcast is about helping people understand blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol for better health.
The guest in the podcast is Alistair Horscroft, CEO of the Mind Academy, and known as the street philosopher.
The brain has two important parts: the mind and the brain itself.
Psychology may not be working as well as it could because it does not deal with deeper beliefs that may be propagating the actual problem or behavior.
To make successful habit changes, we need to be aware of both the basic brain associations and the meaning behind the habit.
The power dynamic in therapy should be installing the power within the client, not forcing the client to change.
The therapist should make the client prove that they want the change enough.
The therapist should assess how the client experiences the habitual problem and clarify the pain-pleasure relationship to that thing.
The meaning behind a habit is important, and the therapist should understand the secondary gain.
The Healthy Heart Network offers lifetime access to help people understand their risk of heart attack and the positive steps they can take to reduce that risk.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP265: Body and Soul with Al Horscroft Part 1

Sun, 22 Jan 2023 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop interviews Alistair O'Connor, CEO of the Mind Academy. They discuss the connection between the mind and body, and the importance of addressing both psychological and philosophical aspects of mental health.

O'Connor shares his personal journey, including his experience at a cult-like school that combined Vedic philosophy, Christianity, and military discipline. He also discusses the importance of embracing struggle and frustration as a gateway to success and change, rather than trying to meditate it away.

The Mind Academy aims to provide practical psychological and philosophical tools to help individuals achieve both functional and meaningful lives. They emphasize the importance of aligning behavior, identity, and goals to achieve success.

The podcast also promotes the Healthy Heart Network, a community for those interested in heart health and reducing the risk of heart attack.

The podcast is focused on helping people understand blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol for better health.
The host encourages listeners to leave a 5-star review and share the podcast with family and friends.
The guest on the podcast is Alistair O'Connor, CEO of the Mind Academy and known as the Street Philosopher.
The mind and body cannot be separated, and there is a discussion about the mind-brain distinction.
The guest had an interesting journey, including being outsourced to a cult-like school in London.
The Mind Academy aims to provide practical psychological and philosophical tools to help people create a functional and meaningful life.
The guest discusses the importance of embracing struggle rather than trying to meditate it away.
Meditation is not always useful and can be contraindicated in certain psychological approaches.
The most successful people embrace struggle and find a way to embrace agitation, frustration, and irritation as a gateway to success.
The Healthy Heart Network is a community focused on heart health and risk of heart attack, and membership is available for a lifetime fee of $5.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP264: All About Hormone Replacement

Sun, 15 Jan 2023 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist, discusses hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with Dr. V, an OBGYN with over 20 years of experience. They discuss the impact of HRT on cardiovascular risk, bone health, and sexual health.

HRT can be helpful for women experiencing moderate to severe symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness. However, it is not recommended for women with a history of heart attack or stroke, or those with a risk of deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism.

The dosage of birth control pills is not the same as HRT, and HRT is not a first-line therapy for osteoporosis. Women who need HRT should be on the lowest dose for the shortest amount of time possible. Customized care is important, and women should speak with their OBGYN about their specific symptoms and possible treatments.

The Healthy Heart Network offers lifetime access to information and tools to help people understand their risk of heart attack and take positive steps to reduce that risk.

Heart disease is a major issue in Australia, with over 20 people dying from heart disease every day.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was once considered protective against heart disease, but a study showed an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes in women on HRT.
Women who already have a history of heart attack or stroke are not candidates for HRT.
Women with severe symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, are candidates for HRT.
HRT can be helpful for bone density and sexual health, but it's not a first-line therapy for osteoporosis.
HRT may increase the risk of breast cancer in women who are susceptible.
HRT may have a small increased risk of clot formation, but this would be dealt with on an individual basis.
Customized care is important in the diagnosis and treatment of menopause symptoms.
Exercise and diet can help manage menopause symptoms without medication.
The Healthy Heart Network offers resources to help people understand their risk of heart attack and take positive steps to reduce that risk.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP263: An Exciting New Approach to Sepsis

Sun, 08 Jan 2023 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses the importance of preventing heart attacks and improving general health on a global scale. He highlights the alarming statistics of heart attacks in Australia, with one occurring almost every 10 minutes and over 20 people dying from it daily.

Doctor Bishop also talks about sepsis, a medical situation caused by infections in the blood, which affects 1.7 million people annually in the United States, with 350,000 deaths. Historically, blood cultures have been used to identify sepsis, but this process can take several days.

However, a new technology has been developed that can identify specific bacteria in just two and a half hours using a porous blood sample and DNA amplification and matching analysis. Although this technology has limitations, it has the potential to be a game changer and save lives.

Doctor Bishop encourages listeners to join the Healthy Heart Network, which provides lifetime access to information about heart health and risk reduction strategies for a small fee.

Heart attacks are a major problem in Australia, with over 20 people dying from a heart attack every day.
Many heart attacks could be prevented with proper risk reduction strategies.
Dr. Warwick Bishop is a cardiologist, author, keynote speaker, and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, which aims to help people live as well as possible for as long as possible.
Infections in the blood, or sepsis, are a significant medical problem that can affect 1.7 million people per year in the United States, with 350,000 deaths.
Historically, blood cultures have been used to identify sepsis, which involves waiting 24-48 hours for bacteria to grow in the blood culture bottles.
A new technology has been developed that can identify specific bacteria in a patient's blood in just two and a half hours, using a process that involves drying out a sample of whole blood and running it through a DNA amplification and matching analysis process.
This new technology has demonstrated efficacy with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and candida albicans.
The new technology can provide information about the likely medications that would be beneficial for therapy within a two and a half hour period.
Although blood cultures may still be used to match up an organism with the medication that it responds to, the new technology will give us good information and great insight into what bug is there and what initial therapies are indicated.
The Healthy Heart Network offers a membership program called the Healthy Heart Network, which provides lifetime access to information about heart health and risk reduction strategies for a one-time fee of $5.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP262: What About Cold Exposure?

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses the benefits of cold exposure on the body.

Cold exposure has been shown to activate brown fat, which is more metabolically active and can burn calories and improve insulin resistance. Cold water immersion can also improve overall cardiovascular health, reduce blood pressure, and ease pain. Experienced and inexperienced swimmers can both benefit from cold water immersion.

However, it is important to gradually ease into cold exposure and check with a doctor first. Starting with cold water exposure during a shower can be a good way to ease into it.

The Healthy Heart Network offers resources to help people understand their present state of heart health and take positive steps to improve their risk of heart attack in the future. Dr. Bishop encourages people to live as well as possible for as long as possible.

Heart attacks are a significant problem in Australia, with over 20 people dying from a heart attack every day.
Cold exposure has been practiced for centuries and has been shown to have potential health benefits.
Cold exposure can activate brown fat, which is more metabolically active and can burn calories and improve insulin resistance.
Cold water immersion can improve overall cardiovascular health, reduce blood pressure, and improve insulin sensitivity.
Cold water immersion can trigger a shock response that stresses the cardiovascular system and elevates heart rate, adding a component of exercise.
Cold water immersion can reduce inflammation, ease pain, and speed up recovery, which is why many top sportsmen use ice baths after games.
Cold water immersion can release feel-good chemicals in the brain, leading to a sense of positivity and joyfulness.
Gradual exposure to cold water, such as gradually turning off the hot water in the shower, is recommended to ease into cold exposure.
Wearing cold wet socks can help improve blood and nutrient circulation within the legs.
Joining the Healthy Heart Network can help people understand their present state of heart health, their current level of risk, and the positive steps they can take to improve their risk of heart attack in the future.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP261: Walking and Weights

Sun, 25 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses strategies to prevent heart attacks and improve overall health. Heart disease is a major issue in Australia, with over 20 people dying from it daily.

The podcast aims to educate listeners on how to reduce their risk of heart disease through lifestyle changes such as managing blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol.

Doctor Bishop also discusses the benefits of regular physical exercise, including weightlifting and aerobic exercise, particularly for older adults. A study found that individuals who did both weightlifting and aerobic exercise had a 40% lower risk of all-cause mortality. However, the study did not provide insight into the type of weightlifting performed.

Doctor Bishop emphasizes the importance of strength and fitness in maintaining independence and preventing frailty. He encourages listeners to prioritize regular exercise and visit the website virtualheartcheck.com.au for more information on evaluating their risk of heart disease.

Heart disease is a major health issue in Australia, with over 20 people dying from it daily.
Regular physical exercise, including weightlifting and aerobic exercise, can help prevent heart disease and other health issues.
The current recommendation for aerobic exercise is moderate intensity of about 75 to 150 minutes per week.
A study found that individuals who did both weightlifting and met the aerobic activity recommendations had a 40% lower risk of all-cause mortality.
The benefits of weightlifting and aerobic exercise appear to be additive.
Strength and fitness are important for maintaining independence and preventing frailty.
Individuals who did no aerobic exercise or weightlifting had the highest rate of all-cause mortality.
Coronary artery disease kills one in four people.
Virtualheartcheck.com.au provides information about evaluating the risk of heart disease.
Regular exercise can help people live as well as possible for as long as possible.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP260: Vitamins vs Cocoa

Sun, 18 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist, discusses strategies to prevent heart attacks and improve general health on a global scale. He highlights the high incidence of heart attacks in Australia, with one occurring almost every 10 minutes and over 20 people dying from a heart attack each day.

Doctor Bishop then discusses a recent study called Cosmos Mind, which examined the impact of vitamins and cocoa on the aging brain. The study found that a simple multivitamin mineral supplement offered some benefit, while cocoa did not.

Doctor Bishop suggests that a multivitamin mineral supplement may be beneficial for older populations with comorbidities. He also discusses the difference between cacao and cocoa and suggests that cacao, the less refined and more raw product, may have more active ingredients that could be beneficial for cognitive function.

Dr. Bishop emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach to health, including regular exercise, meditation, and a healthy diet. He also encourages listeners to check their risk of heart attack and provides a website for virtual heart check.

Heart attacks are a major health concern in Australia, with one occurring almost every 10 minutes and over 20 people dying from a heart attack each day.
Strategies can be put in place to reduce the risk of heart attacks and improve overall health.
The Cosmos Mind study examined the impact of vitamins and cocoa on the aging brain, with a focus on memory, executive function, and cognition.
The study found that a simple multivitamin mineral supplement offered some benefit to older individuals with comorbidities, while cocoa did not.
Cacao, the less refined and more raw product of the cacao bean, may have more active ingredients that could be beneficial for cognitive function.
Fish oil is a commonly consumed supplement in Australia, but its role in cognitive function is unclear.
A holistic approach to health, including regular exercise, meditation, and multiple interventions, is important for healthy aging.
Dr. Warwick Bishop is a cardiologist, author, keynote speaker, and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, with a mission to prevent heart attacks and improve overall health on a global scale.
The Virtual Heart Check website provides a way to check one's risk of heart attack and learn about preventative measures.
Dr. Bishop encourages listeners to live as well as possible for as long as possible and to take care of their health.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP259: Is There a Best Way to Time Your Eating?

Sun, 11 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses the impact of eating times and restricted eating patterns on health.

Studies have shown that eating later in the day can lead to slower calorie burning and increased risk of obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. Restricting eating within a 10-hour window has been found to improve blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and cholesterol particle size. The researchers believe that the restricted eating pattern gives the body time to break down toxins and stabilize the gut microbiome, which can reduce inflammation throughout the body.

Doctor Bishop has been practicing restricted eating for six to nine months and has noticed weight stability and improvement in arthritis symptoms. He recommends not eating too late at night and exploring restricted eating patterns for better health. Heart disease is a major issue in Australia, with over 20 people dying from heart disease every day.

Doctor Bishop is on a mission to impact not just heart health, but general health on a global scale. He encourages listeners to join his Facebook group, Know Your Real Risk of Heart Attack, and to check out a free risk check at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au.

Heart disease is a major issue in Australia, with over 20 people dying from it daily.
Most cases of heart disease could have been prevented with proper knowledge and strategies.
Eating later in the day can lead to slower calorie burning and increased risk of obesity, hypertension, and diabetes.
Restricting eating within a 10-hour window can improve blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and cholesterol particle size.
Restricted eating can give the body time to break down toxins and stabilize the gut microbiome.
Fasting for 14-16 hours can improve gut health and reduce inflammation throughout the body.
Restricted eating can lead to weight stability and improved energy levels.
Eating earlier in the day can lead to feeling less full and lower levels of leptin.
The speaker has been practicing restricted eating for 6-9 months and has noticed improvements in weight stability and arthritis.
The speaker encourages listeners to explore restricted eating and share their experiences.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP258: Doctor V. Risk & Child Birth

Sun, 04 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop interviews Dr. V, an OBGYN with 20 years of experience, about the importance of lifestyle medicine in treating and preventing chronic diseases. They discuss the increased risk of cardiovascular disease associated with pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, high blood pressure, and proteinuria.

Dr. V emphasizes the importance of preparing for pregnancy by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including exercise and a clean diet. She also recommends breastfeeding as a way to burn calories and get back to an ideal body weight. Dr. V notes that family history can contribute to an increased risk of these complications, and that follow-up care is important for women who have experienced them.

The conversation concludes with a reminder to see a primary care doctor regularly, even when not pregnant, to monitor risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Doctor Warrick Bishop is a practicing cardiologist and author who is passionate about improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education.
Dr. V is a physician with 20 years of experience in OBGYN and is passionate about making a real difference by holistic, engaged medicine and helping women through their unique needs.
Lifestyle medicine is a specialty of medicine that helps patients use their lifestyle to treat or prevent chronic diseases.
Patients who are obese or have mental health issues such as depression and anxiety are at risk of developing chronic diseases.
Preeclampsia is a condition that causes a woman's blood pressure to go up during pregnancy and affects the liver and kidneys.
Women who are obese, have a history of high blood pressure or kidney disease, or are African-American are more likely to develop preeclampsia.
The extremes of age, both young and old women, are also at risk of developing preeclampsia.
Delivery is the treatment for preeclampsia, and if the condition cannot be controlled, the baby may have to be delivered prematurely to preserve the mother's life.
Women who have had preeclampsia or other perinatal problems should be proactive about their cardiovascular health and follow up with their primary care doctor regularly.
Lifestyle factors such as exercise, diet, and breastfeeding can help prevent chronic diseases and improve overall health.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP257: Obesity—Is it in Our Bones?

Sun, 27 Nov 2022 10:00:00 +1100

Doctor Warrick Bishop is a cardiologist, author, keynote speaker, and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network. He believes that heart attacks can be prevented by reducing risk through strategies such as weight management, exercise, and general health literacy.

Obesity is linked to genetics and epigenetics, which modify how genes are expressed. The body regulates its own weight through set points, and as fat tissue accumulates, it produces more leptin, which turns appetite centers down. Bones have cells called osteoclasts that build bone and are sensitive to the forces through bone.

Osteoclasts, under increased load, release a messenger back to the body that drives the body back to its set point. Weight lifting may stimulate these cells and release a chemical that brings the body's weight down. Coronary artery disease kills one in four people, and most of us are likely to carry some risk or know someone who does.

To evaluate that risk, you can visit www.virtualheartcheck.com.au.

Heart disease is a major issue in Australia, with over 20 people dying from it every day.
Most cases of heart disease could have been prevented with proper knowledge and strategies to reduce risk.
Genetics and epigenetics play a significant role in obesity, but lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, and sleep can impact gene expression.
Keeping carbohydrates down, exercising, and weightlifting can help with weight loss and body fat reduction.
Leptin is a hormone that regulates appetite and helps the body return to its set point for weight.
Osteoclasts, cells that build bone, are sensitive to the forces through bone and can release a messenger that helps the body return to its set point for weight.
Weightlifting may stimulate osteoclasts and release this messenger, leading to weight loss.
Coronary artery disease is a leading cause of death, with one in four people at risk.
Virtualheartcheck.com.au provides information about evaluating risk for coronary artery disease.
The speaker is on a mission to impact heart and general health on a global scale and offers a weight loss course on his website.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP256: 10-minute Workouts—Do They Work?

Sun, 20 Nov 2022 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Doctor Warwick Bishop, a cardiologist, discusses the importance of preventing heart attacks and improving general health on a global scale. He highlights the alarming statistics of heart attacks in Australia, with one occurring almost every 10 minutes and over 20 people dying from it per day.

Doctor Bishop then delves into the topic of exercise and how short bursts of high-intensity workouts can be just as effective as longer, less intense exercise regimes. He cites a study by Professor Ed K Cole, which shows that a 10-minute bike session with four-second bursts of maximal exertion followed by a rest period of 15 to 30 seconds can improve fitness and muscle strength.

Doctor Bishop also mentions the benefits of combining short, high-intensity workouts with daily movement to get the most out of both types of exercise. He concludes by encouraging listeners to check their risk of heart attack and improve their overall health.

Heart attacks are a major health concern in Australia and globally, with many being preventable.
Regular exercise is recommended by the Heart Foundation of Australia and American College of Cardiology, with 30 minutes, five times a week being the suggested amount.
Short bursts of high-intensity exercise can be effective in improving fitness and muscle strength, with a 10-minute bike session incorporating 4 seconds of maximal exertion followed by a rest period of 15 to 30 seconds being an example.
Short sessions of high-intensity exercise have been shown to improve cognitive function and mood in the short term.
Combining short bursts of high-intensity exercise with regular movement throughout the day can be an effective way to improve overall health.
Increasing exercise intensity can lead to greater time efficiency, but it is important to be mindful of the risk of injury.
High-intensity exercise can be effective for muscle strength and growth, as well as bone health.
OsteoStrong is a franchise that offers a 10-minute workout once a week, maximizing fatigue in four separate muscle movements to improve strength, balance, and bone health.
Virtualheartcheck.com.au is a website that can be used to check an individual's risk of heart attack and learn about preventative measures.
Positive reviews and sharing of information can help to spread awareness and potentially save lives.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP255: Is There a Best Time to Exercise?

Sun, 13 Nov 2022 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist, discusses heart health and general health literacy.

Heart disease is a significant issue in Australia, with over 20 people dying from it daily. Doctor Bishop believes that heart attacks can be prevented by implementing strategies to reduce risk. He shares an interesting study that looked at the impact of exercise timing on results.

The study found that women who exercised in the morning were more likely to lose fat and build muscle than those who exercised later in the day. Men who exercised in the evening had better reductions in blood pressure and cholesterol and reported less fatigue.

Doctor Bishop recommends exercising regularly, preferably in the sunshine and fresh air, and at the same time each day to regulate circadian rhythms and improve sleep quality. He also offers a free risk check for heart attack on his website.

Heart disease is a major health issue in Australia, with over 20 people dying from it every day.
Doctor Warrick Bishop is a cardiologist, author, keynote speaker, and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network.
Exercise is important for heart health, and having a routine or habit can help ensure it is done regularly.
Research has shown that there may be different responses to exercise based on the time of day it is done.
Women who exercise in the morning may be more likely to lose fat and build muscle than those who exercise later in the day.
Men who exercise in the evening may have better reductions in blood pressure and cholesterol, and report less fatigue.
Doing exercise at the same time each day can help regulate circadian rhythms and improve sleep quality.
Sun exposure can also help regulate circadian rhythms and improve sleep quality.
Any exercise is good exercise, but doing it regularly is important.
A free risk check for heart attack is available at www.virtualheartcheck.com.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP254: How Can You Save a Life?

Sun, 06 Nov 2022 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, discusses the importance of preventing heart attacks and improving general health on a global scale.

He highlights the alarming statistics of heart attacks in Australia, with one occurring almost every 10 minutes and over 20 people dying from a heart attack each day.

Doctor Bishop emphasizes the need for individuals to take proactive steps to evaluate their cardiovascular risk and prevent heart attacks. He introduces a website, virtualheartcheck.com.au, which allows individuals to get an evaluation of their cardiovascular risk and book a scan at a local x-ray provider in any major center in Australia. The website is free and does not require a visit to a GP or specialist.

Doctor Bishop urges listeners to share the website with their family, friends, and colleagues to raise awareness about heart attack prevention and save lives. He believes that imaging the arteries can be a critical step in preventing heart attacks and encourages individuals to be advocates for heart health.

Heart attacks are a significant problem in Australia, with one occurring almost every 10 minutes and over 20 people dying from a heart attack each day.
Many heart attacks could be prevented if people knew what to do to reduce their risk.
Doctor Warwick Bishop is a cardiologist, author, keynote speaker, and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, and he is dedicated to helping people live as well as possible for as long as possible.
Doctor Bishop believes that people can take proactive steps to evaluate their risk of a heart attack and prevent it from happening.
He has created a website called virtualheartcheck.com.au that allows individuals to evaluate their cardiovascular risk and book a scan at a local x-ray provider if appropriate.
The website is free and does not require a visit to a GP or specialist.
Doctor Bishop is trying to raise awareness about the importance of being proactive about cardiovascular disease and encouraging people to take action to improve their heart health.
He believes that imaging the arteries can be a critical step in identifying potential problems before they arise.
Doctor Bishop is asking listeners to help spread the word about virtualheartcheck.com.au and encourage others to take action to prevent heart attacks.
The ultimate goal is for people to live as well as possible for as long as possible and avoid the devastating impact of heart attacks.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP253: Interview with Doctor Patrick Oxborough—Discussing Heart Health & Oral Health

Sun, 30 Oct 2022 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist, discusses the importance of preventing heart attacks and improving general health. He is joined by Patrick Oxborough, a dentist, who emphasizes the connection between oral health and overall health.

Gum disease, or periodontitis, has been linked to cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes. Bacteria from the mouth can enter the bloodstream and cause inflammation of the heart or infection. Treating gum disease can reduce the risk of these conditions.

Other conditions such as diabetes may also be affected by gum disease. The main strategy for treating periodontal disease is to remove bacterial irritants from around the teeth. Patients should maintain good oral hygiene habits and have regular check-ups with their dentist. Risk assessments should be done to tailor treatment plans to individual patients.

Heart attacks are a major health issue in Australia, with over 20 people dying from a heart attack every day.
Preventative strategies can be put in place to reduce the risk of heart attacks.
General health, weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, and health literacy are all factors that can impact heart health.
Gum disease, or periodontitis, is an inflammatory disease that can be linked to cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks, hypertension, and strokes.
Bacteria from the mouth can enter the bloodstream and cause inflammation or infection of the heart.
Treating gum disease can reduce the risk of heart disease and other conditions such as diabetes.
Proper dental hygiene, including brushing and flossing, is important for maintaining good oral health and reducing the risk of gum disease.
Risk assessments should be done for each patient to tailor treatment plans accordingly.
Antibiotics can be used to treat severe cases of gum disease, but should be used with caution.
Good communication and collaboration between medical professionals, including dentists and cardiologists, is important for overall health and well-being.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP252: Take Your Medication & Future Therapy

Sun, 23 Oct 2022 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist, discusses strategies to prevent heart attacks and improve general health on a global scale. He emphasizes the importance of taking medication as prescribed and carrying a list of medications to ensure proper healthcare in emergency situations.

Adherence to medication is crucial, and patients should communicate with their doctors if they have any uncertainties. Doctor Bishop also discusses the concept of electroporation, a technology that uses electricity to disrupt cell membranes and may be used in the future for atrial fibrillation ablation.

He encourages listeners to check their risk of heart attack and understand more about precision around that by visiting www.virtualheartcheck.com.au.

Heart attacks are a major health issue in Australia, with over 20 people dying from a heart attack every day.
Strategies can be put in place to reduce the risk of heart attacks.
Medication adherence is crucial for effective treatment and improved health outcomes.
Patients should carry a list of their medications to ensure accurate treatment in emergency situations.
Doctors should communicate effectively with patients about the pros and cons of their medication and adjust doses if necessary.
Adherence is a significant issue in clinical trials and can impact the interpretation of results.
Electroporation is a technology that uses electricity to disrupt cell membranes and may be used in the future for atrial fibrillation ablation.
A free risk check is available at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au to help individuals understand their risk of heart attack.
The speaker is on a mission to improve global heart health and prevent heart attacks.
The speaker encourages listeners to share the podcast with others and leave a 5-star review if they find it helpful.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP251: mRNA and Amyloid

Sun, 16 Oct 2022 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses the importance of mRNA and amyloid in the medical field.

mRNA is the transcription factor that carries the blueprint from DNA to the factory for printing proteins and compounds in the body. mRNA vaccines, such as Pfizer and Moderna, insert protein sequences into cells to trigger an immune response.

Targeted approaches to mRNA can also block or modify protein production in the body. Over 50 Nobel Prizes in medicine have been awarded to mRNA research, and over 2,500 mRNA proteins have been identified.

Amyloid is a protein that accumulates in different organs, such as the heart and brain, and can contribute to heart stiffness and Alzheimer's. Amyloid can collect in individuals as they age or due to a genetic predisposition. As we get better at identifying amyloid, there are more opportunities for treatment, including targeted mRNA therapies.

Doctor Bishop encourages listeners to evaluate their risk for coronary artery disease and visit virtualheartcheck.com.au for more information.

Heart disease is a significant problem in Australia, with over 20 people dying from it every day.
Strategies can be put in place to reduce the risk of heart disease and prevent heart attacks.
mRNA is a transcription factor that carries the blueprint from DNA to the factory for printing proteins and compounds in the body.
mRNA vaccines, such as Pfizer and Moderna, can insert information into cells and trigger an immune response from the body.
Targeted approaches to mRNA can block particular proteins from being formed, such as PCSK9 in the cholesterol space.
Over the last few years, there have been over 50 Nobel Prizes in medicine awarded to mRNA research.
mRNA proteins can be a result of different strains and influences on the cell, and can be measured to indicate particular functions within the body.
Amyloid is a protein that can collect in different organs, such as the heart and brain, and contribute to diseases such as Alzheimer's and heart stiffness.
Amyloid can collect in individuals as they age, as well as from a genetic predisposition from their liver and their liver production.
There are multiple areas for potential intervention in treating amyloid, including targeted mRNA therapies that block or interrupt the production of detrimental proteins.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP250: Micro-Awakening Throughout The Night

Sun, 09 Oct 2022 10:00:00 +1100

Doctor Bishop also shares insights on sleep and how brief awakenings during the night may actually be beneficial for memory consolidation. Research from the University of Copenhagen suggests that the stress neurotransmitter noradrenaline wakes up the brain many times at night, leading to memory boosts.

The study found that the more awake you are during a micro-arousal, the better the memory boost. Doctor Bishop explains that noradrenaline is a hormone that increases during stress but also helps you stay focused. He notes that the brain wakes up roughly 100 plus times a night, mostly during non-dark hours REM sleep stage 2, the spindle-rich sleep stage.

Doctor Bishop concludes by encouraging listeners to join the Healthy Heart Network, which provides lifetime access to information and support for understanding and reducing the risk of heart attack.

Heart attacks are a major health issue in Australia, with over 20 people dying from a heart attack every day.
Strategies can be put in place to reduce the risk of heart attacks.
Sleep is important for general well-being and memory consolidation.
Brief awakenings during sleep may be a sign of good sleep quality.
Micro-arousals during sleep are linked to memory consolidation and can help boost memory.
Noradrenaline, a hormone that increases during stress, is active during sleep and helps with memory consolidation.
Sleep spindles, short oscillatory bursts of brain activity, are linked to memory consolidation.
Deep valleys during sleep are linked to more sleep spindles and better memory consolidation.
Restless sleep is not good, but waking up briefly may be a natural part of memory-related sleep phases.
More research is needed to fully understand the role of brief awakenings during sleep and the brain's cleaning up of waste products during sleep.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP249: More About Sugar

Sun, 02 Oct 2022 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Doctor Warwick Bishop discusses the importance of reducing the risk of heart disease and improving general health literacy. He highlights the prevalence of heart disease in Australia and the world, with over 20 people dying from heart disease every day in Australia alone.

Doctor Bishop then shifts the focus to inflammatory bowel disease, specifically the link between sugar consumption and Crohn's disease. He cites a study that found increased consumption of sugary beverages doubled the chance of developing Crohn's disease. The researchers speculated that sugar alters gut microbiome, which affects the gut lining and permeability, leading to inflammation.

Doctor Bishop emphasizes the importance of looking after gut microbiome with fiber, healthy foods, and fermented foods. He also recommends a healthy Mediterranean diet and lifestyle to reduce the risk of heart disease and other health issues.

Dr. Bishop encourages listeners to subscribe to his podcast and videocast station and to visit www.virtualheartcheck.com.au for more information on risk and prevention.

Heart disease is a major issue in Australia, with over 20 people dying from it daily.
Inflammatory bowel disease is a debilitating condition that affects younger people and requires immune modifying medications.
Increased sugar consumption is associated with increased weight gain.
Increased sweet beverage consumption doubles the chance of developing Crohn's disease.
Sugar alters gut microbiome, which can lead to the loss of integrity of the intestinal wall and movement of inflammatory particles.
The impact of sugar on inflammatory bowel disease is more significant in Crohn's disease than ulcerative colitis.
Gut microbiome is important for overall health, and it can be supported by consuming fiber, healthy foods, and fermented foods.
A healthy Mediterranean diet and lifestyle can help improve overall health.
The podcast aims to help people live as well as possible for as long as possible.
The podcast encourages listeners to share the information with their family and friends to help prevent heart disease and other health issues.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP248: About Cholesterol with Mining HQ

Sun, 25 Sep 2022 10:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses the importance of reducing the risk of heart disease and improving general health literacy. He highlights the prevalence of heart disease in Australia and the world, with over 20 people dying from heart disease every day in Australia alone.

Dr. Bishop emphasizes the importance of looking after gut microbiome with fiber, healthy foods, and fermented foods. He also recommends a healthy Mediterranean diet and lifestyle to reduce the risk of heart disease and other health issues.

Dr. Bishop encourages listeners to subscribe to his podcast and videocast station and to visit www.virtualheartcheck.com.au for more information on risk and prevention.

Heart disease is a major issue in Australia, with over 20 people dying from it daily.
Inflammatory bowel disease is a debilitating condition that affects younger people and requires immune modifying medications.
Increased sugar consumption is associated with increased weight gain.
Increased sweet beverage consumption doubles the chance of developing Crohn's disease.
Sugar alters gut microbiome, which can lead to the loss of integrity of the intestinal wall and movement of inflammatory particles.
The impact of sugar on inflammatory bowel disease is more significant in Crohn's disease than ulcerative colitis.
Gut microbiome is important for overall health, and it can be supported by consuming fiber, healthy foods, and fermented foods.
A healthy Mediterranean diet and lifestyle can help improve overall health.
The podcast aims to help people live as well as possible for as long as possible.
The podcast encourages listeners to share the information with their family and friends to help prevent heart disease and other health issues.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP247: Future Directions With Valves and the Aorta

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 10:00:00 +1000

Doctor Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist, author, and keynote speaker, discusses heart health and the importance of managing valves. He recommends getting an echocardiogram to check for valve problems, such as a bicuspid aortic valve, mitral valve leakage, and narrowing of the aortic valve.

Historically, doctors have waited until aortic stenosis is severe to operate, but recent data suggests that moderate to severe aortic stenosis can lead to poor outcomes due to left ventricular deconditioning. Therefore, doctors are considering treating aortic stenosis earlier. Additionally, there are promising techniques for repairing the tricuspid valve before it becomes severe, which can lead to deconditioning of the body.

The PAIRS procedure is a preventative surgery that involves wrapping a Dacron mesh around the aorta to hold it in place and reduce its diameter, which can reduce the risk of aneurysm disruption.

Doctor Bishop encourages listeners to join the Healthy Heart Network to understand their risk of heart attack and take positive steps to reduce that risk.

Heart disease is a significant problem in Australia, with over 20 people dying from heart disease every day.
Most heart disease cases could have been avoided with proper prevention strategies.
An echocardiogram is an ultrasound that can help detect valve problems in the heart.
A bicuspid aortic valve is a condition where the aortic valve has two leaflets instead of three, which can lead to valve wear and aortic dilation.
Moderate to severe aortic stenosis can lead to poor outcomes, and early intervention may be necessary to prevent left ventricular deconditioning.
Transcutaneous approaches for repairing the tricuspid valve are becoming more common and may be used to prevent deconditioning of the right heart.
Dilatation or expansion of the aorta can be a problem, and a Dacron mesh can be used to hold it in place and reduce its diameter.
The PAIRS procedure is a preventative surgery that can reduce the risk of aneurysm disruption for individuals with aortas of about 45mm.
The Healthy Heart Network is a community designed to help people understand their risk of heart attack and take positive steps to reduce that risk.
Regular follow-ups with a cardiologist are essential for individuals with valve problems or aortic dilation.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP246: Beta Blockers, Asprin, Hot Days, and Risk of Heart Attack

Sun, 11 Sep 2022 10:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, discusses strategies to prevent heart attacks and improve general health on a global scale. He highlights the alarming statistics of heart attacks in Australia, with one occurring almost every 10 minutes and over 20 people dying from a heart attack each day.

Doctor Bishop also discusses a study that suggests patients taking antiplatelets or beta blockers may have an elevated risk of heart attack on hot summer days. The researchers caution patients to keep an eye out for very hot days and to break up strenuous activity with shade, rest, and hydration.

Doctor Bishop emphasizes the importance of health literacy and encourages listeners to check their risk of heart attack at virtualheartcheck.com.au. He concludes by reminding listeners to take care of themselves and live as well as possible for as long as possible.

Heart attacks are a major health issue in Australia, with one occurring almost every 10 minutes and over 20 people dying from a heart attack per day.
Many heart attacks could be prevented with proper risk reduction strategies and health literacy.
Antiplatelets and beta blockers are medications used to reduce cardiovascular risk or events.
Researchers have found that patients taking antiplatelets or beta blockers may have an elevated risk of heart attack on hot summer days.
The increased risk was observed in patients taking these medications over a 10-15 year period in Germany.
The researchers suggest that the effect of beta blockers, which block the sympathetic nervous system, may contribute to the increased risk on hot days.
Patients on beta blockers may not have the usual heat dispersion response, which could intensify heat gain and lower blood pressure, causing other problems.
Patients at increased risk of cardiovascular events should avoid strenuous activity outside on hot days and take breaks in the shade and stay hydrated.
The single biggest killer in the Western world is heart attack, with one death occurring less than every 30 minutes in Australia and less than every 60 seconds in the United States.
People can check their risk of heart attack by visiting www.virtualheartcheck.com.au.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP245: What's The Deal With Grass-fed Beef and Butter?

Sun, 04 Sep 2022 10:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist, discusses how heart attacks can be prevented through strategies that reduce risk. He is on a mission to help people not only prevent heart attacks but also improve their general health on a global scale.

He shares his personal journey of investigating the nutritional benefits of grass-fed beef, which has two-thirds less fat and fewer calories than grain-fed beef. Swapping from grain-fed to grass-fed beef can reduce an individual's total caloric intake by about 17,000 calories, which equates to nearly a week's worth of food.

Grass-fed beef is also less likely to be influenced by antibiotics or hormones, and it has more healthy fats, including omega-3, which is essential for maintaining a healthy omega-3 index. Grass-fed beef has better levels of vitamin B, vitamin D, iron, and carotenoids, and it is better for the environment.

Grass-fed butter has less saturated fat, greater amounts of omega-3, more conjugated linoleic acid, and more vitamin K2, which is healthy for bones.

Joining the Healthy Heart Network for only $5 as a lifetime member can help people understand their present state of heart health, their current level of risk, and the positive steps they can take to improve their risk of heart attack in the future.

Heart attacks are a major health issue in Australia, with over 20 people dying from a heart attack every day.
There are strategies that can be put in place to reduce the risk of heart attack.
Grass-fed beef has recognized nutritional benefits, including lower fat content and more healthy fats.
Swapping from grain-fed to grass-fed beef can reduce an individual's total caloric intake by about 17,000 calories per year.
Grass-fed beef is less likely to be influenced by antibiotics or hormones compared to feedlot animals.
Grass-fed beef has a better omega-3 to omega-6 ratio, which is important for heart health.
Grass-fed beef has better levels of vitamin B, vitamin D, iron, and carotenoids.
Grass-fed beef is better for the environment.
Grass-fed butter has less saturated fat, more omega-3, and more vitamin K2 than regular butter.
Joining the Healthy Heart Network can help individuals understand their present state of heart health and take positive steps to improve their risk of heart attack in the future.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP244: Warfarin and Risks

Sun, 28 Aug 2022 10:00:00 +1000

Doctor Warrick Bishop is a cardiologist, author, keynote speaker, and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network. He aims to help people live as well as possible for as long as possible.

Heart disease is a significant problem in Australia, with over 20 people dying from heart disease every day. Doctor Bishop's podcast aims to help people understand how blood pressure, weight, cholesterol, and general health literacy can help prevent heart disease.

Warfarin is a drug used to thin the blood, and it is commonly used in cardiology. Warfarin works by blocking vitamin K1, which is involved in the liver synthesis of proteins that trigger a response in the setting of a potential threat to blood loss and drive formation of a clot. Warfarin can be interfered with or have interactions with other drugs, which can lead to dangerous levels of internal bleeding. Patients on Warfarin should be aware of potential interactions, side effects, and consequences of new medications.

It is essential to carry a list of medications with you to provide good quality medical care.

Finally, Doctor Bishop encourages people to check their risk of heart attack and understand more about precision around that.

Heart disease is a major issue in Australia, with over 20 people dying from it daily.
Blood thinning is a common practice in cardiology, and Warfarin is a drug used to thin the blood.
Warfarin was originally used as a rat poison before being cleared for human use.
Warfarin works by blocking vitamin K1, which is involved in the liver synthesis of proteins that trigger a response to potential blood loss.
Warfarin is generally dose-adjusted based on regular blood tests to ensure the blood is not too thin.
Warfarin can interact with other drugs, particularly antifungals and antibiotics, which can reduce its effectiveness and lead to dangerous levels of blood thinning.
Patients on Warfarin should always ask their doctor if any new medication they are prescribed is compatible with or interacts with Warfarin.
It is important to be aware of potential drug interactions, side effects, and consequences when making any changes to medication.
Carrying a list of medications is recommended to provide good quality medical care.
A free risk check is available at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au to understand more about the risk of heart attack.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP243: Is There a Best Time to Exercise?

Sun, 21 Aug 2022 10:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses the importance of preventing heart attacks and improving overall health on a global scale. He highlights the alarming statistics of heart attacks in Australia and globally, and emphasizes the need for strategies to reduce risk.

Doctor Bishop also shares an interesting research study that looked at the impact of exercise timing on fat loss, muscle gain, blood pressure, and cholesterol. The study found that women who exercised in the morning were more likely to lose fat and build muscle, while men who exercised in the evening had better reductions in blood pressure and cholesterol.

Doctor Bishop suggests that exercising at the same time each day can help regulate circadian rhythms and improve sleep quality. He also encourages listeners to join the Healthy Heart Network, which provides lifetime access to resources and support for understanding and reducing the risk of heart attack.

Heart attacks are a major health issue in Australia, with over 20 people dying from a heart attack every day.
Many heart attacks can be prevented through strategies to reduce risk.
Doctor Warrick Bishop is a cardiologist and CEO of the Healthy Heart Network, and is on a mission to improve global heart health.
Exercise is important for heart health, and having a routine or habit is a great way to ensure you fit it in.
Research has shown that there may be different responses to exercise based on the time of day it is done.
Women who exercise in the morning may be more likely to lose fat and build muscle than those who exercise later in the day.
Men who exercise in the evening may have a better reduction in blood pressure and cholesterol, and overall report less fatigue.
Exercising at the same time each day can help regulate your circadian rhythm and improve sleep.
Sun exposure can also help regulate circadian rhythms and improve sleep quality.
The Healthy Heart Network offers a program to help individuals understand their risk of heart attack and take positive steps to reduce that risk.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP242: Hangry!

Sun, 14 Aug 2022 10:00:00 +1000

Doctor Warrick Bishop is a cardiologist, author, and keynote speaker who is on a mission to help people live as well as possible for as long as possible.

Heart disease is a significant issue in Australia, with over 20 people dying from heart disease every day. Doctor Bishop's podcast aims to help people understand how blood pressure, weight, cholesterol, and general health literacy can help prevent heart disease.

In a recent study, researchers found a 35% association between hunger, anger, and irritability, concluding that "hangry" is a real thing. Doctor Bishop wonders if the food participants were consuming impacted the study's results. He shares his own experience with restricted eating and how it has not made him angry.

Doctor Bishop also shares a patient example of how changing one's diet can impact their mood. He encourages listeners to experiment with their diets and share their observations.

Doctor Bishop also promotes a website where people can check their risk of heart attack. He asks listeners to share his podcast with others and rate it if they find it useful.

Heart disease is a major issue in Australia, with someone suffering a heart attack every 20 minutes and over 20 people dying from heart disease per day.
Strategies can be put in place to reduce the risk of heart disease and prevent heart attacks.
The Healthy Heart Network aims to help people live as well as possible for as long as possible.
Hangry is a real phenomenon, with a 35% association between hunger, anger, and irritability.
The food we eat may impact whether or not we experience hangry.
Removing carbohydrates from the middle of the day may help reduce road rage.
A black coffee with a teaspoon of butter blended in may help with focus and clarity.
Cheese can be a satisfying snack that helps stave off hunger.
The risk of heart attack can be checked at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au.
Sharing the podcast with others can help spread useful information about heart health and general health.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP241: A Refresher On Stress

Sun, 07 Aug 2022 10:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses the impact of stress, depression, and anxiety on heart health and overall health.

Depression and anxiety are closely linked to an increased risk of major cardiovascular events, and people who suffer from depression are more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease. Stress has two main drivers in the body: the nerves and the hormones. The nerves can directly send messages to the blood vessels to tighten up, which drives up blood pressure. The hormones that the body releases, such as adrenaline and cortisol, lead to fluid retention, elevated blood pressure, insulin resistance, and inflammation. Although we need some sort of fight or flight response, we were never designed to have it run for hours or days at a time.

Stress can also impact the way DNA is expressed, which may be linked to abnormal cellular division and cancer formation. To manage stress, Doctor Bishop recommends awareness and mindfulness, exercise, and meditation. Stress is not your friend, and most stress will have consequences in the longer term.

Finally, Doctor Bishop encourages listeners to evaluate their risk of coronary artery disease and to take steps to reduce their risk.

Heart disease is a major issue in Australia, with over 20 people dying from it every day.
Depression and anxiety are closely linked to an increased risk of major cardiovascular events.
Stress can have a significant impact on our heart health and overall health.
There are two main drivers of stress in our body: the nerves and hormones.
The sympathetic nervous system, which is an automated or automatic nervous system, drives the heart and blood pressure up.
Adrenaline and cortisol, which are hormones released by the body, lead to fluid retention, elevated blood pressure, insulin resistance, and inflammation.
The impact of stress on the body can act as an external influence on the way DNA is expressed, which may be linked to abnormal cellular division and cancer formation.
Exercise is incredibly valuable in rebalancing mood and the body's energy system.
Meditation can also be helpful in managing stress.
It is important to work on downtime and relaxation to manage stress and look after oneself.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP240: 10 Second Test To Predict Mortality

Sun, 31 Jul 2022 10:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses a study that found a simple 10-second test to predict mortality. The test involves standing on one leg for 10 seconds or more. The study followed 1,700 male participants between the ages of 51 and 75 for 15 to 20 years.

The researchers found that if an individual was unable to stand on one leg for 10 seconds or more, their likelihood of dying substantially increased over the subsequent 7 years. At age 70, approximately 50% of candidates were unable to stand on one leg for 10 seconds or more.

The test is a surrogate test for frailty and an indicator of 7-year mortality. The components of being able to perform this test will impact quality of life and independence.

OsteoStrong is a system of four major machines that work an individual in a maximal capacity for a very short period of time to try and achieve improved strength, improved balance, and improved bone strength. The osteostrong routine only takes about 10 minutes per week. Doctor Bishop believes that helping people live as well as possible for as long as possible is important.

A 10-second test to stand on one leg can predict mortality.
The Brazilian research group followed 1700 male participants aged 51-75 for 15-20 years.
The inability to stand on one leg for 10 seconds or more increases the likelihood of dying substantially over the subsequent 7 years.
At age 70, approximately 50% of candidates were unable to stand on one leg for 10 seconds or more.
The test is a surrogate test for frailty and an indicator of 7-year mortality.
Balance, flexibility, strength, and power are important components of frailty as people age.
The ability to perform the test impacts quality of life and independence.
OsteoStrong is a system of four major machines that work an individual in a maximal capacity for a very short period of time to achieve improved strength, balance, and bone strength.
OsteoStrong is an anti-frailty device that can help mitigate frailty and maintain independence for as long as possible.
The osteostrong routine only takes about 10 minutes per week.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP239: Thinking Risk Factors and Beyond

Sun, 24 Jul 2022 10:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses risk factors for heart disease that are often overlooked.

He explains that lipoprotein little a is a bad cholesterol that is linked to increased inflammation and the likelihood of clot formation, making it an important component of treatment. While testing for this cholesterol is currently costly, it is likely to become more accessible in the future.

Doctor Bishop also discusses the role of inflammation in heart disease and the importance of keeping inflammation down through diet, exercise, and good sleep. He notes that obstructive sleep apnea can drive inflammation and increase the risk of high blood pressure and atrial fibrillation. Socioeconomic factors can also impact cardiovascular risk, with those who are socioeconomically deprived having less access to healthcare and resources to manage risk factors. Finally, Doctor Bishop emphasizes the importance of diet in reducing cardiovascular risk, recommending extra virgin olive oil, nuts, and unprocessed meats while minimizing processed meats, sugars, salt, and trans fats.

Lipoprotein little a is a bad cholesterol that is linked to increased inflammation and the likelihood of clot formation, which can increase the chance of clots forming within the bloodstream and lead to heart attack.
Lipoprotein little a is disproportionately seen in patients who have heart attack similar events at an early age and tends to be passed on through families.
There is a cost behind testing lipoprotein little a, but in the next couple of years, we're likely to see a Medicare rebate for this testing which will make it accessible to everyone.
Inflammation is important in the process of coronary artery disease, and there have been a number of trials specifically looking at inflammation and its impact on cancer cardiovascular health.
Dr. Paul Ridker has led the charge in investigating inflammation and is involved in a trial looking specifically at interleukin 6, one of the inflammatory modulators, and an agent called Zilti Vecimab, which is directed specifically at that interleukin, that inflammatory compound.
Dr. Ridker's main therapeutic goal and strategy is to drive cholesterol levels down as the bang for the buck, getting cholesterol levels really low is greater than getting them up trying to treat or modify inflammation of its own.
One of the medications used in the CANTOS trial to lower inflammation was a thing called canakinumab, which is about $100,000 per year.
Colchicine, a drug used for gout, appears to have been beneficial in reducing the risk of heart attack in the appropriate patient cohort.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a big problem and can drive inflammation, dysfunctional blood vessels, and a heightened level of stress sympathetic nervous system, which will drive high blood pressure and atrial fibrillation and all the consequences of that into the longer term.
Socioeconomic factors can affect cardiovascular risk, and we need to minimize processed meats, sugars, salt, and trans fats while increasing our intake of fruits, veggies, nuts, and extra virgin olive oil.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP238: Oh No, Blood Pressure Again!!!

Sun, 17 Jul 2022 10:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses the importance of monitoring and managing blood pressure.

He explains that blood pressure is the foundation of wear and tear on the vasculature and heart, and is directly linked to heart attack, stroke, atrial fibrillation, cardiac failure, and renal failure. Current guidelines aim for a systolic blood pressure of less than 130, but Doctor Bishop believes it should be even lower, between 110 to 120.

He cites the SPRINT trial, which demonstrated that lowering blood pressure intensively to under 120 mmHg resulted in a significant reduction in composite cardiac pressure, vascular and all-cause mortality. Doctor Bishop recommends 24-hour blood pressure monitoring and echocardiograms to get precise information about blood pressure and heart health. He also mentions a study that found using potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride as a salt substitute can reduce blood pressure and the risk of stroke, major adverse cardiac events, and all-cause mortality.

Doctor Bishop encourages people to talk to their GP about their blood pressure and to lose weight if they are carrying extra weight, as 1kg of weight loss leads to a 1mm reduction in blood pressure. He emphasizes that blood pressure is a silent killer, but there is much that can be done to control it.

Blood pressure is the foundation of wear and tear on the vasculature and heart.
Blood pressure is directly linked to heart attack, stroke, atrial fibrillation, cardiac failure, and renal failure.
The guidelines for blood pressure have changed, and the new goal is less than 130.
Lowering blood pressure has a significant impact on outcomes, and a 5mm reduction can lead to a 10% reduction in major adverse coronary events.
The SPRINT trial demonstrated that lowering blood pressure intensively to under 120 mmHg can lead to a significant reduction in composite cardiac pressure, vascular, and all-cause mortality.
Blood pressure is also linked to dementia and chronic kidney disease.
24-hour blood pressure monitoring is recommended to get the most precise information about blood pressure.
Salt substitutes, such as potassium chloride, can lead to a significant reduction in blood pressure and a decrease in stroke incidence, major adverse cardiac events, and all-cause mortality.
Weight loss can lead to a reduction in blood pressure and a decrease in the risk of future problems related to heart, stroke, renal disease, and dementia.
It is important to have conversations with people about looking after their blood pressure and to get good data by talking to a GP.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP237: Are Supplements Good or Bad?

Sun, 10 Jul 2022 10:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses the topic of supplements and the confusion surrounding them.

He mentions that there is often literature in the press and medical literature that suggests certain supplements have not been shown to be beneficial. He uses the example of fish oil, which was found to have no outcome benefit in a study that gave relatively healthy people one gram of fish oil a day. However, he notes that people with certain conditions, such as high-risk coronary artery disease with high triglyceride levels, have been shown to benefit from high doses of fish oil. Doctor Bishop emphasizes that supplements do not operate in isolation and that all ingredients are needed to get the desired outcome. He recommends four major supplements for maximal cardiac health: coenzyme Q10, L-carnitine, D-ribose, and magnesium. He also stresses the importance of the quality of the supplement and seeking advice from a reputable dealer. Doctor Bishop concludes by encouraging listeners to consider what supplements they might take and to seek advice if needed.

Supplements are a topic of confusion and concern for many patients.
Some studies have shown that certain supplements, such as fish oil and vitamin D, may not offer any benefits.
The lack of benefit in these studies may be due to factors such as the dose of the supplement or the health status of the participants.
Fish oil may be beneficial for people with certain conditions, such as high-risk coronary artery disease with high triglyceride levels.
Supplements do not operate in isolation and may require other dietary or exercise-related changes to generate an appropriate outcome.
A more comprehensive approach to the use of supplements is needed.
Four major supplements that may be beneficial for maximal cardiac health are coenzyme Q10, L-carnitine, D-ribose, and magnesium.
The quality of the supplement is important and should be acquired through a reputable dealer.
The evidence for the benefits of supplements may never be clear due to the complexity of the human body and the inability to evaluate the holistic impact of different supplements.
A healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise and a balanced diet, is important for overall health.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP236: Please, Please, Please, Ask!

Sun, 03 Jul 2022 10:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop, a practicing cardiologist, discusses the importance of medication adherence for heart health.

He shares a story of a patient who stopped taking his statin therapy after a friend, who was also a doctor, suggested that statins could increase the risk of dementia. Doctor Bishop explains that there is no data to support this claim and that misinformation can be harmful to patients. He emphasizes the importance of patients being educated about their medications and understanding why they are being prescribed. Doctor Bishop also encourages patients to ask questions and raise any concerns they may have with their doctor. He warns that stopping medication without consulting a doctor can lead to serious consequences, such as heart attacks.

Doctor Bishop concludes by urging patients to stick to their medications and to speak with their doctor before making any changes.

Adherence to prescribed medications is crucial for managing heart health.
Misinformation about medications can lead to non-adherence and poor health outcomes.
Patients should be educated about their medications and why they are being prescribed.
Patients should always consult with their doctor before making any changes to their medication regimen.
There is no evidence to support the claim that statins cause dementia.
Statins may actually reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
The nocebo effect can lead to negative expectations and poor health outcomes.
Patients should be wary of advice from friends and family members who are not medical professionals.
Doctors should provide context and explain the pros and cons of prescribed medications to their patients.
Non-adherence to prescribed medications can lead to disease progression and potentially life-threatening health events.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP235: Fixing Valves in 2022

Sun, 26 Jun 2022 10:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses the four main valves in the heart and how they can be subject to wear and tear, causing problems if they leak or become too narrow.

He shares some of the technology that's on the way to potentially help people with valve issues, such as percutaneous or transcatheter techniques that can avoid major surgery. The most common type of valve problem is narrowing of the aortic valve, which can be treated with a new valve deployment technology that is becoming more and more accepted practice, particularly for older high-risk patients. The mitral valve can also be treated with percutaneous techniques, but it's not as advanced as the aortic deployment technology and is currently only for the very high-risk patients who wouldn't get through surgery.

Doctor Bishop also discusses the tricuspid valve, which runs at much lower pressures than the left side, making it a positive and optimistic space for percutaneous transcatheter edge-to-edge repair. He recommends getting an up-to-date ultrasound of the heart, a 24-hour blood pressure monitor, and seeing a cardiologist for preventative and maintenance strategies.

There are four main valves in the heart: the tricuspid valve, the pulmonary valve, the mitral valve, and the aortic valve.
Valve problems can cause issues if they leak or become too narrow.
Percutaneous or transcatheter techniques can be used to improve or alter valve function or deploy new valves through non-invasive techniques.
The aortic valve is the most common type of valve problem, and sticky aortic valves can be a real problem.
Percutaneous or transcatheter techniques can be used to deploy new aortic valves through a blood vessel in the leg.
The mitral valve can also cause problems if it leaks, but the technology for repairing it is not as advanced as the technology for the aortic valve.
The trans-catheter edge to edge repair is a technique that can be used to fix the mitral valve by clipping the two sides of the valve and opposing them together.
The tricuspid valve runs at much lower pressures than the left side, and therefore some sort of device may work better.
Percutaneous transcatheter edge-to-edge repair of the tricuspid valve can be done quite effectively and can be done while patients still only have moderate TR and have not yet advanced.
It is important to get regular check-ups to ensure that your heart valves are functioning properly, and to consider getting a baseline echocardiogram and a 24-hour blood pressure monitor.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP234: My Meditation Journey

Sun, 19 Jun 2022 10:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop shares his personal journey with meditation and encourages listeners to explore it for themselves.

He initially thought of himself as the last person who would ever meditate, but with the guidance of James ZG Buckley, he started to do regular meditation and even took on a 21-day meditation challenge. Doctor Bishop was overwhelmed with the results in terms of well-being, awareness of inner peace, and ability to relate to the external world. Meditation is linked to reducing stress and anxiety, improving energy levels, and bringing happiness. It can also lower blood pressure, regulate heart rate, boost the immune system, and promote healing processes within the body.

Doctor Bishop recommends using guided meditation and practicing for 10 minutes in the morning, 10 minutes before bed, and 10 minutes in the middle of the day. He also suggests using breathing techniques like box breathing or triangular breathing to keep the mind focused and calm. Doctor Bishop believes that looking after the mind is just as important as looking after the body and encourages listeners to explore meditation for themselves.

Doctor Warwick Bishop is a practicing cardiologist and author who is passionate about improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education.
Educated patients get the best health care.
Doctor Bishop undertook a couple of podcast interviews with James ZG Buckley, a world-renowned expert in meditation and hypnosis and founder of Inner Fire Health Bye and Mastery of the Mind Institute.
Doctor Bishop embraced some of the concepts around meditation to explore it for himself and was overwhelmed with the results in the sense of well-being and his own awareness of his inner peace and his ability to relate to the external world.
Meditation is linked to reducing stress and anxiety, improving energy levels, bringing a component of happiness, lowering blood pressure, regulating heart rate, boosting the immune system, and promoting healing processes within the body.
By moving into meditative states, we start to promote healing processes within the body and we can drive nearly a thousand different DNA based or genetic based processes simply by this process of meditation and changing the chemistry within our body to facilitate healing and regenerate DNA.
Doctor Bishop uses guided meditation and tries to do 10 minutes when he wakes up, 10 minutes when he's going to sleep, and 10 minutes in the middle of the day just to calm his thoughts and be as fresh as possible for his patients through the course of the day.
Doctor Bishop uses a breathing technique called box breathing or triangular breathing, which is used by the military for their soldiers to keep them focused and by sporting organizations to help their athletes keep focused.
Doctor Bishop realized that he had spent years looking after his body, making sure that he exercised well and ate well and slept well and maintained a healthy weight, but he hadn't figured that he needed to look after his mind.
If you are interested and want to know more about meditation, you can contact Dr. Bishop through his website, or you can look up InnerFire-Health, or look up James Z. G. Buckley.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP233: Garlic, Devices, Renal Denervation, and Appolo

Sun, 12 Jun 2022 10:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick discusses several topics related to heart health.

He first talks about a study on aged black garlic, which contains a compound called S-allyl L-cysteine (SAC) that can be beneficial for heart health. The study found that aged black garlic can significantly reduce diastolic blood pressure, which can lower the risk of stroke and heart attack.

Doctor Bishop also discusses the use of smart devices for monitoring heart health, including a study that found photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors to be effective in detecting atrial fibrillation and obstructive sleep apnea. He also talks about a hypertension trial that uses renal artery denervation to reduce blood pressure, which has shown promising results.

Finally, Doctor Bishop discusses the Apollo trial, which looked at a small interfering RNA intervention to lower lipoprotein little a, a particle associated with premature coronary artery disease and aortic stenosis. The trial showed nearly a 98% lowering of LP little a and a 25% lowering of LDL cholesterol.

Aged black garlic, or BG, has been found to reduce diastolic blood pressure by about 6 millimeters of mercury, which can significantly reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack.
The Spanish researchers found that the results of the aged black garlic study were similar to those of the DASH diet and other dietary interventions.
Smart devices that use photoplethysmography (PPG) to evaluate the pulse can be helpful in detecting atrial fibrillation and obstructive sleep apnea.
The mobile atrial fibrillation and application study detected 0.4% of atrial fibrillation in a low-risk population over a four-year period, demonstrating its effectiveness in detecting irregularly irregular rhythms.
Renal artery denervation, a process that ablates the sympathetic nerves along the renal arteries, has been found to reduce blood pressure in individuals with high, difficult-to-control blood pressure.
The Spiral Hypertension On Trial found that the effect of renal artery denervation on blood pressure reduction was maintained over a three-year period.
The Apollo trial evaluated the efficacy of a small interfering RNA (siRNA) intervention to lower lipoprotein little a (LP little a), a low-density lipoprotein-like particle associated with premature coronary artery disease and aortic stenosis.
The Apollo trial showed that the siRNA intervention was effective in lowering LP little a by nearly 98% and LDL cholesterol by approximately 25%.
Educated patients get the best healthcare, and Dr. Warwick believes in improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education.
Doctor Warrick's podcast channel provides the latest news on heart disease, and listeners can visit his website for more information.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP232: Chatting About Chocolate

Sun, 05 Jun 2022 10:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses chocolate and its health effects.

Chocolate is traced back to the Olmec civilizations and is made from a tree seed called cacao. When roasted, it becomes cocoa. Chocolate contains fat and sugar, which carry calories that can lead to weight gain, raised blood pressure, diabetes, and coronary artery disease. There is talk about whether cocoa has antioxidants that could be beneficial and whether it can have a cholesterol-lowering effect. Some studies suggest that chocolate may reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and brain decline, but confounders in these studies can be difficult to interpret.

Doctor Bishop recommends consuming chocolate in moderation, particularly for those looking to lose weight or at risk of diabetes. He suggests enjoying a treat once or twice a year, such as during Easter time. Overall, there is not a lot of data to suggest that chocolate is good for us, but it can be enjoyed in moderation.

Doctor Warrick Bishop is a practicing cardiologist and author who is passionate about improving care by educating patients about their heart health.
Chocolate is a popular treat during Easter, but it is important to consider its health implications.
Chocolate is made from a tree seed called cacao, which is roasted to become cocoa.
Chocolate contains fat and sugar, which can lead to weight gain, raised blood pressure, diabetes, and coronary artery disease.
There is some research suggesting that cocoa flavonoids may reduce cholesterol and that small amounts of chocolate may reduce the risk of stroke.
However, the research is not particularly robust, and confounding factors can make it difficult to interpret.
Chocolate may have some potential health benefits, but it should be consumed in moderation.
If you are looking to lose weight or are at risk of diabetes, it is best to keep chocolate consumption levels down.
Doctor Warrick Bishop does not recommend chocolate consumption for his patients whose cholesterol he is looking to lower.
Doctor Warrick Bishop encourages patients to visit his website for the latest news on heart disease and to leave a review if they enjoyed his podcast.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP231: Cardiac Devices

Sun, 29 May 2022 10:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop, a practicing cardiologist, discusses various interventions and technologies used to help people with heart failure.

One of the tools used is a biventricular pacing device, which synchronizes both sides of the heart to bring it back to normal function. Defibrillators are also used to keep people alive in certain situations.

Another technology is the ventricular pump assist device, which is a small pump that helps the heart function properly while it heals or while waiting for a heart transplant. Heart transplantation is a major procedure, but there are also future technologies being developed, such as stem cells and xenotransplantation, which involves growing hearts in other animals that can be transplanted into humans. However, lifestyle modifications, exercise, and sensible diet are still the mainstays of cardiac failure treatment. Doctor Bishop emphasizes the importance of education for patients to understand their heart health and receive the best care.

Doctor Warrick Bishop is a practicing cardiologist and author who believes that educated patients get the best healthcare.
There are various interventions, including procedures and operations, that can be done to help people with heart failure.
One of the important tools used to help people with heart failure is a biventricular pacing device, which synchronizes the heart's activity.
Defibrillators are also used to keep people alive in certain situations.
Ventricular pump assist devices are used to help the heart function properly while it heals or while the person waits for a heart transplantation.
Heart transplantation is a major procedure that can help people with hearts that are beyond repair.
Stem cells can be used to regenerate damaged areas of the heart and restore normal function.
Xenotransplantation is being worked on in the future, which involves growing hearts in other animals that can be given to humans.
Lifestyle modification, exercise, sensible diet, and medication are still the mainstays of cardiac failure treatment.
The treating cardiologist guides individuals through the process of selecting the appropriate intervention for their heart failure.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP230: No Longer Fearful

Sun, 22 May 2022 10:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop, a practicing cardiologist, explains what cardiac failure is and how it manifests in patients.

The symptoms of cardiac failure include shortness of breath and swelling, which are caused by the heart not pumping properly. The body's response to this is to retain fluid, which can overload the heart even further. There are two main ways that the heart can fail: reduced compression and failure to relax properly. Treatment for cardiac failure involves supporting the heart's function and removing fluid.

It is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle to avoid cardiac failure in the first place. Doctor Bishop's website, drwarrickbishop.com, provides the latest news on heart disease.

Cardiac failure is a condition that is often characterized by shortness of breath and swelling.
It is more common in older people and those with other heart issues.
The heart's failure to pump properly leads to a diminished volume of blood going through the circulation.
The body retains fluid in response to the lack of blood being pumped, which can overload the heart even further.
There are two main ways that the heart can fail: reduced compression and failure to relax properly.
Treatment for heart failure involves supporting the heart's function and removing fluid.
Keeping a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, and maintaining low blood pressure and cardiovascular risks can help avoid cardiac failure.
Educated patients get the best healthcare.
Doctor Warrick Bishop is a cardiologist and author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education.
Doctor Bishop's website, drwarrickbishop.com, provides the latest news on heart disease.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP229: Tanya And Warrick—Hearts 4 Hearts Interview

Sun, 15 May 2022 10:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop interviews Tanya Hall, CEO of Hearts for Hearts, a national charity that supports, educates, and advocates for Australians living with heart disease.

They discuss the importance of advocacy for patients with heart rhythm disturbances and the need for access to therapies such as catheter ablation. Tanya shares her own story as a heart patient and how Hearts for Hearts grew organically to provide support, awareness campaigns, and advocacy for patients. They also discuss the diversity of presentation of atrial fibrillation and the importance of seeking advice from a cardiologist. Doctor Bishop highlights the risk of stroke associated with atrial fibrillation and the need for awareness and treatment. Tanya encourages patients to listen to their cardiologist and take recommended treatments. They both recommend reaching out to Hearts for Hearts for support and information.

Hearts for Heart is a national charity that supports, educates, and advocates for Australians living with heart disease.
The organization works with the federal government to ensure that patients have access to therapies.
Hearts for Heart advocates for treatments such as catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation and arrhythmias.
The organization also advocates for remote monitoring of pacemakers and defibrillators to reduce the risk of contact during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hearts for Heart provides support to heart patients through phone support, peer support groups, and Zoom meetings.
The organization also provides education materials that are written in a way that patients can easily understand.
Hearts for Heart has prevented strokes in some patients through their advocacy efforts.
Atrial fibrillation affects about 1% of the entire population and can lead to devastating strokes if left untreated.
Patients with atrial fibrillation may not feel symptoms and may not be aware of the importance of treatment.
It is important for heart patients to keep up with their cardiology appointments and seek treatment recommended by their cardiologist.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP228: Covid-19 and Arrythmia

Sun, 08 May 2022 10:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop, a cardiologist, addresses questions from patients regarding COVID-19 and its impact on individuals with heart conditions.

He explains that individuals with rhythm-deficient immune systems are not necessarily at increased risk of contracting COVID-19, but those with rhythms from the lower part of the heart may carry an increased risk of a bad outcome if infected. Pacemaker patients are not necessarily at increased risk, and remote pacemaker checks are recommended to avoid exposure to the virus. Individuals with defibrillators or pump cardiac resynchronization devices need to be particularly careful as their hearts may play up during a COVID-19 infection. Doctor Bishop also discusses the use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin 2 blockers, stating that there is currently no indication to hold those medications.

He advises listeners to wash their hands and avoid exposure to the virus. Finally, he directs listeners to his website for the latest news on heart disease and encourages them to leave a review if they enjoyed the podcast.

COVID-19 is most concerning for individuals with diminished immunity or capacity to fight off the infection.
Rhythm disturbances in isolation, such as atrial fibrillation, do not necessarily increase an individual's risk of a poor outcome with COVID-19.
Atrial fibrillation in conjunction with other comorbidities can be a marker of increased risk for an individual.
Rhythms from the lower part of the heart or ventricles can indicate a problem and likely carry an increased risk of a bad outcome if infected with COVID-19.
Pacemaker patients are not necessarily at increased risk, and remote pacemaker checks are recommended to avoid exposure to COVID-19.
Individuals with defibrillators or pump cardiac resynchronization devices and left ventricles that are not functioning normally need to be particularly careful as they carry a higher risk.
There is no indication to hold ACE inhibitor type medications, including angiotensin 2 blockers, for individuals with hypertension at this stage.
The COVID-19 virus can last up to 72 hours on a hard surface, up to 24 hours on soft or porous surfaces, and a couple of hours in the air.
Washing hands with soap, using alcohol, bleach, or peroxide can help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Doctor Warrick BIshop is a practicing cardiologist and author who believes that educated patients get the best health care.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP227: What Are NAFLD and NASH?

Sun, 01 May 2022 10:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH).

NAFLD is defined as fat accumulation within the liver that is not driven by alcohol consumption, and it is closely linked with obesity and morbid obesity. NASH is the inflammation of the liver caused by fat accumulation, and it can progress to cirrhosis, which is fatal without transplantation. Fructose is the primary sugar within fruit, and it can also be linked to the development of fatty liver.

Doctor Bishop recommends keeping weight down, keeping fructose and carbohydrates down, and seeking help if weight is building up. He also suggests exploring bariatric surgery for weight reduction and using ezetimibe, a drug that modifies the development of NAFLD. Statins are not detrimental to the progression of NAFLD, and they may be slightly protective. Doctor Bishop emphasizes the importance of keeping a close eye on weight and seeking appropriate remedies.

NAFLD stands for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, which is a condition where fat accumulates in the liver without being driven by alcohol consumption.
NASH stands for Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis, which is a condition where there is inflammation in the liver due to fat accumulation.
NAFLD and NASH can both progress to cirrhosis, which is when the liver scars up and fails.
Morbid obesity is the single biggest driver of NAFLD, and type 2 diabetes with increased weight is also a driver.
Insulin resistance is central to NAFLD, and fructose is also linked to the development of fatty liver.
Fruit, which contains fructose, may be problematic for individuals carrying excess weight and at risk of developing fatty liver.
Keeping weight down, keeping fructose and carbohydrates down, and using drugs like ezetimibe can help prevent or reverse NAFLD.
NAFLD is a complication of obesity that people are not aware of, but it can be fatal and is almost impossible to treat without transplantation.
Liver enzymes and blood tests can give a clue that there's some derangement of the liver enzymes and the way they're working.
Seeking help from a GP or local specialist and putting in place appropriate remedies can help prevent or reverse NAFLD.

Australia, like the rest of the western world, has a heart problem.

Over 9 million people around the world die from heart disease every year.

Every 10 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a heart attack. And 21 lives are lost daily because of it.

The devastating fact in all of this is…

Almost every one of those cases could have been prevented.

Are You at Risk of a Sudden Heart Attack? How Healthy is Your Heart? Really?

94% of Australians have at least One Risk Factor for heart disease.
59% of Australians have been Touched by heart disease.
Yet only 3% of Australians have had a Full Heart-Health Assessment in the past 12 months.

Do the free heart check today at www.virtualheartcheck.com.au

Join the Healthy Heart Network and become part of our growing community!

Do You Want to Improve Your Heart’s Health and Reduce Your Risk of Suffering a Heart Attack? Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

The Healthy Heart Network is designed to help members:

understand the present state of their heart’s health
recognise their current level of risk of suffering a heart attack
Learn the positive steps they can take to improve their situation

Visit https://healthyheartnetwork.com/ and click on the JOIN THE FAMILY BUTTON

EP226: Dog Therapy and Exercise vs Fish Oil

Sun, 24 Apr 2022 10:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses two interesting papers.

The first paper is about dog therapy, where researchers in Canada conducted a randomized controlled trial to see if having dogs in the emergency department could help reduce pain and anxiety in patients. The study found that dog therapy did indeed help alleviate some of the anxieties, fears, and concerns of patients.

The second paper is about a study conducted by researchers from the University of Texas Southwest Medical Center Dallas, which aimed to see if exercise or fish oil could benefit overweight men at high risk of heart failure. The study found that high-intensity interval training improved physical capacity, VO2 max, and strength, but there was no response in the space of weight loss. The fish oil group showed no change whatsoever.

Doctor Bishop emphasizes that exercise alone is not enough and that diet and nutrition issues must also be addressed. He concludes by encouraging listeners to visit his website for the latest news on heart disease.

Dog therapy can help alleviate pain and anxiety in patients, according to a study conducted in Canada.
Animal-related therapies, including dogs and cats, can be beneficial in reducing anxiety and fears in patients.
Ward-based therapies, day units, and chemotherapy suites could benefit from animal-related therapies.
Exercise is valuable for heart health-related issues, but it is not enough to lose weight without altering the way we eat.
High-intensity interval training can improve physical capacity, VO2 max, and strength in men at high risk of heart failure.
Fish oil supplementation did not show any clear indication of benefit in the study.
Diet and nutrition issues need to be addressed to achieve weight loss.
The study was conducted on men between 40 and 55 years of age who were hypertensive and overweight.
The study ran for approximately one year, and there was good retention of people within the study.
Doctor Warrick Bishop is a practicing cardiologist and author who believes that educated patients get the best healthcare.

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my books at https://drwarrickbishop.com/page/books

Take Free Heart Risk Check- KNOW YOUR REAL RISK OF HEART ATTACK

Heart disease is the number one killer in the Western World and can be prevented in many cases. Being fit and healthy is no guarantee that the arteries in your heart are in good shape. We believe you can prevent a heart attack. We can put in place strategies to reduce risk. We can literally plan to change your future...

Find out more: https://virtualheartcheck.com.au/index

Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

EP225: Interview With Rob Zecchin—Cardiac Rehabilitation

Sun, 17 Apr 2022 10:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop interviews Rob Zecchin, the president of the New South Wales chapter of the cardiac rehabilitation organization.

They discuss the importance of cardiac rehabilitation in helping patients recover both physically and mentally from a sudden cardiac event. The program provides educational, medical, and physical support to patients and their families. The engagement of friends, family, and support people is crucial to the success of the program. Women are an underrepresented group in cardiac rehabilitation, and there are specific issues that affect women more frequently than men. The challenges faced by the program include educating new cardiologists and increasing referral rates. The program typically takes six to twelve weeks to complete, and the main frustration is the low referral rates. Rob shares a story of a famous performer who completed the program successfully.

Doctor Warrick Bishop's motto is to see people live as well as possible for as long as possible.

Cardiac rehabilitation is an accelerated recovery program for individuals who have experienced a sudden cardiac event.
Rehabilitation programs are designed to help patients recover physically and mentally from a traumatic event.
Rehabilitation programs provide educational, medical, and physical support to patients.
Family and friends play an important role in the rehabilitation process.
Women are an underrepresented group in cardiac rehabilitation programs.
Rehabilitation programs are tailored to individual needs and circumstances.
Rehabilitation programs typically last 6-12 weeks.
The main challenges for rehabilitation programs are educating new cardiologists and increasing referral rates.
Rehabilitation programs can delay the progression of coronary artery disease.
Rehabilitation programs can help patients return to their normal lives, including work and family activities.

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my books at https://drwarrickbishop.com/page/books

Find out more: https://virtualheartcheck.com.au/index

Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

EP224: Knowing What To Eat But Not Eating It—Interview With Sally-Anne Pisk

Sun, 10 Apr 2022 10:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop interviews Sally-Anne Pisk, the founder of Eating For You, an organization that aims to transform the mindset around healthy eating.

Pisk explains that Eating For You is about finding a way of eating that is healthy, nourishing, and enjoyable. She works predominantly with women who have a good understanding of healthy eating but struggle with making lasting choices due to their thoughts and beliefs about food and themselves. Pisk's approach is based on the practice of mindfulness, which allows people to create space and have a pause before going into autopilot when making food choices. Mindfulness also helps people recognize the choices that support their health goals. Pisk encourages a daily mindfulness or meditation practice as part of the process. She also provides a checklist for emotional eating on the Eating For You website.

Doctor Bishop and Pisk discuss the mechanisms behind comfort eating and how it can be linked to conditioning responses. They also touch on the transmission of eating habits through generations. Pisk's book, Eating For You, was written for everyone, but she predominantly works with women due to the lifestyle and biological experiences they face.

Doctor Warrick Bishop is a practicing cardiologist and author who believes that educated patients get the best healthcare.
Eating For You is an organization founded by Sally-Anne Prisk that aims to transform the mindset around healthy eating by finding a way of eating that is healthy, nourishing, and enjoyable.
The Eating For You approach is based on the practice of mindfulness, which helps to create a habit of being mindful and making choices that last.
Comfort eating is often associated with a type of food that has been linked to being comforted, and this association can be formed at any stage in life.
Mindfulness creates a break before we go into autopilot, allowing us to create space for a choice and go from a reflex to an opportunity for choice.
Mindful eating is a practical way to observe our habits and work out whether they're the best choices for us now and what we can do to actually change our drinking or food choices.
Mindfulness allows us to create space, to have a pause before we go into autopilot, into Pavlov's dog type situation.
The Eating For You approach is very much based on the practice of mindfulness, which helps to create a habit of being mindful and making choices that last.
The Eating For You triggers checklist for emotional eating can be found at eatingchecklist.com.
Doctor Warrick Bishop encourages people to enjoy their food and eat mindfully.

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my books at https://drwarrickbishop.com/page/books

Find out more: https://virtualheartscan.com/index

Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

EP223: Cholesterol Therapy in 2022

Sun, 03 Apr 2022 10:00:00 +1000

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses the latest approaches and technology in heart care, specifically focusing on cholesterol therapy in 2022.

He explains that lowering cholesterol reduces future risk for individuals with high-risk plaque, such as those who have had a stroke or heart attack. However, there is debate about whether cholesterol should be lowered in otherwise healthy individuals without any idea of their propensity to put plaque in their arteries. Statin side effects, particularly muscle aches and pains, are reported in between 5% to 15% of patients, which can make it difficult to meet cholesterol-lowering targets.

Ezetimibe is an underutilized drug in Australia that can bind cholesterol in the abdomen and alter absorption, providing a better cholesterol-lowering effect when combined with a low dose of statin. PCSK9 is a protein that can be inhibited by proteins, antibodies, and other things, and can be injected into individuals to get their cholesterol down. There are also medications close to clinical utilization that can stop or interfere with the production of PCSK9 within the liver cell. Other agents on the horizon include Bemperdoic Acid, C-TEP inhibitors, and angiopoietin-like-3 inhibition.

Finally, there is talk of RNA modulation or gene editing, which could last a lifetime and deliver over 200 days of cholesterol lowering.

Lowering cholesterol reduces future risk for individuals with high-risk plaque, such as those who have had a stroke or heart attack.
Statin side effects, particularly muscle aches and pains, are reported in between 5% to 15% of patients and tend to be dose-related.
Ezetimibe is an agent that binds cholesterol in the abdomen and alters absorption, and is generally very well tolerated and works extremely well with statins.
PCSK9 is a protein that sits next to the LDL receptor and can be inhibited by proteins, antibodies, and other things to get cholesterol down.
PCSK9 inhibition can be achieved through a monoclonal antibody injection, which offers up to a 60% reduction in LDL levels.
mRNA interference is a technology that can stop or interfere with the production of PCSK9 within the liver cell, and the agent Inquisirine is close to completing clinical outcome trials.
Injection of Inquisirine will give almost six months of reduced LDL cholesterol levels.
Bemperdoic Acid is an agent that works through the ATP citrate lyase pathway and has an enzyme action that is unique to the liver only and doesn't cross over with muscles.
C-TEP inhibitors are a group of drugs that work to lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol, and Obicetrapid seems to hold promise.
RNA modulation or gene editing could last a lifetime and deliver over 200 days of cholesterol lowering.

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my books at https://drwarrickbishop.com/page/books

Find out more: https://virtualheartscan.com/index

Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

EP222: A Fishy Tail of Confusion

Sun, 27 Mar 2022 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses fish oil and its benefits for heart health.

Fish oil contains two main components, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which are believed to lower triglycerides, reduce insulin resistance, and reduce inflammation. However, there is not a lot of data to support the benefits of fish oil at low doses. Two major trials, the Reduce It and Jealous trials, have shown that purified EPA can reduce the risk of heart disease in high-risk individuals with raised triglycerides. However, similar trials using a combination of EPA and DHA have not shown clear outcome benefits. For individuals with central adiposity, prediabetes, diabetes, or significant coronary disease, a fibrate agent like phenofibrate (lipidyl) can be beneficial in reducing the risk of complications. Eating fish remains a good thing to do, but the interaction between EPA and DHA within fish is unknown. If you have high-risk cardiovascular disease and raised triglycerides in a pre-diabetic or diabetic status, EPA would be beneficial for you.

Phenofibrates are an absolute must for preservation of peripheral blood vessels and microvascular circulation in individuals with raised triglycerides and diabetes.

Fish oil is believed to be good for the heart, lower triglycerides, reduce insulin resistance, and reduce inflammation.
Fish oil has two main components: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
High doses of EPA have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease in high-risk individuals with raised triglycerides.
The combination of EPA and DHA has not shown clear outcome benefits for the supplemental group.
The benefit of EPA is yet to be negated by DHA.
Fibrate agents like phenofibrate (lipidyl) have a remarkable role in reducing some of the microvascular complications of diabetes.
Phenofibrate reduces the chance of individuals with diabetes becoming blind and reduces the chance of amputation, particularly peripheral amputation of the feet, toes.
Eating fish remains a good thing to do, but no one has looked at the EPA, DHA interaction within fish.
If you have high-risk cardiovascular disease and raised triglycerides in a pre-diabetic or diabetic status, then EPA would be beneficial for you.
If you have raised triglycerides and diabetic, then phenofibrates, i.e. lipidyl, are an absolute must for preservation of peripheral blood vessels, microvascular circulation, and maintenance and stabilization of your retina so you don't go blind from your diabetes.

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my books at https://drwarrickbishop.com/page/books

Find out more: https://virtualheartscan.com/index

Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

EP221: Professor David Colquhoun on The Cholesterol Debate

Sun, 20 Mar 2022 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop interviews Associate Professor David Colquhoun, a cardiologist and co-president at the prevention arm of the Cardiac Society of Australia, New Zealand.

They discuss a recent debate on the merits of cholesterol and whether doctors have it right. They criticize the opposing team's arguments, including Mary Ann DeMasi's controversial Catalyst program, Ross Walker's claim that only one out of 19 people on statins need to be on it, and Anthony Shappie's focus on fructose and inflammation as the drivers for plaque formation.

They also discuss Doctor Malhotra's comments on interpreting data appropriately and Big Pharma's vested interest. They emphasize the importance of LDL particle levels, Mediterranean-style diets, and improving risk factors to prevent outcomes. They also stress the need for a holistic approach to coronary disease, including assessing for depression.

Doctor Warrick Bishop is a practicing cardiologist and author who believes that educated patients get the best healthcare.
Associate Professor David Colquhoun is co-president at the prevention arm of the Cardiac Society of Australia, New Zealand, and a board member of the Heart Foundation of Australia, and an experienced cardiologist, both with clinical and research backgrounds.
The debate discussed the merits or not of cholesterol and whether doctors have it right.
Mary Ann DeMasi, who was central in the Catalyst program a number of years ago, created controversy and a lot of discussion.
Anthony Shappie focused on fructose and inflammation as the drivers for plaque formation and really dismissed that cholesterol was problematic and suggested there wasn't much research for that.
Steve Malhotra's presentation within the debate was really around are we interpreting the data appropriately for individuals and the role of Big Pharma.
LDL cholesterol particle is far more atherogenic cause, and atherosclerosis is like a pimple inside your artery.
The particles, the LDL particle, the lipoproteins, the interaction at a cellular microscopic level is insanely complicated, convoluted and variable between individuals.
A Mediterranean type diet decreases first events by 30% within a three-year period.
Always assess for depression using the PHQ-2, patient health questionnaire.

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my books at https://drwarrickbishop.com/page/books

Find out more: https://virtualheartscan.com/index

Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

EP220: Pigs May Not Fly, But...

Sun, 13 Mar 2022 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses the recent groundbreaking transplant of a pig's heart into a human at Maryland Hospital.

The patient was still doing well one month post-transplantation. The use of pig organs for human transplantation has been discussed for many years, but the difficulty lies in recognizing how the human body will respond to foreign tissue. Humans and pigs share a surprising amount of DNA material, and the evolution of transgenic pigs has been a process of many years. Pigs are not too dissimilar in size and heart structure to humans, and there is a need for organs, particularly hearts, as 15-20 people per day in the US are dying due to a lack of donor hearts. The biggest challenge is the risk of rejection due to the difference in tissue types, and anti-rejection medications lower immunity, increasing the risk of infection.

Pigs have already been used for pig valves in hearts, and cow-made valves are currently being used. The use of animal parts within humans is an extraordinary space, and we may see more of this in the future. This may be a strategy that will support the care for needy individuals over the next decade or two, while other mechanisms are put in place, such as gene sequencing or gene altering targeted therapies.

A group of doctors at Maryland Hospital undertook the first transplant of a pig's heart into a human in early January 2022.
One month post-transplantation, the patient was still doing well.
Humans and pigs share a surprising amount of DNA material, and the evolution of transgenic pigs has been a process of many years.
Pigs are not too dissimilar in terms of size and heart structure to humans, making them a potential source of organs for transplantation.
The use of pig hearts could help address the shortage of donor hearts, which is causing many people to die in the US alone.
Anti-rejection medications lower immunity, which can increase the risk of infection for the individual who receives a heart.
Pigs have already been used for pig valves in hearts, and cow-made valves are also being used.
The use of animal parts within humans is not new, and it is an extraordinary space that may see more developments in the future.
Gene sequencing or gene altering targeted therapies may replace the use of animal organs in the longer term.
The transplantation of a pig's heart into a human is an incredible development that could provide individuals with a replacement organ and support the future care for needy individuals over the next decade or two.

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my books at https://drwarrickbishop.com/page/books

Find out more: https://virtualheartscan.com/index

Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

EP219: Obesity, Prediabetes, Diabetes, And Heart Attack Risk

Sun, 06 Mar 2022 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick discusses the impact of obesity, pre-diabetes, and diabetes on heart attack prevention.

He explains that the widespread availability of high-caloric processed foods and less activity has led to the obesity epidemic in first-world countries. Carrying extra weight can increase the risk of atherosclerosis coronary artery disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, and diabetes. The most important thing people can do is to be aware of the impact of high-caloric processed foods and eat natural, balanced foods. Weight loss becomes complex once the weight is too high, and caloric restriction and carbohydrate restriction are valuable starting points. Face-to-face interaction with someone to support weight loss makes the most sense, and accountability and support are important factors. Medications and bariatric surgery can be options for weight loss.

Diabetes is closely linked to atherosclerosis cardiovascular disease, and early intervention is much better than leaving it too late.

Heart disease is a significant issue in Australia, and many heart attacks could be prevented with proper knowledge.
The Mediterranean diet is associated with better health outcomes, including less dyslipidemia, colonic digestive pathologies, and prostate, breast, and colon disease.
There are many molecular indicators of aging, including genomic instability, telomere wear, epigenetic alterations, and an imbalance between protein synthesis and degradation.
Autophagy, or the body gobbling up cells that are no longer functional, is an important indicator of aging.
Chronic inflammation and imbalances in the microbiome are also indicators of aging.
There is no clear-cut diet tie to longevity, but reducing chronic conditions and improving their management can impact age and health span.
There is no healthy amount of alcohol, and there is no clear evidence that consumption of alcohol is beneficial in reducing Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMOA).
Red wine may improve antioxidant levels in the blood, but it is not clear if it is beneficial in reducing TMOA.
Coronary artery disease kills one in four people, and most people are likely to carry some risk or know someone who does.
virtualheartcheck.com.au provides information about risk evaluation and what else can be done to be even more precise.

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my books at https://drwarrickbishop.com/page/books

Find out more: https://virtualheartscan.com/index

Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

EP218: Update on Cardiac CT

Sun, 27 Feb 2022 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses recent studies on cardiac CT imaging and the importance of calcium scoring.

The SCAPIS study, which looked at over 25,000 people between the ages of 50 and 64, found that about 40% of them had plaque. Men had nearly twice as much plaque as women, and there was a decade delay between the amount of plaque that women had compared to men. The study also showed that a small but recognizable number of patients will have non-calcific plaque if they have a zero score. Doctor Bishop uses a zero calcium score as a gatekeeper and tends not to do a CT coronary angiogram unless there are significant symptoms.

The Korean study found that calcium scores tended to be higher and progressed faster in people who exercised. There are two processes occurring that can be driving calcium: calcium can be a marker of plaque formation and stabilization, and if we have a fatty plaque, one of the things that brings that plaque to more stability is that fatty plaque becoming calcified. The process of unstable plaque remains a mystery, and Doctor Bishop remains open to learning.

The use of CT coronary angiography is an important tool in evaluating plaque in the arteries.
Men tend to have nearly twice as much plaque as women, and there is a decade delay between the amount of plaque that women have compared to men.
A zero calcium score is a gatekeeper, and if that score is zero, then the chance of an event is very low in the next three to five years.
Scores over about 400 have about 40% of cases that had a significant narrowing within one of the arteries.
Calcium scores tend to be higher and progress faster in people who do exercise.
Calcium can be a marker of plaque formation and stabilization.
Calcium presence will tell us about the deposition of cholesterol and how much and an appropriate indicator of propensity to put cholesterol in the arteries.
Calcium can also show us the process of stabilization.
The process of unstable plaque remains a mystery.
Educated patients get the best healthcare.

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my books at https://drwarrickbishop.com/page/books

Find out more: https://virtualheartscan.com/index

Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

EP217: An Extraordinary Letter

Sun, 20 Feb 2022 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop, a practicing cardiologist and author, discusses the importance of educating patients about their heart health.

He shares a letter from a cardiologist that he received, which he believes represents the reason he wrote his book, "Have You Planned Your Heart Attack?" The letter discusses a fit 50-year-old builder with high cholesterol who is eligible for treatment, but the cardiologist does not believe it will alter his life expectancy. The cardiologist also does not recommend a cardiac CT scan, which Doctor Bishop disagrees with, as he believes it is a valid test for intermediate risk patients.

Doctor Bishop also disagrees with the cardiologist's recommendation to give the patient a prescription for Crestor and leave it up to him to continue taking it. He believes this is bad medicine and a lack of concern for the individual.

Doctor Bishop encourages patients to educate themselves about their heart health and ask for the best healthcare possible. He also provides information on his website for those seeking more information.

Doctor Warrick Bishop is a practicing cardiologist and author who is passionate about improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education.
Educated patients get the best healthcare.
Cardiac CT imaging is a valuable technology that allows doctors to look inside someone and get the health of their arteries.
Doctor Bishop faced pushback from his colleagues when he started informing people about cardiac CT imaging.
A letter from a cardiologist to a GP suggests that a cardiac CT would be misleading for a fit 50-year-old builder with high cholesterol.
A normal ECG does not tell us what's going on in the coronary arteries.
Doctor Bishop believes that cardiac CT imaging is a valid test for intermediate risk patients.
Cholesterol-lowering therapy can make a difference to future risk of event for people with plaque in their arteries.
The price of a CT scan is relatively low and represents good value for thorough evaluation of coronary arteries.
Seeking specialist medical attention does not guarantee that you will receive the same information from every individual.

You've been listening to another pod/*cast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my books at https://drwarrickbishop.com/page/books

Find out more: https://virtualheartscan.com/index

Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

EP216: Cholesterol and the Arteries

Sun, 13 Feb 2022 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses the mechanism of how cholesterol ends up in the arteries.

He talks about the LDL hypothesis, which suggests that lowering bad cholesterol in high-risk individuals can reduce their future risk of heart attack. However, he also mentions that cholesterol is not the whole story and that other factors such as inflammation and wear and tear are also important.

Doctor Bishop introduces Vladimir Subbotin, a researcher who has a different take on how cholesterol ends up in the arteries. Subbotin suggests that cholesterol travels into the middle layer of the artery wall via tiny blood vessels called vasa vasorum, which are there to provide nourishment and nutrients for the artery. Doctor Bishop finds this theory plausible and suggests that it warrants consideration. He concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding heart health and reducing the risk of heart attack.

Educated patients get the best healthcare.
Cholesterol and coronary artery disease are linked.
LDL cholesterol is the "bad" cholesterol within the bloodstream.
Lowering cholesterol in high-risk individuals has been shown to correlate with reduced risk.
Mechanistic processes of how cholesterol gets in the arteries are not fully understood.
Vladimir Subbotin suggests that cholesterol travels into the middle layer of the artery wall via tiny blood vessels called vasa vasorum.
Cholesterol buildup occurs in the middle layer of the artery wall, not the inner layer.
Wear and tear, blood pressure, and inflammation are also important factors in coronary artery disease.
Regardless of the mechanism, lowering cholesterol in high-risk individuals reduces future risk.
Doctor Warrick Bishop's website, drwarrickbishop.com, provides the latest news on heart disease.

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my books at https://drwarrickbishop.com/page/books

Find out more: https://virtualheartscan.com/index

Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

EP215: Plaque Rupture and Erosion

Sun, 06 Feb 2022 10:00:00 +1100

In this podcast, Doctor Warrick Bishop discusses the difference between plaque that can rupture and plaque that can erode, both of which can lead to heart attacks.

Plaque forms at points of stress within the artery, with cholesterol and inflammation being key components. Ruptured plaque is associated with 60% of heart attacks, while plaque erosion is associated with 40%. Plaque erosion occurs when the lining of the cells of the cap separating the cholesterol from the blood is removed, allowing a clot to form. Plaque rupture occurs when the thin fibrous cap separating the plaque from the contents of the blood vessel ruptures and breaks. Plaque can be assessed through histology, inferred symptoms, ECG, blood tests, functional testing, and imaging. Studies have shown that high-dose statin and PCSK9 inhibitor can modify plaque composition and get regression of plaque. Lowering LDL cholesterol can bring stability to coronary arteries and reduce ruptured plaques. Plaque erosion is a fascinating space that requires further study.

- Plaque can either rupture or erode, both of which can lead to heart attacks.
- Plaque forms at points of stress within the artery, with cholesterol and inflammation playing a role.
- Ruptured plaque is associated with 60% of heart attacks, while plaque erosion is associated with 40%.
- Plaque erosion is more likely to be associated with unstable angina, while ruptured plaque is slow and almost instantaneous.
- Plaque rupture is defined by a thin fibrous cap breaking down, while plaque erosion is defined by the loss of endothelium above the thick fibrous cap.
- Plaque erosion is a more stable phenomenon than ruptured unstable plaque, with less calcification and inflammation.
- Plaque can be assessed through histology, inferred symptoms, ECG, blood tests, functional testing, and imaging.
- Intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography are both effective tools for imaging plaque.
- High-dose statin and PCSK9 inhibitor can modify plaque composition and get regression of plaque.
- Lowering LDL cholesterol can bring stability to coronary arteries and reduce the risk of ruptured plaques.

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my books at https://drwarrickbishop.com/page/books

Find out more: https://virtualheartscan.com/index

Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

EP214: Interview With Lisa Ryan Part 2 - From Needing Help to Helping Others

Sun, 30 Jan 2022 10:00:00 +1100

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my books at https://drwarrickbishop.com/page/books

Find out more: https://virtualheartscan.com/index

Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

EP213: Interview With Lisa Ryan Part 1 - From Needing Help to Helping Others

Sun, 23 Jan 2022 10:00:00 +1100

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my books at https://drwarrickbishop.com/page/books

Find out more: https://virtualheartscan.com/index

Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

EP212: Guy Leech - Sportsman to Lifesaver

Sun, 16 Jan 2022 10:00:00 +1100

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my books at https://drwarrickbishop.com/page/books

Why Defibs Save Lives

At Heart 180, we want to have a defib within 180 seconds of any Australian suffering a sudden cardiac arrest.

The Ugly Fact is you probably know someone that has been impacted by a Sudden Cardiac Arrest. A Heart180 defibrillator puts the odds in your favour. When you have a sudden cardiac arrest your heart stops beating.

It’s an electrical failure. This means the only thing that can get the heart beating again is a defibrillator!

Sudden Cardiac Arrest kills more Aussie's than anything else
That’s 600 people every week, this includes kids, teenagers & fit adults.

But there is a Solution.
A Heart180 Defibrillator can help
GET A QUOTE AND WE WILL MATCH ANY COMPETITIVE PRICE and we will provide free training with every defib sold
Find more here: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/survey/show/61

Find out more: https://virtualheartscan.com/index

Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

EP211: Guy Leech - Being a Professional Sportsman, Part 2

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 10:00:00 +1100

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my books at https://drwarrickbishop.com/page/books

Why Defibs Save Lives

At Heart 180, we want to have a defib within 180 seconds of any Australian suffering a sudden cardiac arrest.

It’s an electrical failure. This means the only thing that can get the heart beating again is a defibrillator!

Sudden Cardiac Arrest kills more Aussie's than anything else
That’s 600 people every week, this includes kids, teenagers & fit adults.

Find out more: https://virtualheartscan.com/index

Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

EP210: Guy Leech - Being a Professional Sportsman, Part 1

Sun, 02 Jan 2022 10:00:00 +1100

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my books at https://drwarrickbishop.com/page/books

Why Defibs Save Lives

At Heart 180, we want to have a defib within 180 seconds of any Australian suffering a sudden cardiac arrest.

It’s an electrical failure. This means the only thing that can get the heart beating again is a defibrillator!

Sudden Cardiac Arrest kills more Aussie's than anything else
That’s 600 people every week, this includes kids, teenagers & fit adults.

Find out more: https://virtualheartscan.com/index

Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

EP209: Interview With Adrian Lea - Part 2

Sun, 26 Dec 2021 10:00:00 +1100

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my books at https://drwarrickbishop.com/page/books

Find out more: https://virtualheartscan.com/index

Join The Healthy Heart Network For Only $5 Lifetime Access (Valued at over $55)!

https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

EP208: Interview With Adrian Lea - Part 1

Sun, 19 Dec 2021 10:00:00 +1100

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/5

EP207: Talking Stress With Lisa Nezneski

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 10:00:00 +1100

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at https://drwarrickbishop.com/page/books

Join for Free Meditations:

https://www.lisanezneski.com/guided-meditations-mindfulness-healing

Seven Mindful Questions is featured at the International Dublin Writer's Festival. Here is a link for the festival and a code for free access:

The International Dublin Writers' Festival (use the code: idwfsp1)

Also:

I am teaching Mindfulness Meditation 101 starting Sunday Sept 26th

Here is a link for more information: https://www.lisanezneski.com/mindfulness-meditation-101

Feel free to share with friends/colleagues that might be interested. Remember you benefit from MIndfulness with your first breath.

I am teaching How to Heal Yourself starting Monday Sept 27th.

Here is a link for more information: https://www.lisanezneski.com/heal-yourself-enrollment

How to Heal Yourself—Anyone interested in energy medicine can learn healing techniques that are amazing!

EP206: Interview With Kylie Ward, CEO of Australian College of Nursing - Part 2

Sun, 05 Dec 2021 10:00:00 +1100

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/5

EP205: Interview With Kylie Ward, CEO of Australian College of Nursing - Part 1

Sun, 28 Nov 2021 10:00:00 +1100

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/5

EP204: Dan's Journey Part 4

Sun, 21 Nov 2021 10:00:00 +1100

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP203: Dan's Journey Part 3

Sun, 14 Nov 2021 10:00:00 +1100

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP202: Dan's Journey Part 2

Sun, 07 Nov 2021 10:00:00 +1100

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP201: Dan's Journey Part 1

Sun, 31 Oct 2021 10:00:00 +1100

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP200: Celebrating My 200th Podcast

Sun, 24 Oct 2021 10:00:00 +1100

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP199: Coffee, Statins and Biodegradable Pacemakers

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 10:00:00 +1100

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP198: Blackouts and Syncope

Sun, 10 Oct 2021 10:00:00 +1100

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP197: Thinking About Cholesterol Getting Into Arteries

Sun, 03 Oct 2021 10:00:00 +1100

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP196: Funny Valve and Big Aorta

Sun, 26 Sep 2021 10:00:00 +1000

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP195: Liquorice of All Sorts

Sun, 19 Sep 2021 10:00:00 +1000

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP194: Monitoring Medications With Dr Begg

Sun, 12 Sep 2021 10:00:00 +1000

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP193: To-Do Lists With Dr Begg

Sun, 05 Sep 2021 14:08:36 +1000

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP192: Ketogenic Diets and the Heart

Sun, 29 Aug 2021 10:00:00 +1000

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP191: Fish Oil and Vitamin D For Atrial Fibrillation

Sun, 22 Aug 2021 10:00:00 +1000

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP190: Interview with Dr Zalstein Talking Anesthesia (Part 3)

Sun, 15 Aug 2021 10:00:00 +1000

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP189: Interview with Dr Zalstein Talking Anesthesia (Part 2)

Sun, 08 Aug 2021 10:00:00 +1000

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP188: Interview with Dr Zalstein Talking Anesthesia (Part 1)

Sun, 01 Aug 2021 10:00:00 +1000

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP187: Atrial Fibrillation and Food

Sun, 25 Jul 2021 10:00:00 +1000

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP186: Interview 3 With Cardiologist Dr. Michael Zema

Sun, 18 Jul 2021 10:00:00 +1000

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP185: Interview 2 With Cardiologist Dr. Michael Zema

Sun, 11 Jul 2021 10:00:00 +1000

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP184: Interview 1 With Cardiologist Dr. Michael Zema

Sun, 04 Jul 2021 10:00:00 +1000

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP183: James Z G Buckley Interview - Healthy Thinking About Chronic Disease

Sun, 27 Jun 2021 10:00:00 +1000

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP182: James Z G Buckley Interview About Meditation and Hypnosis - Part 2

Sun, 20 Jun 2021 10:00:00 +1000

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP181: James Z G Buckley Interview About Meditation and Hypnosis - Part 1

Sun, 13 Jun 2021 10:00:00 +1000

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP180: Lifestyle, Tobacco, and Alcohol

Sun, 06 Jun 2021 10:00:00 +1000

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP179: Thinking About Cholesterol Getting Into The Arteries

Sun, 30 May 2021 10:00:00 +1000

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP178: Why Fuss About Blood Pressure?

Sun, 23 May 2021 10:00:00 +1000

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP177: Interview With Angela Peris - An Amazing Story

Sun, 16 May 2021 22:00:00 +1000

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP176: Diet, Nutrition, And The Heart

Sun, 09 May 2021 10:00:00 +1000

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP175: Interview With Angela Peris - Holistic Health Care

Sun, 02 May 2021 10:00:00 +1000

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP174: Talking Side Effects With Dr. Begg

Sun, 25 Apr 2021 10:00:00 +1000

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP173: Blood Pressure Tablets At Night And Fraudulent Research

Sun, 18 Apr 2021 10:00:00 +1000

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP172: Cholesterol Statins and Brain Function

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 10:00:00 +1000

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP171: Angela Hartly Interviewing Doctor Warrick Bishop on Stents and Statins

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 10:00:00 +1100

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP170: Why The Cholesterol and Statin Controversy?

Sun, 21 Mar 2021 10:00:00 +1100

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP169: What Causes Heart Attack?

Sun, 14 Mar 2021 10:00:00 +1100

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP168: Angela Hartly Interviewing Dr Warrick Bishop—When We Fix Narrowed Arteries

Sun, 07 Mar 2021 10:00:00 +1100

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP167: The 10 Commandments For Avoiding Heart Attack

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 10:00:00 +1100

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP166: Deep Vein Thrombosis & Factor 5 Leiden

Sun, 21 Feb 2021 10:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP165: Heart Conditions & Beta Blockers

Sun, 14 Feb 2021 10:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP164: Interview With Greg Page (Part 2)

Sun, 07 Feb 2021 10:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Greg Page is a Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survivor and Advocate, Founder of Heart of the Nation, Original Yellow Wiggle, Creator of 40+ children's properties, song/scriptwriter, and early childhood consultant.

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP163: Interview With Greg Page (Part 1)

Sun, 31 Jan 2021 10:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP162: Doctor Warrick and Doctor Kostner Talking Triglycerides

Sun, 24 Jan 2021 10:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP161: Darren Lehmann Interview

Sun, 17 Jan 2021 10:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP160: Doctor Warrick Interviewed by Doctor Kostner About Cardiac CT Imaging For Risk

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 10:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP159: Cardiac Rehabilitation Nurse Interview

Sun, 03 Jan 2021 10:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP158: Fats, Oils, And Lipids

Sun, 27 Dec 2020 10:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP157: Talking About Viagra

Sun, 20 Dec 2020 10:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP156: Palliative Care

Sun, 13 Dec 2020 10:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP155: Discussion With Dr. Karam Kostner About HDL Cholesterol

Sun, 06 Dec 2020 10:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP154: Moving Fat Around The Body - Lipoprotein

Sun, 29 Nov 2020 10:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP153: Angela Hartly interviews Dr Bishop on Diet Tips

Sun, 22 Nov 2020 10:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP152: Angela Hartly Interviewing Dr Bishop - How Often Should You See Your Doctor?

Sun, 15 Nov 2020 10:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP151: Interview With a Psychiatrist About Heart Problems

Sun, 08 Nov 2020 10:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP150: Interview With Stent Patient Brian

Sun, 01 Nov 2020 01:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP149: Interview With Cardiothoracic Surgeon

Sun, 25 Oct 2020 01:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP148: Why I Became a Cardiologist

Sun, 18 Oct 2020 01:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP147: Talking LDL Particle Size

Sun, 11 Oct 2020 01:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP146: Ezetemibe - What is it and What Does it Do? With Dr. Karam Kostner

Sun, 04 Oct 2020 01:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP145: Deprescribing: Do's and Dont's

Sun, 27 Sep 2020 01:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP144: What About Imaging The Arteries - An Interview With Dr. Karam Kostner

Sun, 20 Sep 2020 01:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP143: If I've Had a Problem, What About My Family?

Sun, 13 Sep 2020 01:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP142: Lipoprotein (a) With Dr. Karam Kostner

Sun, 06 Sep 2020 01:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP141: What if Coronary Artery Disease is Not a Disease?

Sun, 30 Aug 2020 01:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP140: Talking Triglycerides - Interview With Dr. Karam Kostner

Sun, 23 Aug 2020 01:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP139: Do I Need to Take Medications Forever?

Sun, 16 Aug 2020 01:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP138: Exercise & Diet For Cholesterol Management - Interview With Dr. Karam Kostner

Sun, 09 Aug 2020 01:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

Know Your Real Risk of Heart Attack (Audiobook Now Available - Sample)

Tue, 04 Aug 2020 17:23:45 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Get The Audio Book Here: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/shop/product/know-your-real-risk-of-heart-attack-audiobook/27

"Know Your Real Risk of Heart Attack" This Book Could Save Your Life

What Is This Book About?

As a cardiologist, I have not yet met a patient who expected to have a problem; patients do not put into their diaries “possible problem with my heart next week”. Yet, what if we could be forewarned about, or prepared for, a potential problem with our coronary arteries? … What if we could plan NOT to have a heart attack?

Know Your Real Risk of Heart Attack is the first-of-its-kind, offering a balanced and referenced discussion of coronary risk assessment using modern technology.

This book will empower you as an individual to choose how you want to deal with your risk of the single biggest killer in the western world.

EP137: Supplements and Nutraceuticals For Lowering Cholesterol - Interview With Dr. Karam Kostner

Sun, 02 Aug 2020 01:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

Audiobook Now Available - Atrial Fibrillation Explained (Sample)

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 01:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Get The Audio Book Here: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/shop/product/atrial-fibrillation-explained-audiobook/23

#1 Internationally Selling Book!

Atrial Fibrillation Explained is a must-read for sufferers and those who care about them, medical practitioners and anyone planning to live into a healthy, old age. Having a better understanding of AF as a disease and learning about its treatment will open up meaningful conversations between patients and their medical practitioners, leading to greater insight into the best way to look after the condition in personal sets of circumstances.

This book is a must-read for you.

EP136: Narrowed Artery to the Kidney

Sun, 26 Jul 2020 01:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP135: Discussing High Cholesterols in Families - Familial Hypercholesterolaemia

Sun, 19 Jul 2020 01:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP134: Discussing Statin Intolerance With Dr. Karam Kostner

Sun, 12 Jul 2020 01:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP133: Funny Beats In The Heart - Ventricular Ectopic Beats (VEB)

Sun, 05 Jul 2020 01:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP132: A Patient With Hard-to-Treat Heart Palpitations

Sun, 28 Jun 2020 01:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel. Warrick is a practicing cardiologist and author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education. Warrick Believes educated patients get the best health care. Discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care and how this might apply to you or someone you love.

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP131: Controlling Blood Pressure With A Procedure, Renal Artery Denervation

Sun, 21 Jun 2020 01:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel. Warrick is a practising cardiologist and author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education. Warrick Believes educated patients get the best health care. Discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care and how this might apply to you or someone you love.
You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP130: COVID-19 From A Cardiologist's Perspective

Sun, 14 Jun 2020 01:00:00 +1000

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP129: General Talk On Valves

Sun, 07 Jun 2020 01:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP128: Astronauts & Blood Flow in Space

Sun, 31 May 2020 01:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP127: Seeing The Forest For The Trees - Paperwork Over Patients

Sun, 24 May 2020 01:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP126: Major Trial Changes in Cardiology Thinking

Sun, 17 May 2020 01:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP125: Why Stent Or Bypass?

Sun, 10 May 2020 01:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP124: What Could Have Happened If...

Sun, 03 May 2020 01:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP123: Talking About Food

Sun, 26 Apr 2020 01:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP122: What Is SVT?

Sun, 19 Apr 2020 01:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP121: Cardiac Rehabilitation With Dr. Alistair Begg Part 3

Sun, 12 Apr 2020 01:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP120: Cardiac Rehabilitation With Dr. Alistair Begg Part 2

Sun, 05 Apr 2020 01:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP119: Cardiac Rehabilitation With Dr. Alistair Begg Part 1

Sun, 29 Mar 2020 01:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP118: The COVID-19 Situation

Sun, 22 Mar 2020 01:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP117: European Society of Cardiology Meeting Paris

Sun, 15 Mar 2020 01:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP116: Cardiac Rehabilitation: Back To Exercise

Sun, 08 Mar 2020 13:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP115: Misunderstanding, Misinterpretation, Mismanagement, and Misfortune

Sun, 01 Mar 2020 01:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP114: Blood Pressure, Stress, And Looking After Your Aorta

Sun, 23 Feb 2020 01:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP113: Not Realising How Sick You Are Until You Are Well

Sun, 16 Feb 2020 01:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP112: Let's Talk About Smoking

Sun, 09 Feb 2020 01:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP111: Good Bang For Your Buck - Testosterone For Older Men

Sun, 02 Feb 2020 01:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP110: Vitamin K1 & K2

Sun, 26 Jan 2020 01:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP109: Why Me? Part 2

Sun, 19 Jan 2020 01:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP108: Why Me? Part 1

Sun, 12 Jan 2020 01:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP107: Rehabilitation: Driving After a Heart Problem

Mon, 06 Jan 2020 01:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP106: Smart Phones, Atrial Fibrillation and to Stent or Bypass?

Mon, 30 Dec 2019 01:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP105: Blood Pressure - The Higher or Lower Number?

Mon, 23 Dec 2019 01:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP104: No Second Chance

Mon, 16 Dec 2019 01:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP103: Salt: Poison or Preservative?

Mon, 09 Dec 2019 22:20:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP102: Are Home Defibrillators Good For You?

Sun, 01 Dec 2019 05:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP101: Management of Cardiac Failure

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 19:45:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP100: Celebrating Our 100th Podcast Episode!

Sun, 17 Nov 2019 01:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP99: All About Cholesterol

Sun, 10 Nov 2019 01:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP98: Heart Attack And Stroke

Sun, 03 Nov 2019 01:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP97: Acute Cardiac Failure

Mon, 28 Oct 2019 01:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP96: Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Week

Mon, 21 Oct 2019 10:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP95: Interview by Tim Charles From 96Five.com: The Best, Incidental, and The Worst Exercise

Mon, 14 Oct 2019 07:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP94: Cardiac Failure And Women

Mon, 07 Oct 2019 10:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP93: Cardiac Failure And Yoga

Mon, 30 Sep 2019 10:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP92: A Cardiologist’s Advice For Their Grandchildren

Mon, 23 Sep 2019 10:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP91: Repeat Scanning

Mon, 16 Sep 2019 10:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP90: Can I Stop My Statins If I Have A Zero Calcium Score?

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 22:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Hi, my name is Dr. Warrick Bishop, and I'd like to welcome you to my podcast station, my videocast station, and of course to the Healthy Heart Network. Today, I'd like to share with you a patient experience, because it might be a question that you've had yourself. Just today, I was asked by a patient, "if my arteries look okay on C.T. imaging if I've got a zero calcium score, can I stop my cholesterol tablets?" What a great question.

So, this comes up a fair bit and I would like to take a moment to discuss it, and I'm sure that someone out there will have had this experience. There's a couple of things to remember here, I think. We know that zero calcium is a very good predictor of a low risk of event in average people with average sort of risk factors. That's because they're the group of people who are examined when they did this sort of work. The people who didn't get into these observational trials are people with really high blood pressure or really high cholesterols, or really bad family histories, perhaps. I can't answer that for sure, but what I'm sort of saying is that average people at average ages, went into the trials that informed us that low calcium scores are a very good reassurance.

Now that's important to think about, because, if for example, we took a 50-year-old male who had a high cholesterol. Let's say his total cholesterol was 7. 7 or even 8. Let's say his bad cholesterol is 4.5. Something like that. These are high numbers. If that 50-year-old male has a zero coronary calcium score, should we take him off his cholesterol-lowering tablet? To some degree, nobody really knows the answer for this, and so it warrants some discussion and consideration. The first thing that we know, is that if he's a 50-year-old male with nothing in these arteries, regardless of his cholesterol level, and regardless of anything else, if he has no calcification, then there's probably not any plaque in his arteries, and that's a pretty good sign.

It is possible to get plaque in the arteries that have no cholesterol, but it's pretty uncommon. But it can happen. Pretty uncommon. The other thing that we want to know, or the other thing that we want to bear in mind, is that when we looked at the data that informs how reassuring a zero calcium score is, it didn't look at people with super high cholesterols, because most of those people get put on therapy without a second thought. The other thing is this: all our research tells us that high cholesterol levels create an environment where plaque can form. That doesn't mean they always cause it. No. But they create an environment where it can occur. And the analogy I often use is, I live in a house that is near the sea, and my house is made out of steel. Now, if I walk around my house today, and there's no rust in the steel, does that mean I don't have to think about painting my house ever again? No. And that's because there is a powerful environment for rust formation because I live by the sea. And so, to some degree, I wonder if we need to think about cholesterol and arteries in a similar way.

If patients have a LOT of risk, perhaps from an elevated cholesterol level, then perhaps we need to think about that environment being something that could drive a problem in the future. It just hasn't to now. So how do we deal with these people with a zero calcium score and elevated cholesterol levels? Well, my experience is that plenty of people want to get off their statins, and I sort of understand that. It's nice to think you can get off medications because, well, taking medications is a bit of a pain in the backside, and psychologically, it gives you the impression that there's something wrong with you.

However, I think it's more complicated than that. We don't have data to guide us in that space. That's for sure. So, what I often say to patients is "look, in the ideal world, I would like to see your cholesterol kept down a bit, because I recognize that that high cholesterol level is likely to be an environment of plaque formation. And although you have nothing in your arteries at the moment - that's fantastic - but I want to keep it that way."

So, my stance is normally to say, "look, if your cholesterol levels are high, it's probably not a bad thing to be on a cholesterol-lowering agent, and that's fully in keeping with all current guidelines." Now, some people will say, "oh doc, I don't want to be on a tablet! I'll do anything to get off these tablets!" or, "I'm having lots of trouble with these tablets," that's possible as well. In that situation, then a specific strategy needs to be employed where we recognize that the environment for plaque formation or build-up of cholesterol in the arteries continues to exist, and we recognize that that process is dynamic. And so, for some patients, I will say, "I'm open to the possibility of you coming off your cholesterol therapy, but we have to continue to monitor you closely.".

We know that a zero calcium score in an average patient, say an average 50-year-old bloke, is pretty good for five years. It's pretty good for five years, but we don't know it's good for five years in someone whose cholesterol is elevated. So, I will often say to these people, "I'm happy for you to come off your statin, but we need to put in place a strategy of surveillance to make sure that we keep a very close eye on anything that may develop. If there is a spot of rust or spot of cholesterol in the pipes, we need to know straight away.".

So, I'll often say, "look, as long as you're able to keep off the cigarettes, keep your blood pressure down, keep your weight under control, keep regular exercise happening and eat well, then, come off the medication, but we need to repeat image in say two years. Or three years. But sooner than that regular five years, and I'll pick that time or discuss that time with the patient based on their age, their other risk factors, their potential family history, lipoprotein little A, gaining weight, exercise, etc.

There isn't a clear cut answer here. In general terms, I think keeping the cholesterol down makes sense. Certainly, if people are adamant they want to be off that medication if they can, then I'd like to check the carotid arteries as well, because although it's very uncommon, a zero calcium score generally suggests that the rest of the vasculature is clear, but very occasionally, you can have a zero coronary calcium score, yet still have plaque in the arteries of your neck. And so, I wouldn't think about stopping therapy for any lengthy period of time whatsoever unless I had clear information about what's going on in the carotid arteries of that individual.

"So, what's the answer to the question, doctor? If my calcium score is zero, can I come off my statins?"

Well, the answer is, "it depends." It requires a very detailed and considered discussion around the exact levels of the cholesterol, the age of the patient, the sex of the patient, the family history of the patient, the other risk factors the patient has, what other interventions they're going to put in place to mitigate their risk, and then figuring out a sensible repeat scanning interval to make sure that no plaque does develop in that individual.

I haven't given you a straight answer, but deliberately, I didn't give you a straight answer because there isn't one. But it's a really important conversation. In general terms, I think of that cholesterol, really in those higher levels, particularly if there's a whiff of family history, then my practice would be to make sure people remain on a cholesterol-lowering agent. If they want to back it off a little bit, sometimes I'm happy to do that as well, but gee whiz, what an interesting space where there's no precise guide to tell us exactly what to do, but there's plenty of stuff to think about.

I hope that makes a little bit of sense to you. If you have any questions, please let us know. If you have any ideas for future podcasts, we'd also like to hear from you. For now, I'm going to say goodbye and wish you the very best, and please, don't die from a heart attack. Goodbye. You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP89: High Calcium Score May Not Be All Bad

Mon, 02 Sep 2019 22:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Hi, my name is Doctor Warrick Bishop, and I'd like to welcome you to my podcast and videocast station, and of course, welcome you to the Healthy Heart Network. Today, I'd like to share with you a case, a story about a man I saw this last week. This gentleman was in his early 60s. He's a very fit, slim, and active man who has looked after himself over the years. He does exercise regularly, and he is keen to make sure that he has the best heart health. We imaged his heart. We did a C.T. scan about eight years ago, and we figured out from that scan that he carried a pretty high risk of coronary disease. At that stage, we elected to put him on surveillance stress-testing because there were areas that may well have progressed, and we wanted to be clear that that wasn't occurring. At the same time, when we saw there was a lot of plaque in his arteries, we also decided to do some novel blood testing, and one of the things that we checked for was Lipoprotein Small A or Little A.

Lipoprotein Small A sounds like a heck of a mouthful, but in very simple terms, it's a cholesterol parcel that goes around in the bloodstream. We think of LDL cholesterol as a parcel that goes around in the bloodstream, and cholesterol doesn't float through the blood by itself; it's wrapped up in little proteinous balls. Well, the Lipoprotein Small A proteinous ball is one that causes mischief where it goes. It's more likely to cause inflammation, it's more likely to cause clotting. It's a link, and it has been linked to an increased likelihood of calcification within the arteries and coronary disease. It has also been linked to narrowing of the aortic valve.

So, Lipoprotein Little A. It's another carrier of cholesterol around the bloodstream, but one that seems to cause some mischief. It's an important one to know because it can run in families. And we do sometimes treat people with nicotinic acid, which is a B-Group Vitamin to try and lower that Lipoprotein Little A level. It turns out, we actually put this patient on Lipoprotein Little A reduction using nicotinic acid. We also treated him with a statin because his cholesterol was on the higher side. Well, this patient had come along for a number of years and just this most recent stress test, we put through its paces in a pink exercise. The electrical activity of his heart as we were monitoring it changed altogether. He developed a complete change in the way the electricity moved through the bottom part of his heart. Now, that means instead of having little narrow spikes on his ECG, they became broad, ugly-looking spots on his ECG. For us cardiologists, we would call that a broad complex tachycardia. And for us cardiologists, that's an emergency. Until proven otherwise, we call that VT or ventricular tachycardia, and people can die from that.

We stopped the test immediately, put this patient on the bed, we checked out his heart, we watched everything that was going on, I scanned his heart because that was part of what we were doing, everything seemed to settle down and I had a suspicion that this may not have been a critical, bad electrical-driven problem, because our concern is, is there a narrowing in the arteries that limits the blood flow to the heart that leads to irritability of the heart muscle and throws the heart into this potentially lethal rhythm? It didn't look like that. This didn't look like a man who was suffering a bad lack of blood flow to the heart. "Bad ischaemia" is the term we use. Ischaemia meaning a lack of blood flow.

My thought was, "we should re-scan him and look at his C.T. scan," which we did. It turns out that, when I caught up with him this week, we found that his calcium score was really high. It was actually over 1000. It was about 300-400 when we saw him eight years ago. So, his calcium score was now over 1000. His calcium score percentile was at the 90th percentile. So if we were to take 100 men his age, he was in the worst 10. So, his calcium score was high; it was over 1000. His percentile was high. In normal terms, this would mean disaster.

But we do two things as part of our CT evaluation. The first is to look with non-contrast, no injection of dye, just looking at the calcium. And I've just told you what that showed. But the other thing that we do is we look at what the arteries looked like by injecting contrast and getting more information. In this particular man's case, when we did that, the really interesting thing was there wasn't any evidence of cholesterol-dominant plaque in there. There was no soft, non-calcific plaque; no soft, cholesterol-dominant plaque. The plaque that we are most concerned about because it is that soft, cholesterol-dominant plaque that can rupture and cause a blockage and a heart attack.

So, here's an interesting thing. This gentleman has been on his cholesterol-lowering agent for eight years, who took some Niacin early on in the piece, and who exercises regularly, has arteries that certainly have a lot of calcification, and in normal situations, that calcification, both the absolute score and the percentile, would be enough to make us very, very concerned. But in his particular situation, because of this complete lack of non-calcific plaque or cholesterol-dominant plaque; the fatty soft stuff, because he had none of that, his arteries look relatively inert.

So, I was able to say to this man, that probably through his exercise, through his statin therapy, through some of the nicotinic acid or Niacin he'd been taking, he'd been able to turn the soft plaque into calcific plaque, which is more stable and more inert in the arteries. I think this supported my feeling that the broad complex tachycardia, or the irregularity if the rhythm is unlikely to represent poor blood flow to the muscle of the heart, and more likely to represent a minor electrical abnormality.

This gentleman will continue on his regular surveillance stress-testing. He is restarting his nicotinic acid. We are going to keep his cholesterol under control, but a really interesting story where there is a high calcium score, a high calcium score percentile but the features, when we look at the arteries in more detail, really don't look that bad. We won't change our therapy; we'll keep doing exactly what we're doing, but I can give that man some reassurance that right at the moment, things look pretty good.

OK, well I hope that was a really interesting story. I hope you found it interesting and informative. If you've got any questions, please drop us a note. We'd love to hear from you. If you have any suggestions for any other topics, please let us know. So, for now, I'm going to say goodbye. I'm going to wish you the very best. And until next time, please don't die from a heart attack. Goodbye.

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP88: When Heart Valves Fail: Aortic Stenosis

Mon, 26 Aug 2019 22:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Warrick's Podcast Channel. Warrick is a practicing cardiologist and author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education. Warrick believes educated patients get the best health care. Discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care and how this might apply to you or someone you love.

Hi, my name is Doctor Warrick Bishop, and welcome to my podcasting videocast channel, and welcome to the Healthy Heart Network. Today, I want to talk a little bit about what happens if the valves of the heart stop working. Well, before I cover that in too much detail, what I'd like to do is quickly remind us of how the circulation works. Now remember, I said, if we could imagine the circulation as a single tube where blood circulates around that tube, almost imagine the inner tube of a tyre, and at twelve o'clock, we've got the lungs, which is where gas exchanges, oxygen comes in and carbon dioxide goes out. And at six o'clock, we have the capillaries, which is where carbon dioxide is created from the metabolism of the tissues that the capillaries are in, and where oxygen is absorbed into those tissues so the metabolism can occur. And what occurs in the rest of the circulation is blood out and blood returning. Remember, we had drawn a diagram which sort of showed the lungs at twelve o'clock, the capillaries at six o'clock, blood going out and blood going back in.

Now, either side of the lungs, there is the right side of the heart and the left side of the heart. As blood comes back from the body, through the veins, the veins coalesce and come together into a major vein above and below the right atrium of the heart. These major veins that come together are called the superior and the inferior venae cavae. And they drain directly into the right atrium, which is the receiving chamber of the right side of the heart. The right atrium gives the blood a little squeeze, the blood goes into the right ventricle, which is the main pumping chamber on the right side of the heart, and the right ventricle then pumps blood through the pulmonary valve into the pulmonary artery to get blood into the lungs. This blood is the venous blood, so it's a dark purple colour. While it's in the lungs, though, the blood then exchanges carbon dioxide and oxygen so that as it comes back out of the lungs, it's now the bright red arterial blood, which is carrying oxygen and released or got rid of the waste carbon dioxide. This is the bright red blood that we see on the arterial side of the circulation.

Reminding you that the arterial blood now comes from the lungs, through the pulmonary veins, drains into the left atrium. The left atrium receives the blood from the lungs, gives the blood a little squirt. The blood from the left atrium goes through the mitral valve, which is the one-way valve into the left ventricle. The left ventricle receives that blood, and then the blood goes out the one-way valve into the aorta, and then oxygenated blood - that bright red blood - then begins its journey around the circulation. So, if you reflect on that circular flow and the heart really having two major sides: the right side and the left side, and each of those sides having a pre-pumping chamber and a main pumping chamber, then at each of these junction points where there's contraction occurring, there is a one-way valve. They're the valves of the heart.

In order, they're the tricuspid valve, pulmonary valve, mitral valve, and aortic valve. But it turns out that, from a clinical perspective, or from this perspective that's most likely to affect you, we tend to see the valves affected in the reverse of that order. So, the aortic valve, then the mitral valve, then the tricuspid valve, then the pulmonary valve, tend to be affected in that order in the clinical situations that we tend to deal with in our cardiological practice. Now, when a valve fails, it can fail in two ways. If we think about it, it's very simple to understand: a valve can become narrowed or tight, and if it does that, it doesn't allow enough blood through. It becomes a blockage in the system. The other way a valve can fail is if it doesn't do its job properly. If it leaks. So, if our one-way valve lets blood through, but then when it closes, it doesn't close properly, or for some reason doesn't do its job properly, then blood leaks back from whence it came. The first type of situation, a narrowed valve; one that's not opening properly, we call that a 'stenosed valve'; a narrowed valve. A valve that doesn't close and allows leakage of blood back, we call that an 'incompetent valve.' It's not doing its job. It is incompetent in what it's meant to be doing. We also call that a 'regurgitant valve'; it's regurgitating blood. So, two ways a valve can fail.

Let me talk about the aortic valve, first of all. What I will say, before going into too much detail about these valves is that, in general terms, if we see a valve fail suddenly, it's normally a regurgitant failure. So, if we see heart failure in the acute setting, in the sudden onset setting, and it's related to a valve, it's normally a valve that is leaking. It's uncommon for the valve to become stenosed suddenly. This is a process that normally occurs over years, generally decades, in fact. So, let's talk about the aortic valve, and let's talk about the aortic valve narrowing first. Let's think about the flow of the blood. Blood has come through the circulation, through the veins, the right side of the heart, through the lungs, through the left side of the heart, gets pumped by the left atrium into the left ventricle. Everything's working well so far. Now the left ventricle goes to squeeze blood out to the body, the left ventricle goes to squeeze blood out into the aorta, and lo and behold, the valve is narrowed.

Now, the narrowing can be to different degrees, and we like to measure exactly what sort of degree of narrowing is occurring, because we know once the narrowing gets to a certain level, then that valve is critical, and that valve needs to be replaced. So there are two things that we try to understand as we're doing our ultrasound assessment of a valve that's narrowed. The first is that we try and measure the area of that valve. We try and understand exactly what the cross-sectional area is of the narrowed valve so that we can compare that to what would otherwise be a normal area. Once the valve area of the aortic valve is getting less than one centimetre squared, we start to get pretty concerned. We're able to do those calculations and measurements from some of the clever techniques we use with echocardiography, where we can measure the size of the aorta, and we can measure flow velocity through the narrowed area, and we can compare that with the other side of the heart; so that we can compare flow on the left side with flow on the right side of the heart. And by comparing those two flows and knowing they're going to be equal, we can start to make a calculation of the area that's functional of a stenosed or narrowed aortic valve.

The other thing that we measure is the pressure gradient across the valve. This is something that's really important to understand because we talk about these pressure gradients all the time. A pressure gradient simply means the difference in pressure between one side of the valve - the left ventricle - and the aorta - the other side of the valve. To make that easy to understand: if there was a zero gradient, then the pressure in the left ventricle would be exactly the same as the pressure in the aorta. Now, how do we make that all add up? Well, the pressure in the aorta should be the same as the pressure in the artery in the arm. So, if we were to measure someone's blood pressure, and that blood pressure was 120 millimetres of mercury, then we would know that the pressuring the aorta was 120 millimetres of mercury at systole, which is when the heart's contracting, and if there was a zero gradient over the valve, then the pressure in the left ventricle would be 120.

So, no pressure gradient over the valve. Now, if we then think about increasing the gradient over that valve, then what we're talking about is the narrowed valve leading to a failure of all the pressure in the left ventricle going into the aorta. So now, let's say that the pressure in the aorta remains at 120, but now, the pressure in the left ventricle is, let's say, 200. So, let's think about the left ventricle. Let's think about the aorta, and let's think about the valve and the blood pressure that we measure in the arm.

On this occasion, we don't have a zero gradient. On this occasion, the pressure in the aorta is 120. This is the pressure that the body wants to continue to maintain for optimal function. The pressure in the aorta is 120, therefore the pressure in the arm is pretty well equivalent. And that's because of transmission of that pressure through the fluid. So, pressure in the arm, 120, pressure in the aorta, 120. But because the valve is thick, the ventricle has to pump it 200 to achieve that pressure of 120 in the aorta. With the ventricular pressure being 200 and the aortic pressure being 120, then the pressure drop due to the valve is 80 millimetres of mercury. That means that the pressure gradient over the valve is 80, and in our clinical situation, we believe that is severe.

So, when we're trying to assess the narrowing of the valve, we calculate the area, and we do that using our echocardiogram and clever techniques, looking at flow, comparing the left and the right heart. And we also use our echocardiogram to establish the gradient over the valve, the pressure differential that occurs across that valve, because those two factors, the area, and the gradient, help us decide when a valve needs to be replaced. Well, what are the consequences of having a narrowed valve in the aortic position? Well, if you think it through, the left ventricle has to do more work.

So, over time, the left ventricle thickens up so that it's strong enough to pump out through that valve. And so one of the consequences we see of aortic valve stenosis is a thickened muscle of the main pumping chamber of the heart, or a thickened left ventricle. That same pressure, of course, is exerted back on the mitral valve, and sometimes, can impact the mitral valve as well, because it puts pressure on there. And you can imagine that if the left ventricle is squeezing really hard to try and get blood to go out the forward way, it could also be squirting blood backwards and putting pressure on the mitral valve, so it becomes regurgitant. Although, aortic valve is stenotic.

A bit to take on board there. One of the things that are really important to understand with the timing of valve surgery, is that we want to keep a close eye on how patients progress in terms of their symptoms, and the severity of their valve. And this is the same for all valves. And there's really a simple way to break down the way we consider that, and we consider that in terms of severity, and timing. And what we know is that, with time, most valves will gradually worsen. So, the stenotic aortic valve that we're talking about will gradually worsen, and we will want to monitor that closely, but it's really important we understand that that monitoring so that we can pick the best time to change or repair that valve. We can do it too early.

Now, if the gradient over the valve was low. If the area of the valve was only slightly reduced compared to a native normal valve, and we looked to replace that valve, then that would be too early, particularly if the patient didn't have any symptoms at all. Too early means that we're putting in a new valve when the existing valve is not that bad. Well, too early runs the risk that we may well run the complications of the surgery without making the patient feeling any better. So we don't want to be doing people too early. Sometimes, we can leave things too long. And if we leave the heart too long, you can imagine if we left a left ventricle under load for too long. It might eventually fail of its own. It might become thickened and get to a stage where eventually it just doesn't pump well enough. Or the stenosis becomes so tight that the patient actually runs a risk of sudden cardiac death.

If that's the case, if the muscle of the heart doesn't recover after surgery; if the patient has unacceptable risk of consequences or symptoms from the tight valve, then that's too late in terms of our timing. What we really aim for is a bit of a Goldilocks spot where it's just right. Where the patient is starting to get symptoms where the valve is severe enough that we know if we replace it, we will give them the better valve hemodynamically, and where we know that the risk of surgery is now less than leaving the valve as it is. So it's really important we get that timing right.

I'm going to talk lastly about a leaking aortic valve. In fact, what I'll do is I might stop there because we've covered quite a lot. I might talk about a leaking aortic valve, the mitral valve next time, and the right heart valves. We've covered quite a lot. The detail around understanding what goes on with valves as they fail and how that impacts the heart is really important, and it's really common. I hope some of the information I've shared with you today makes sense. If it doesn't, let us know. If you have any thoughts about future topics, please let us know. I'm going to wish you the very best for now, and of course, until next time, good health and goodbye.

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP87: Radio Station Interview - World's Most Amazing People

Mon, 19 Aug 2019 22:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

You have been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at www.drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP86: What Goes Wrong With Heart Failure?

Mon, 12 Aug 2019 22:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP85: More Specific Tests For Heart Failure

Mon, 05 Aug 2019 22:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP84: Diagnosis and investigation of Heart Failure

Thu, 25 Jul 2019 22:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP83: How Do We Classify Heart Failure?

Mon, 22 Jul 2019 22:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP82: How Can We Prevent Heart Failure?

Mon, 15 Jul 2019 22:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP81: Ejection Fraction And Understanding The Percentages

Mon, 08 Jul 2019 22:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP80: Causes or Aetiology of Heart Failure

Mon, 01 Jul 2019 22:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP79: Cardiac Failure History and Features

Mon, 24 Jun 2019 22:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP78: PCSK-9 Inhibitors

Mon, 17 Jun 2019 22:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP77: Blood Pressure - How Low To Go?

Mon, 10 Jun 2019 22:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP76: What Is Heart Failure?

Mon, 03 Jun 2019 22:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP75: Bad Joints, Good Heart, Glucosamine

Mon, 27 May 2019 22:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP74: Antiplatelet With Antibiotic Action - Serendipity In Action

Mon, 20 May 2019 22:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP73: SAMHRI Meeting - May 10 & 11, 2019

Mon, 13 May 2019 10:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP72: We Can Do Better

Thu, 09 May 2019 23:31:08 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP71: The Italian Hour - Interview With Renato Delfatti

Sat, 20 Apr 2019 10:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP70: Cholesterol: Confusion And Controversy

Sat, 13 Apr 2019 10:00:00 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP69: CTCA Risk Consultation

Sat, 06 Apr 2019 10:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP68: Stoppping Drugs If A Sick Heart Gets Better

Sat, 16 Mar 2019 22:56:54 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP67: Mary - Cardiac Failure

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 17:27:52 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP66: Statin Therapy In Australia: What's New?

Sat, 02 Mar 2019 10:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP65: Middle of the Night Phone Call

Mon, 25 Feb 2019 16:38:51 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP64: Energy Drink Project

Sun, 17 Feb 2019 16:00:05 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Warrick is a Practicing cardiologist and author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education. Warrick believes educated patients get the best health care. Discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care and how this might apply to you or someone you love.

Hi, my name's Doctor Warrick Bishop, and I'd like to welcome you to my podcast channel. Today I'd like to discuss energy drinks. We all know they're incredibly common. We see them advertised. We see them in shops and we see not only sportspeople but young adults and teenagers consuming these beverages regularly. Well, what are they? What sort of things do they contain? What benefits might they offer? What risks might they carry? And what's a little bit of the history to these drinks and their arrival on the global market?

Dealing with the history first, one of the most recognized brands in the energy drinks space is Red Bull, and Red Bull was released in Austria as far back as 1987. It wasn't until approximately ten years later when it was released in the US. And then subsequently grew and grew with other energy drinks coming into the market so that by the time we reached 2013, there was over 5.8 Billion litres of energy drink being consumed in over 160 countries around the world. In the U.S. alone, in 2012, the estimated market value of the industry was 12.5 billion dollars. And it had been growing at a staggering pace, year on year energy drinks are just too big for them to ever go away, so with us understanding that they're going to always remain in our marketplace, then there are some questions that we have to consider for ourselves as potential users. Or as responsible adults in charge of people; our children who may be potential users.

Why do people take energy drinks and what can you expect from taking energy drinks? The main reason is a boost in, as you would guess, energy. These drinks promote wakefulness, they maintain alertness and is said to help with cognitive function and mood enhancement.

There's also some research that would suggest they can improve motor function and coordination. That's things like catching a ball for example or driving something. Things that may require quick reflexes and coordination.

Although these are quite tantalizing thoughts, I do need to point out that although there are some clear studies which demonstrate a suggestion of benefit taking these energy drinks, there are also many studies that don't necessarily show benefit at all. So what are the active ingredients within most energy drinks? Well, the most common active ingredient is caffeine. And that caffeine ranges between 30 milligrams to over 140 milligrams in different preparations. And you have to simply read the label of the product to know what it is for that particular preparation.

It's useful to put that into context though when we think about caffeine in a coffee shot. By checking on the Starbucks website, one can quickly find out that a standard espresso shot through Starbucks is going to have about 90 milligrams of caffeine within it, and a double shot, therefore, can range depending on where you get it from, between 60 and 180 milligrams.

So for energy drinks, caffeine is considered the main ingredient. But there's also other ingredients that go in with it. The most significant and now the most common ingredient is sugar. And these drinks contain large hits of sugar so that the person consuming these drinks is getting both a hit of coffee and a sugar rush. Other constituents of these drinks to varying degrees include things like taurine, methylxanthines, vitamin B, ginseng, Gharana, Yerba Mate, maltodextrin, inositol, carnitine, creatine, glurono, lactone, and ginkgo biloba, but of course these are all in varying amounts and there is no clear data at all to reflect their impact on the individual. Only speculation, really, which can be transferred across from their use as standard vitamins for individuals.

These agents are taken for energy, and therefore we might expect a physical benefit. There is some research to support that individuals taking these agents do demonstrate an enhanced or improved aerobic endurance. They also describe an improvement in mood and an increase in alertness. There's also some work that's shown that these agents improve response times. And reduce fatigue. So if you think about it, it makes perfect sense if you're playing a game that requires focus, a good attitude, plenty of energy; something like a team sport, for example, volleyball.

You could imagine if you were able to enhance your performance in those different categories, then your team performance, if everyone was consuming these energy drinks of course, would improve. I don't wish to go into details of those studies as they're mainly fairly small and they're also offset by an equal number of studies that didn't show a significant benefit.

What I would like to do, however, is move on to some of the limitations of these agents and in particular the physiological or the effects on the body and the psychological or effects on the mind aspects related to these drinks.

One of the most notable effects of these agents is on the cardiovascular system where, not surprisingly, the shot of caffeine has a significant effect on heart rate increase and arterial blood pressure to a degree. This might be an acceptable side effect in small doses, but there is also observational data to suggest that high doses of caffeine can lead young patients young people into abnormal rhythm disturbance with changes on their EEG that may well lead to problems with rhythm and even risk of death.

This is from a direct effect of the caffeine on the electrical cells of the heart. The caffeine also affects other cells within the heart and one of the important cell groups within the heart are the special lining of the arteries within the heart.

The lining of arteries is a very special organ. It is the organ that allows transfer of nutrients from the bloodstream into the tissues. But it is also a special Teflon, if you like, that keeps the blood flowing through the arteries without any of the components or particles of the blood sticking to the wall. This lining of the arteries, also known as the endothelium, needs to work, and it needs to work properly for it to do its job effectively. There is certainly some suggestion from research that high doses of caffeine, as seen in excessive use of energy drinks, can have an impact on the endothelial function, affecting not only the possibility of components of the blood aggregating or clotting within the artery, but also changing blood pressures and running the risk of a blockage within the artery and subsequently a heart attack. For anyone who has had a couple too many coffees during the day, you will relate easily to the sort of neurological effects that might come from excess use of energy drinks.

At caffeine doses above about 200 milligrams for a standard adult, then features of anxiety or insomnia may occur. Patients may describe gastrointestinal upset or restlessness, and of course some degree of agitation. It turns out that the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders actually has four caffeine-induced psyche or psychiatric disorders recognised. These disorders are: #1 Caffeine Intoxication, #2 Caffeine-Induced anxiety, #3 Caffeine-Induced sleep disorder, and #4 Caffeine-Related Disorder, which is slightly less specific, but you get the drift.

There have been some reports of hallucination and even epilepsy with patients who consume greater than 300 milligrams of caffeine through energy drink consumption. Because of the significant sugar load that most of these energy drinks contain, they can also have an effect on the gastrointestinal and metabolic systems. Some researchers have observed tooth decay as you might expect from the sugary drinks. Some have reported a possible changing gut microbiome from the increased sugar load.

Others have suggested that the change in insulin sensitivity brought about by the combination of caffeine and high sugar can be detrimental and even lead to weight loss in the future and deranged metabolic processes for that person in later life should they pursue long term use of these beverages. Most of us who have had a cup of coffee in the morning will realise that there is also a diuretic effect from caffeine and that means it allows water to be lost through the kidneys.

Of course, energy drinks do the same. But the concern in this situation is if you are of a good mood, full of energy and exercising, then it's quite possible that you may dehydrate without being aware of it. So there is a concern that appropriate use of energy drinks be offset and balanced with appropriate hydration for fear of damage to the kidneys. From a personal perspective, because I have teenage children, I think one of the most significant and important aspects of energy drinks is the impact on psychological processes of the consumer taking them, and this is particularly the case with teenagers and young adults. Having said that there is some clear information that caffeine and sugar do help people concentrate and perform better in mental activities, and this is in combination with improved mood, we have to offset that against what deleterious effects these agents may have on young people or anyone using them to any extent.

Certainly, sleep, is affected. And anyone who's been tired and wanted to try caffeine to keep awake would realise that it actually works, nut the research would suggest it works but leaves you depleted the following day. So there's really no net gain. And it is important to be aware that you are going to lose, as it is, swings and roundabouts. There have been studies looking at university age students who have engaged in frequent energy drink consumption at parties. And there is no question that the association of energy drinks with risky behavior is either sexual or fighting or the use of drugs or even the use of seatbelts in cars has been suggested and documented by some researchers.

This, in particular, poses one of the challenges for energy drinks, which is they're now being marketed, often as mixes to alcoholic beverages. Why this is so concerning is that the individuals consuming these mixed energy and alcoholic beverage drinks can be under the false impression that the energy drink offsets the detrimental effects of the alcohol, although this is really quite an enticing thought and would be nice if it was the case, it turns out that it's not. It turns out that the consumption of energy drinks in association with alcohol simply gives people the impression they are better than they are, but on formal testing, that's not proven to be the case. If you stop and think about that, that's actually quite a dangerous situation where the users of energy drink and alcohol beverages together can have a false bravado and a false assessment of risks of danger and their capabilities.

From my own perspective, I am a regular user of caffeine. I Would regularly have a cup of coffee in the morning. Often I'll have one mid-morning, and quite commonly one mid-afternoon with each of those being around about 60 grams and spread over the course of the day.

I believe that's an altogether different scenario to consuming multiple energy drinks all in one hit and in certain circumstances combining that with alcohol which I believe presents a significant concern in terms of the safety of the individual in terms of their judgment. And of course in terms of their physical well-being I think the final take-home message is that energy drinks are here to stay, but we really need to understand what we're hoping for in terms of their benefits and that there are still limitations that we don't fully understand to their use and particularly their use in younger people.

Thank you for joining me. I hope you've enjoyed this podcast on energy drinks. I'm going to go and have a coffee now. Take care.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP63: What Is Circulation?

Sat, 09 Feb 2019 17:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Dr. Warrick's Podcast Channel. Warrick is a practicing cardiologist and author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education. Warrick believes educated patients to get the best healthcare. Discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care, and how this might apply to you or someone you love.

You have been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP62: The Spray Under The Tongue

Sat, 02 Feb 2019 17:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You have been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP61: A1 And A2 Milk

Sat, 19 Jan 2019 17:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You have been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP60: Progress to Bypass Grafting

Sat, 12 Jan 2019 17:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You have been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP59: Consultation With A Patient That Doesn't Want To Take Statins

Sat, 01 Dec 2018 17:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You have been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP58: Consultation About Statin Intolerance

Sat, 24 Nov 2018 17:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You have been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP57: Second Interview With Senior Gastroenterologist Gautam Ramnath

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 17:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You have been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP56: Interview With Senior Gastroenterologist Gautam Ramnath

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 17:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

You have been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP55: Talking About Supplements

Mon, 05 Nov 2018 17:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

G'day. Warrick Bishop here, and I thought I'd take the opportunity to have a little bit of a chat about supplements. People are often asking about supplements. My patients are regularly asking, and in my Facebook group, there have been some questions specifically about bergamot and whether that can be used for lowering cholesterol. So, I thought I would take the opportunity to chat a little bit about supplements and cholesterol lowering, as I think it's a topic that people are often interested in.

So, I'll start off with bergamot because some people have asked about that within the group. Now, bergamot, as far as I understand, is a citrus-based plant and there is a belief that the flavonoids or components within that can be beneficial for lowering cholesterol. There has actually been at least one study done to show that that's the case, and that was done by a researcher called Peter Toth. I've actually seen Peter speak; he's one of the smartest guys you'll ever meet. And there's no question that the research he would have done around that would have been robust and sound. It looks - at least I had the chance to look up the paper - it looks like the research was done with a specific proprietary brand of bergamot called bergavit. And what I will say is that I'm not sure about the specifics of how that particular extract was obtained, that as far as I'm aware, I don't think that extract is available in Australia. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

The upshot of that study by Peter Toth was that bergamot at the doses they used did lower cholesterol levels, and lowered them really quite well. Between 0.5 and 1mmols per litre, which is a really good outcome. Now, these were people who had LDL cholesterols that were moderately elevated already, but nonetheless a really good result. The same study also looked at thickening within the carotid arteries. We call that carotid media intimal thickness. And this study showed a suggestion that this got less on the therapy. So again, a really good sign.

One of the questions that was asked in the Facebook group is whether Ross Walker, a cardiologist in Sydney who's got an interest in prevention and uses imaging, so he and I have a lot in common in that space, he recommends bergamot as well. Now my knowledge around the particular brand that he's recommending is limited. So I can't comment on whether it's bergavit or not. I don't know about the active ingredients. He would give you more information on that. As far as I understand, and I could be wrong, my understanding is that Dr. Walker also has an interest in the company that either produces or sells or distributes that vitamin as well. So, he would certainly know it very well.

Having said all that, what I really do want to convey is that if bergamot does lower the LDL, then I think that is a good thing, if it's indicated in you as an individual. Now, that has two components to it. One is, what is the reason you're taking a supplement or a medication for, to lower your LDL cholesterol? What's your risk? And therefore what would the benefit be that that intervention would offer?

So, in regard to that, what I'd like to put to you is that if you do have a risk and you should be on a lipid-lowering agent, then a supplement like bergamot is certainly a reasonable thing to have in your therapeutic regime. No question. A lot of what I've written about in terms of my book, and a lot about what this page is centred on, is trying to get the best understanding of the actual risk you may have from a cardiovascular perspective. So, let me put that into some other context. Let's say you've actually had a heart attack. There's no question, then, your risk is very high, and your risk of another event is very high, so that means that you need to be treated with a high intensity of therapy. Makes sense. So, bergamot, of its own with a 1mmol LDL lipid lowering, and that's a good result, may not be enough for you. You may really need to be driving your LDL targets right down to the secondary prevention guideline targets or below that we currently have in Australia. So, bergamot might provide some of what you need, but maybe not all.

If your risk is actually fairly low, just say your cholesterol is up a little and you have nothing on your C.T. scan, so you've scanned your heart arteries or you've scanned your carotid arteries and there's no evidence of plaque anywhere, then it may be the case that you don't really need an aggressive lipid-lowering regime. And in that situation, bergamot might be a good option, and certainly one that would be reasonable to speak with your GP, or even preferentially your preventative cardiologist with.

The role of bergamot in lowering LDL cholesterol, I believe, is going to be beneficial because I don't believe that the LDL lowering that we see as the beneficial outcome for high-risk patients is related to statin therapy alone. So we talk about the LDL hypothesis. I think it's more complicated than the single mechanism giving rise to coronary artery disease, and I think most people would agree with that. There are concepts of inflammation, there are concepts of location within the arteries, but certainly, one of the components we deal with is cholesterol lowering. Now, statins don't have a monopoly on that. I believe that if you can get your LDL cholesterol down by other ways, then that will be equally effective as the sort of statin lowering we see with statins. I don't believe there's any reason to believe otherwise.

So, let's take the example that you really do need cholesterol lowering, let's say that you've started on a cholesterol-lowering agent like a statin which is appropriate. Let's say you can't take a particularly high dose. Let's say the target LDL you're trying to get to is 1.8mmols per litre or less. Let's say you've got to 2.2mmols per litre. In that situation, a conversation with your doctor about using bergamot may well be a sensible next step. I don't have an issue with that.

Having said that, what I do think is really important is to make sure you've got a formulation that actually works. So, I've had patients try bergamot, and they've tried it for several weeks or a couple of months, and we've retested their cholesterol levels, only to find that they haven't moved at all. Well, that may well mean that we're not using a preparation which is effective, and I'll take you back to that original paper by Peter Toth, who used a proprietary-acquired bergavit preparation in his trial. So, if you are going to use bergamot or any other supplement for that regard; if you are going to use bergamot, please do it in conjunction with your doctor, preferably a cardiologist so that they know what targets you should be aiming for. Make sure it's working. Make sure there aren't any side effects. Make sure that other organs like kidneys and liver are also not being impacted at all.

So, I have supported my patients using bergamot in the past, and I've also supported some of my patients having a discussion about supplementation for lipid lowering because I do understand that people want to do what they can if confronted with a situation. So, one of the other things I'll put to people is that they could use read Red Yeast Rice. Now, Red Yeast Rice, which I get a bit dyslexic about and call it "Red Rice Yeast"; either way it's a fungus that grows on rice, and the fungus has in it the chemical that statins were originally derived from. In lowish doses, but nonetheless in a natural form. Some patients feel comfortable using that red yeast rice. I'm pretty happy to support that. Again, what we're looking at from a clinical perspective, from my side of the table, is how big is the risk that this person has, and therefore what are we trying to achieve with their cholesterol levels. Are we really trying to drive those cholesterol levels down? If we are, of its own, red rice yeast may not be enough, but let's put it in the mix, and let's follow it and monitor it closely.

One of the other things that has come to my attention, and that patients asked me about is a supplement called Berberine. Now, Berberine appears to have a lipid-lowering effect as well, and Berberine seems to replicate, to a small degree, some of the new injectable agents we have for lowering cholesterol that work through the PCS-K9 system. So, Berberine may well have a role in lowering cholesterol as well.

What I would say, is that when I engage a patient with a discussion around this, because the Bergamot, Berberine, Red Yeast Rice are not what I routinely prescribe, what I will tend to do is ask those patients to go and see a naturopath or someone who is expert at using those preparations, and ask the patient to work with that person who's got experience in that space together with me to get the best result for that individual, because I'm not going to pretend that I'm across the different formulations, the different preparations, even the proprietary of some of those supplemented agents.

The other thing that I tend to give patients an introduction into is thinking about the use of nicotinic acid or Niacin. This is a B-group vitamin, and really has a role, I think, in just helping a little bit in trying to reduce LDL cholesterol. It can raise HDL cholesterol, and it can lower triglycerides a little bit. Nicotinic acid was what we used to use before the statins came along, and it really fell out of favour as the statins and the ease of use with the statins became apparent. Nicotic acid or Niacin tends to cause facial flushing, and needs to be taken in a fairly large dose, so you get a lot of facial flushing. I tend to invite patients to try using Niacin or nicotinic acid if they just need to get a little bit more LDL cholesterol lowering, or they have a low HDL cholesterol and no insignificant risk. I use that group of people with low HDL cholesterol and no insignificant risk because of the findings of a trial called that HATS Trial. By all means, look that up.

And if you write in there, "nicotinic acid" as well, it will come up if you search it. In that group of people, although subsequently there's been trials that have shown variability in terms the efficacy of Niacin, but in the HATS trial, there was a clear indication that nicotinic acid plus statin really offered some benefit to those people on that combination who went into that study with low HDL cholesterol. At the end of the day, what we're trying to do is find out what the patient's real risk or needs are in terms of treatment, and balance that off around the medications or the manipulations we've put in place. The treatments we put in place to try and achieve the goals required in understanding what that person needs.

So, at the end of the day, I like to see, in high-risk patients, that LDL cholesterol brought down as much as possible. If there is no risk, then that's a different conversation. But if there is risk there and that's a little bit - well actually that's a lot about what my book's about and what the Know Your Real Risk of Heart Attack Facebook page is about, if you've got real risk there, then lowering that risk by lowering cholesterol is an appropriate thing to do, the statins are a great way to do it, and for the vast majority of people, really work.

The addition of ezetimibe, which is also a proven agent, together with statins, even if they needed a lower dose, really works also. But then if you want to supplement, fantastic, but do it in a structured, supervised, and monitored way. Do it with someone who knows those agents and knows how to use them, has experience with them, and do it also with the doctor at hand.

Well, I'm going to leave it there. I hope all that makes a little bit of sense. Thanks for joining me, and goodbye. You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at DrWarrickBishop com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP54: Cholesterol Tests: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly

Mon, 29 Oct 2018 17:00:00 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Hi, my name is Dr. Warrick Bishop, and I would like to welcome you to my consulting room. Today, I'm going to talk a little bit about cholesterol tests. A lot of us who have gone to our local doctor and had a regular cholesterol blood test. Generally, fasting we'd make an effort not to eat from the night before, and we go along and duly expose our vein to the person who is going to take the blood and give some blood for that testing.

So, what do we test when we're looking at a lipid or a cholesterol test? There's generally a panel of things we look at. There's a number of different components. I'm going to walk through those just very simply, just so you have some idea of what we're looking to assess. It's important that you've been fasting and generally, eight hours is a good time; more than about 12 or 14 hours is too long and sometimes the body can make adjustments to the profile and it can start to become a little bit unrepresentative.

The first thing that we evaluate is a thing called total cholesterol, which measures all the cholesterol within the blood. There is a bit of a range as you might imagine for total cholesterol, but the average is somewhere around 5 or 5.5mmols per liter. Once we've looked at the total cholesterol, the next thing we tend to look at is triglycerides. Now, triglycerides are a form of free fats that we have within the bloodstream. And they're a good indicator of what fat may be deposited into the tissues.

With triglycerides, we normally want to see less than about 2mmols per litre. If they're greater than 2mmols per litre, there's a good chance you've eaten a little bit too recently, or we might see those elevated if is some diabetes or risk of diabetes in the future, or if you carry a little bit too much weight. The next thing we look to is the high-density lipoprotein, or HDL. HDL is the denser lipoprotein particle that can pick up cholesterol from the tissues and bring it back to that liver. We think of this one as a protective or good cholesterol.

So, HDL cholesterol, we measure that. We want to see it if we can over 1mmol per litre. LDL cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein is the one we consider the bad cholesterol. And this is because a lot of our research has been targeted on measuring LDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol lowering, and then outcomes. And time and time again, our studies have shown that it in high-risk individuals, lowering their LDL cholesterol offers a favorable outcome compared to doing nothing in that space.

Lastly, we can often look at ratio. Ratio is a composite of how much good cholesterol is there compared to total cholesterol. And we normally want to see a low ratio. A ratio of less than 4, which means that the HDL cholesterol could be 1 for example. The total cholesterol. That's a ratio of four. If the HDL cholesterol went up to 2, the total cholesterol was 6. That's a ratio of 3. Although, a higher total cholesterol, a more favorable ratio.

So that's what the simple numbers mean that we're looking at, and they give us some idea, in terms of a starting point for risk calculation. And it's that information that we tend to put into risk calculators to estimate your risk of an event. I think risk calculators are a really interesting topic of their own and represent very much an idea of the risk of the population you may be in. But not necessarily always the most precise information just for you. And I've written about that in my book, which you may find an interesting read if you feel more inclined to get more information in that space.

We talk about targets for cholesterol as well. So if we're going to be measuring cholesterol, we might as well understand the concept of targets. When we're talking about stopping people having an event; having their first coronary event, or primary prevention, the current guidelines in Australia suggest that we need to aim for cholesterol LDL level of less than 2mmols per litre.

If we have a patient who's had an event, so we're trying to stop a second event, we call this secondary prevention, and we want to make sure that that person doesn't have another event. We want to be very proactive in our management strategies for those people. We aim it at LDL cholesterol of less than 1.8mmols per Litre.

What I would say, though, is to watch this space, because there's every chance that those guideline recommendations will come down as some of our newer trials are showing that even for secondary prevention patients who are already fairly low, or low in terms of their LDL levels we're demonstrating even better outcomes if we lower that LDL cholesterol even more. And there are now studies available that are showing us that lowering the LDL cholesterol in these high risk people, below even 1mmol per litre, which is a very low level offers positive outcomes without a negative without a negative signal. Meaning that there appears to be no adverse side effect from that.

Lastly, there's a little bit of talk about whether we should do cholesterol measurements fasting or non-fasting, and the non-fasting way to do cholesterol measurements is to look at a mixed bag number called the Non-HDL cholesterol. Or Non-High Density Lipoprotein cholesterol, and this is a way to understand the other fragments or remnants within the lipid profile. This is a good way of checking the lipid profile and doesn't require eight hours of fasting.

My own preference, however, is that I like to do a fasting test because I tend to organise a simultaneous fasting blood glucose, and I also, in patients who I think it could be beneficial, request a fasting insulin level. I take the glucose and the insulin and put them into a calculation called a HOMA calculation, and that calculation gives us an idea of insulin resistance.

The other thing is that most of the studies done in terms of understanding LDL cholesterol targets or treatment have all been done on fasting bloods. So although non-fasting measurements are becoming more common, and there is good data to support their usage, my personal preference remains with a fasting blood so that we get both a clear lipid profile, which reflects what the studies have shown us over the years which have been fasting levels, plus it gives us information about insulin, glucose and insulin resistance.

I hope you have a better idea of your cholesterol profile, now you understand the difference between total cholesterol, triglycerides which we sometimes call The Ugly, HDL cholesterol, which we call The Good, and the LDL cholesterol, which we call The Bad. And of course. Never forget your sugars and your insulin. And also things like blood pressure and lifestyle, because they're really important even though we look at the numbers if your lipid profile.

Anyway, I hope you've found this talk on cholesterol tests informative. I hope it has answered some questions for you. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to let us know. Thank you for joining us. And I wish you the best of health. Goodbye.

You have been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP53: What Is Cholesterol?

Mon, 22 Oct 2018 17:00:48 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Hi, my name is Dr. Warrick Bishop and I'd like to welcome you to my consulting room. Today I'm going to talk a little bit about cholesterol. Some people have asked, "what is cholesterol and what is its role in our body?".

Well, first of all, cholesterol has a chemical term called a steroid alcohol. So, if anyone were to ask you what cholesterol is, its technical name is a steroid alcohol. Of course, that doesn't help you very much, but essentially, it's a chain of chemical compounds held together that the body uses and the body uses it in certain ways.

We all hear about cholesterol all the time, but what does the body actually use it for? Well, it's a very important building block for the membranes of every cell of our body. So, the first thing that we really need cholesterol for is to help build those walls of the cells that build us. So, it's a very important construction component to our entire self.

Cholesterol also has a role in the bile acids, so it helps as it is processed through the liver. It helps break down other fats and move those fats into the gut, so they can be removed if we no longer need them. The other thing that cholesterol is really important for is that steroid alcohol can then be acted on to be turned in to a steroid hormone. That includes the sex hormones, like estrogen and testosterone, for example.

It's really important to understand that cholesterol is water insoluble. So, it's a fatty-like substance. This means if cholesterol were floating freely in your body, and you stood up for long enough, all that cholesterol would simply float to the top of your body. A bit like cream on a bottle of milk. Of course, that's unacceptable. We can't live like that, otherwise your head would be full of cholesterol if you stood for any period of time.

So, the body has special transport mechanisms to move cholesterol around the body. These cholesterol mechanisms, or transport mechanisms are called Lipoproteins; Lipo standing for Fat or Lipid, and Proteins standing for Proteins. So Lipoproteins are like buses or public transport for the cholesterol to hop on and hop off as it moves around the body. The Lipoproteins are of different sorts. There are Lipoproteins that carry cholesterol from where it is produced to other parts of the body; to the periphery or the tissues. And then there are lipoproteins or transport mechanisms that bring cholesterol back from the tissues.

Where does cholesterol come from? There's such a lot that we hear about diet and exercise and cholesterol, and all these things mixed up together, but the actual fact; the reality of the situation, is that we produce the vast majority of all the cholesterol that's in our bodies. So, it's an internal precept that defines that, and to a large degree, our genetics will set that. That production of cholesterol within the body is predominantly within the liver. And that process within the liver has a number of steps, and one of those steps as cholesterol moves through, or as cholesterol has been created is through an enzyme called HMG-CoA Reductase.

It is the enzyme that the statins can block, and by blocking that enzyme, reduce the production of cholesterol within the body. When cholesterol is produced within the body, it needs to move around the body and be taken to the tissues. That's where a lipoprotein or a carrier called LDL cholesterol appears to be helpful. There are a number of primary transport Lipoproteins, and as these move cholesterol from the liver, various bits of the cholesterol are taken from those proteins until eventually, the final carriage or carrying component is the low-density lipoprotein. Which carries the cholesterol that we're concerned about with coronary artery disease around the body.

So, low-density lipoprotein. This is quite rich in cholesterol. The one that you may have also heard of, which is done quite often when you have your bloods tested, is high-density lipoprotein. This is not so rich or engorged with cholesterol, and so it's got a high density. High density Lipoprotein or HDL tends to be able to pick up cholesterol from the periphery and bring it back to the liver. This is a reverse of that process.

Lastly, we do consume cholesterol. And that can be ingested, and then organised in little packages. These transport modules; these Lipoproteins and then shipped around the body. The mechanisms of cholesterol metabolism therefore are really quite complex and involve production within the liver, which we call an Endogenous Circulation, or an Endogenous Production. Exogenous consumption of cholesterol, which is what we eat and is digested. And then there's reverse cholesterol transport, where cholesterol is taken from the tissues and brought back to the liver. It can all be eventually secreted out through the bile, and the cholesterol can also be used for production of hormones, as well of course for construction and production of membranes, as we've discussed before.

So, cholesterol. Can't live without it, we need it for ourselves and our cell walls. It moves around the body in special lipoproteins, because otherwise it wouldn't remain within solution; it would come out like cream. And it has an interplay between what's produced in the body; what's consumed, and what moves around the body as the body's requirements to find.

I hope that's a nice little background and beginning discussion regarding cholesterol and I hope to discuss cholesterol in more detail in subsequent podcasts. Thank you so much for joining in, and I hope you've found today's comments on cholesterol informative and helpful. I wish you the very best. Goodbye.

You have been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP52: Wishes At End Of Life

Mon, 15 Oct 2018 17:00:50 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP51: Aspirin: Good or Bad?

Mon, 08 Oct 2018 17:00:09 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

EP50: 50th Podcast

Mon, 01 Oct 2018 17:00:55 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP49: Takotsubo or Broken Heart Syndrome

Mon, 24 Sep 2018 17:00:20 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP48: Can We Reverse Coronary Artery Disease?

Mon, 17 Sep 2018 17:00:58 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP47: Beating The Same Old Drums

Tue, 11 Sep 2018 17:00:49 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP46: Responding To A Facebook Group Question About Calcification

Mon, 03 Sep 2018 17:00:52 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP45: Weight And Fidgeting

Mon, 27 Aug 2018 17:00:46 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP44: Clots And Drugs

Mon, 20 Aug 2018 17:00:14 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP43: Small Dense And Light Fluffy Particles

Mon, 13 Aug 2018 17:00:29 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Dr. Warrick's Podcast Channel. Warrick is a practicing cardiologist and author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education. Warrick believed educated patients to get the best healthcare. Discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care, and how this might apply to you or someone you love.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP42: Trip To America

Mon, 30 Jul 2018 17:00:56 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Dr. Warrick's Podcast Channel. Warrick is a practicing cardiologist and author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education. Warrick believed educated patients to get the best healthcare. Discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care, and how this might apply to you or someone you love.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP41: Interview With Amcal's James Nevile

Wed, 25 Jul 2018 17:30:56 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Dr. Warrick's Podcast Channel. Warrick is a practicing cardiologist and author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education. Warrick believed educated patients to get the best healthcare. Discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care, and how this might apply to you or someone you love.

Warrick Bishop: Hi, my name's Dr. Warrick Bishop, and I'd like to welcome you to my podcast channel. Today I have the absolute privilege of interviewing James Nevile from Amcal, he's a senior pharmacist there. In fact, he's been in the pharmaceutical industry for over 20 years, with extensive experience providing the highest level of trusted advice for Australians. He's passionate about providing the best possible advice and information to Australians and continuing this mission for many years to come. James, it's an absolute pleasure to have you here today, and welcome, and hello.

James Nevile: Thanks for having me on, Warrick. It's great to be here.

Warrick Bishop: Look, I'm really excited to have you here, and I'm very excited to talk about Amcal's 2018 Heart Health Initiative. Can you tell me a little bit about what initiatives Amcal are following through right at this very moment?

James Nevile: Right now, what we've got running in the pharmacies is a range of activities. The main one that you've alluded to there is our Healthy Heart campaign, and this is about trying to prompt some action from Australians to get them thinking about their heart health, and potentially get them proactively starting to manage some of their risk factors and re-engaging with their GP and other healthcare professionals.

Warrick Bishop: Look, I think engagement and encouragement are fundamental in terms of moving people towards better healthcare. I understand that Amcal have been involved in some surveys, and it's certainly shown some differences between the sexes. Would you like to tell me a bit about that?

James Nevile: Yeah, absolutely right, Warrick. Amcal's research reveals that Australian men are almost sort of putting their lives at risk by failing to proactively manage their own health. In fact, what the research showed that was over 40% of men said it would take a life-threatening health scare for them to start to take their health seriously and get proactive.

Warrick Bishop: Yeah, it's a scary bit of research that, and I have to say that it seems counter-intuitive when a lot of the blokes I know will go out of their way to make sure that their outboard motor is well serviced, so that when they go out fishing they don't have a calamity or a disaster, yet when it comes to their own health, there's a real blind spot there.

James Nevile: That's exactly right. I mean, it seems to be that we're much more focused on our boats and our cars than we are on our own heart, which is really, disturbing.

Warrick Bishop: It certainly is, but even beyond the individual, what sort of impact is this having on the families because I understand some of your survey questions were around the impact this could have on family members.

James Nevile: Yeah indeed, so many of the younger generation were worried about their fathers and thought that 'Hey, maybe they won't be around long enough to see their grandkids grow up.' Sadly, some of these concerns are warranted given that one in four of the millennial generation said that they've lost a parent to heart disease already.

Warrick Bishop: Yeah, there is no question this is a condition that impacts not only individuals but the people around them, the people who they love, their friends, and the people in their workplace. Look, if there are men out there who are, if you like, a little bit complacent, or have realised that they're a little bit guilty of not giving themselves the same attention that they're giving to their car or their boat, what would be the sensible first steps you'd recommend they take?

James Nevile: Well, you know what? What we find with a lot of blokes is that they are reticent to go and see their GP, whether it's a co-payment, whether it's just the hassle of having to make appointments and all that sort of stuff. If you can get your dad, or your uncle or your partner to go and see the GP, that's fantastic, That's a great first step. What we've done with the Amcal pharmacies is to try and put a step even before that, if that's an easier step for blokes to take, which is heading in, having a chat with the pharmacist, and they run you through some of the risk factors for heart disease and help you understand your own risk. What we've found is that initial conversation with the pharmacist can be a really good first step, and give the bloke a bit of a nudge towards their GP. Just that little bit more information without having had to make an appointment, or anything like that, without having to incur any cost, and then that's enough to kind of motivate them to go off and make that GP appointment.

Warrick Bishop: Yeah, I understand what you're saying, and in fact, if I can just summarise that, you're saying that there is an opportunity to take an early step, that Amcal have provided a free service that could be accessible out of normal working hours for someone, that-

James Nevile: That's exactly right. Yeah, exactly right, Warrick. A lot of the time, you know, I know with work myself, it's hard to go and see the GP, but you will go if you know there's something serious that you need to discuss, and so this helps people to understand what it is they might need to discuss with their GP, and give them that bit of a shove in the right direction.

Warrick Bishop: Yeah, no, I mean, all journeys are a number of steps, and the first requirement is to take even a small step in the right direction. I think this is a great initiative, and in fact, to some degree, it really leads us to a question about integrating care for an individual within the community, and how there's this great opportunity that Amcal are trying to work in conjunction with general practitioners to raise awareness of heart risk with patients, and holistically provide the best outcome for those individuals. Would you like to speak to that?

James Nevile: Yeah, I mean, what we've noticed over time is just that hell of a lot of research that people that are more educated about their health, people that have more information about their own health, whether it's knowing what their blood pressure is, whether it's knowing what their latest diabetes test is, whatever that information is, as long as they're helped to understand that information, the more they know about themselves, and the more they proactively take ownership of their own health, the better the outcomes they get. We think that rather than having a pharmacy sort of centred approach where pharmacists are the centre of the world or a GP-centered approach where the GP is the centre of the world, we strongly believe that empowering patients with additional information, and then helping them to, I suppose, create their own little healthcare theme around them to make sure that they've got the GP that they're seeing regularly, they've got their pharmacist that they see regularly, and if they're on medicines, that pharmacist knows the regular medicines they're on, any allergies they might have. Equally, getting off to see your physiotherapist, if that's what you need, getting off to see a dietician if that's what you need. The more information you can have about your own health, we know you'll get a better outcome.

Warrick Bishop: Look, I think, certainly from my own experience consulting and seeing patients, there's no question that patients get the best care if we're all working together, and interacting, and dovetailing with the services that we provide, not working individually in silos, for want of a better term, so this professional working network supporting the patient to get the best outcomes. It's fantastic that Amcal is starting a process in that preventative space for heart disease.

James Nevile: Indeed.

James Nevile: I was just going to say one of the key things about the current heart health campaign is that whilst there are some things that we can talk about in pharmacy and things like blood pressure we can happily measure in pharmacy, there are other things that are best measured at your GP surgery. Part of the materials that you receive when you go to the pharmacy include elements that the GP needs to fill out. We're encouraging patients to take those materials and then go off to their GP. It really is making that patient, I suppose, understand a little bit more easily how it is that they should take the next steps, and then when they get to the GP, they're not getting a sort of half message, that the GP can clearly see what the patient's already had done, and what they still need.

Warrick Bishop: Yeah, look, I'll touch on that momentarily because I was delighted to be involved in some of those discussions, actually, with yourself and the team putting this intervention together. The opportunity to use a validated risk tool, which is the Australian Cardiovascular Risk Calculator and begin that process to invite that patient to then follow up with the GP to complete that process, strikes me as a very positive step in terms of using an appropriate tool and using both coalface and GP input to deliver the best assessment for that individual patient.

James Nevile: That's absolutely right. It's important that any of this sort of health information is people are given it, that they're helped to understand it. It would be unfortunate if somebody got a result that then caused worry for them that they misinterpreted, but I think the fact that some of these basic things are being sort of offered in the community pharmacy setting, where there's a health professional, in the pharmacist, there to help them understand, and then other results that the GP is obviously measuring in the GP setting are able to be interpreted by the GP. I think that's really important, that people are given that information, but then also helped to understand it as well.

Warrick Bishop: Look, I'm just going to invite you to offer any extra bits and pieces. I did have, on my list of questions, some of the common myths surrounding heart health. I don't know if you want to touch on that, or if there was anything specific you wanted to mention before we look to wrap up.

James Nevile: Look, Warrick, I think for me, there's a lot of people out there that have all sorts of myths about heart disease, and cardiovascular disease. I think the big message, for me, for your listeners would be if they're worried about a loved one, whether it's their dad, their brother, their uncle, their cousin, make sure you have a bit of a chat to them, see if you can encourage them either to go and see a pharmacist, go and see their GP, just to get their risk factors checked. We all know that things like being a little bit overweight, being a smoker, having a family history of heart disease, are things that can put you at higher risk, and so being proactive, and just giving your loved ones a bit of a nudge in the right direction, is your best course of action.

Warrick Bishop: Yeah, look, I think that's really valuable. I guess, in summary, what we've covered today is that Amcal have the initiative to improve awareness for the cardiovascular risk that's running right now, but I understand it'll continue throughout the year. Is that right, or not?

James Nevile: That's right, Warrick. It's available whenever people are interested in learning more about their heart health. They can drop into any Amcal, and the pharmacist will be able to take them through these risk factors and help them understand what's relevant for them.

Warrick Bishop: So, attention is being brought to it right at the moment, and for this next month, which is fantastic, but it's available ongoing. That opportunity means that men, who we've defined through your survey work, are a little bit complacent about looking after themselves in that space. That means men who have issues with timing, or just getting to the doctor, may be able to find an out of hours solution to start that process through the pharmacy, that the pharmacy process actually dovetails with what the general practitioner would do, and that there's an opportunity for family members to support their loved ones through this process of awareness, appropriate assessment, and appropriate management just to reduce this burden, this tragedy, of heart disease. James, I'm going to wrap it up there. I'm really grateful for your time this morning, so thank you for sharing, and I genuinely hope that this heart health intervention by Amcal goes as well as we're all hoping.

James Nevile: Thanks very much, Warrick. It's great to be on, and as I said for your listeners, make sure if you are worried about yourself or any of your loved ones, take that first step and understand the risk factors because it's never too late to start changing some of those things that might contribute to either a heart attack, a stroke, or something else. Warrick Bishop: Well, you get nothing from agreement from a preventative cardiologist like myself on a parting remark like that. Again, thank you once more, James, and I wish you the very best.

James Nevile: Thanks, Warrick.

You have been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at www.drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you loved this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP40: What Is Electrophysiological Ablation Of Atrial Fibrillation?

Mon, 23 Jul 2018 17:00:45 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP39: Stents Bare Metal and Drug Eluting

Sun, 08 Jul 2018 17:00:08 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Warrick Is a practicing cardiologist and author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education. Warrick believes educated patients get the best health care. Discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care and how this might apply to you or someone you love.

Hi, my name's Dr. Warrick Bishop, and I'd like to welcome you to my consulting room. Today I'd like to speak with you a little bit about stents. Stents are the scaffold that go into arteries to open up those arteries. They're deployed by being laid over a balloon. The whole device; the stent and the balloon are passed into that narrowing. The balloon is inflated. And then the stent stays in place as the balloon is deflated and then removed from the artery, leaving that scaffold in place which holds the artery open. So, stents are a fantastic technology that allow us to open up focal lesions or focal narrowings within the coronary arteries.

They've actually been with us since the mid-'80s so that's 40 odd years experience that we've had stents. There are two main types of stents that I'd like to touch on, because you may well have heard these mentioned. The very first type of stent that we had was a bare metal stent. What that means is it was just metal, that's all it's made of. The very first stents were made out of stainless steel.

These bare metal stents really revolutionized what we did. But one of the things that we found was that with time, the area that was opened up by the stent could grow back in and re-narrow the artery. That was what we call stenosis or narrowing within the stent. The term we call in-stent restenosis. So, the occurrence of this closure within the stent in a reasonable percentage of people led to questions of how we could prevent that, and really that closure was from the growth of cells within the wall of the artery.

This led to the development of bare metal stents that were then impregnated with chemicals that might slow down growth of those cells within the artery wall. These new stents with an impregnated chemical were called drug-eluting stents in that they elute or they release a chemical as they sit in place. The drug-eluting stents became available around the early 2000s as an attempted solution to try and stop this in-stent restenosis. What they used were chemicals that we have used to slow down growth, particularly in the cancer area. Drugs that were first used are called sirolimus and paclitaxel. These are agents that are effective at slowing growth or blocking growth. The drug-eluting stents worked. And we continue to use them.

In fact, these days drug-eluting stents represent the vast majority of the stents that are implanted. Well, you might imagine, as always, there are pluses and minuses to the equation for both these agents. One of the things that we also need for stents to be successful is for the thing inside lining of the wall of the artery to grow through the mesh of the stent, grow over it, and if you like, seal it off from the blood, so that the blood travels over it smoothly. Failure to do this can increase the risk of a clot forming within the stent. Well, it turns out that one of the advantages of bare metal stents is because they don't have any agents that slow down growth is that they get incorporated into the wall of the artery rapidly quicker, in fact, than the drug-eluting stents, and therefore they run a slightly smaller risk of clot forming within them, giving rise to sudden blockage and major problems. So drug-eluting stents have a benefit. And that benefit is less in-stent thrombosis or clot formation.

The disadvantage with bare metal stents is that they don't prevent the in-stent restenosis or growth of the smooth muscle cells within the wall of the artery encroaching back and narrowing at the site of the stent. With regard to drug-eluting stents, these sort of stents, because they have agents that prohibit growth, don't get covered by the lining of the vessel walls quickly and therefore run a slightly greater risk of clot formation or in-stent thrombosis. This is often dealt with by giving patients longer treatment with agents that keep the blood thin. These are agents that work against the platelets or the sticky components of the blood. We use aspirin, Clopidogrel and clopidogrel-like agents to try and turn off the function of platelets. So drug-eluting stents carries slightly higher risk of in-stent thrombosis but a lower risk of closure within the stent.

These days, because of our effective antiplatelet agents, we think that the balances toward the drug-eluting stents, we think with good anti-platelet agents, we can prevent clotting there until we give the artery enough time to grow over that scaffold. And we also get the benefit of reducing in-stent restenosis. If you do need a stent, it is possible that your doctor may speak with you about this. In certain circumstances, we will still use bare metal stentsm perhaps if you had upcoming surgery in a very short period of time and we knew we couldn't run blood thinning agents around that time. In very recent time we've had an innovation called biodegradable stents. And the objective of these tests was that they were going to the artery wall and then eventually break down. The most recent data out on the biodegradable stance would suggest that they are inferior to the drug-eluting stents. And it's unlikely that we will see too much more in that space.

Well, I hope I've given you a little bit of an insight into stents, what they're about. What a bare metal stent is, what a drug-eluting stent is that you now know that they were initially made of stainless steel. I can let you know that they are modern alloys cobalt and chromium are a fantastic way to open up local narrowings within the arteries. Both have advantages, both have some disadvantages. On balance, your doctor will figure out what's best for you. In general terms, our drug-eluting stents together with a very effective anti platelet agents are most broadly used. I hope that makes a lot of sense to you. I hope you've enjoyed today's talk on stents. As always, thank you for joining me and I wish you the best of health. Goodbye.

You have been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at www.drwarrick bishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP 38: Does Stress Cause Heart Attacks?

Sun, 01 Jul 2018 17:00:03 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Warrick Is a practicing cardiologist with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education. Warrick believes educated patients get the best health care. Discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care and how this might apply to you or someone you love.

Hi, my name is Dr. Warrick Bishop, and I'd like to welcome you to my consulting room. Today I'd like to speak with you with something that comes up in my consultations on a regular basis and that is the patients ask me: Does stress cause heart attacks? It's a pretty reasonable question. The broad answer is they probably do. The difficulty, of course, is that it's very hard to measure stress. Well, how could stress be implicated? We know that stress can push your blood pressure up. So if you're in a stressful situation on an ongoing basis then that will certainly push up your blood pressure, and have wear and tear on your arteries and certainly increase your risk of heart attack.

Stress can also increase your cortisol levels. These are hormones that alter some of the constituents of the blood which may be adverse or not so good for your risk of heart attack. Those cortisol levels could push up sugar levels and move you towards the diabetic spectrum and we know that on its own is a risk of heart attack. We know that stress can lead to poor sleep. And poor sleep is really damaging in so many ways. But again it impacts on the metabolism and can have an effect on the way our cortisol and sugars and lipid profile are activated within the body.

Stress can make us see it differently. Some people actually eat for comfort during stress. And if you're eating for comfort, you think of the comfort foods that people might reach for. They're often not the things that you would choose if you're looking at a healthy diet. Stress can also drive people to drinking more alcohol. And although one or two glasses a day on a regular basis is a very good thing for your heart health as far as we understand, we do know that more than one or two drinks a day can start to increase blood pressure in the longer term can alter sleep patterns and again have a detrimental effect on that person's risk of heart attack. Increased stress may also mean that it impacts on people's lifestyle so they're less able to exercise and so less able to look after themselves because they're bearing the brunt of the stress within their lives but stress is such a complicated issue. Is it sudden stress, is it chronic stress, is it good stress, is it bad stress?

Good stress may be the stress that someone has while they are racing a motor vehicle and they're under stress trying to keep it on the road; eustress; the bad stress may be having a boss who on a daily basis is critical, and degrading, and picks for no reason at all. Stress is a very complex issue. I don't know how to deal with it. It almost certainly has a role in heart attack and in general health. My suggestion though is you figure out where the bad stress is in your life and whatever you could do to try to reduce it if you possibly can. Hope you found that little talk about stress interesting. I didn't find it too stressful to give to you. As always I wish you the very best in health. Thank you for joining me and goodbye.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP37: Chest Pain: When Is It Your Heart?

Sun, 24 Jun 2018 17:00:05 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Warrick is a practicing cardiologist and author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education. Warrick believes educated patients get their best health care. Discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care and how this might apply to you or someone you love.

Hi, my name is Dr. Warrick Bishop, and I'd like to welcome you to my consulting room. Today I'd like to share with you some thoughts around chest pain. It's often the case that I get asked by patients what sort of chest pain should I worry about. This is actually a little bit of a difficult question. And it is worth talking about and thinking about. There are some really obvious things that are worth considering. So if you've been in the garden and working hard or you've just played a game of football or some physical activity and you've got a clear cut discomfort in the chest that if you move in a particular way, you can affect it and change it then it's probably just the muscles and bones in your chest wall. That's common sense. You will have had those injuries over the years and I'm sure you can figure that out.

The real issue chest pain is whether it's related to your heart and lack of blood supply to the heart. Now the really interesting thing about this is it can be different in different people and this is the important thing to understand. The most significant thing about this, though, is that it may be different for you but it won't be normal for you. And so chest pain that we're concerned about is chest pain that you are concerned about because you can't explain it. The typical sort of Hollywood chest pain that we see most commonly is a central, heavy crushing pressure in the center of the chest. It may not necessarily be really severe with a minor or threatened heart attack, but it's the quality in nature that's really important. It's heavy. You can't put your finger on it, and it doesn't feel right. So most commonly we do see discomfort in the chest.

Often people get called on the word of discomfort or pain. For simple terms and for practical purposes we just use the term pain. I have plenty of patients will say it's not really a pain doctor it's sort of a feeling or pressure. Well I can accept that but let's just for the sake of this discussion call it pain. Some heart pain can also be felt up into the jaw. I've even heard stories of people who have been getting recurrent jaw pain which was attributed to their dentures and had three sets of dentists' dentures changed before they actually had a proper diagnosis of angina or heart pain as a cause for their discomfort.

Recently, I had a man who had discomfort across the top of his shoulders toward the middle of his back on exertion. And that was his chest pain or angina. That's where the pain from his heart was reflected on his body. I've seen patients who have had discomfort just in the wrist, more likely on the left side than the right, but I wouldn't ignore it if it were on the right side. I've had patients with discomfort in the wrist, only in the elbow and I'll tell you what, probably the most significant thing to realise is that some people get no pain whatsoever. They just have a change in their breathing or exercise capacity and they know that something's wrong.

So chest pain is a little bit complicated of its own. It is really important to realise that it can be the only clue we have to look at the heart. So please take it seriously. If you can't explain it with clear reasoning, if you don't know what's causing that sympto,m whatever it might be, if it's above your belly button and below your eyeballs, it could be your heart. So please get it checked. Hope you found today's talk about chest pain interesting. I really appreciate you joining me in listening to this. As always I wish you good health. Goodbye.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP36: How Do We Keep You In Normal Rhythm?

Sun, 17 Jun 2018 17:00:44 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Hi, my name's Dr. Warrick Bishop, and I'd like to welcome you to my consulting room. Today I'd like to speak a little bit about how we keep you in normal rhythm if you've had atrial fibrillation. Normally we have to make that decision to try and keep a normal rhythm based on a couple of things. First of all, we would be trying to keep normal rhythm if, in atrial fibrillation, you are getting unacceptable symptoms. We would also tend to try and keep you in normal rhythm the younger you are. That makes sense because, if you're quite elderly, then the time you'll spend in atrial fibrillation is less. If you're quite young, then it's liable you'll spend a long time in atrial fibrillation, potentially with those symptoms.

Lastly, we'd also want to look at the structure of the heart and in particular the structure of the left atrium. This is really important because the left atrium seems to be very important in recurrence of atrial fibrillation. If the size of the left atrium is large and capacious and dilated, then it's going to be very hard for that atrium to keep normal rhythm in the long term. On the flipside of course, if the heart looks structurally normal and the atria appear to be of normal size, then the chances of keeping someone in normal rhythm after atrial fibrillation are much increased. It's really important we don't forget the aims of treatment in maintaining normal sinus rhythm when we're undertaking that. And this will be something that your specialist will be making decisions about based on your specific situation and needs.

The main principles we keep in mind though are the following. There are six. First of all, we're looking to keep people in normal rhythm because of symptoms and we want to reduce their symptom load so that they feel better. Secondly, we understand that our treatments are effectively moderate in terms of their impact most of the time. So we rarely have a perfect cure. Three, that we accept that we're looking to reduce the recurrence rate and the time that people are in atrial fibrillation. Remember we're looking to reduce rather than to unnecessarily cure. Fourthly, that if we're dealing with one agent, one therapeutic maneuver, then it is quite possible we may need to add in another therapy, or we may need to swap therapies to achieve some reduction in atrial fibrillation for the individual. Five, we need to bear in mind that our agents and medications can be of their own pro-arhythmic. And that means that they can generate rhythms of their own and this can be a problem. Lastly, with that in mind, we always need to be making sure that we're balancing safety with the effectiveness of our therapy.

So, what are the simple steps that we undertake or what's the progression we undertake in trying to maintain sinus rhythm or normal rhythm in a person who has had atrial fibrillation? Well, first of all, the most simple and important thing to do is to address the reversible factors. If the patient is markedly overweight or significantly overweight, we immediately want to try and improve that. We know that weight has an impact on the way atrial fibrillation will recur and very importantly, weight has a big impact on obstructive sleep apnea or pausing breathing while asleep at night. So if this obstructive sleep apnea is present, we want to be addressing that because the heart comes under a significant load in the middle of the night if oxygen isn't getting into the body properly. So weight, obstructive sleep apnea are important reversible factors we want to address.

Further to that, If alcohol is central to the precipitation of atrial fibrillation, we, of course, would want to address that as well and encourage the patient to understand how their alcohol intake can be impacting their recurrence of atrial fibrillation. We would also check blood pressure. We'd want to check thyroid function. We'd want to try and encourage the patient to exercise if they had other conditions like diabetes. We would want to maximally manage that. If we've addressed the reversible factors and the lifestyle factors, then we can add in medications.

My own practice is to use betablockers as a first line. These are so broadly and commonly available they seem on the whole to be very well-tolerated. A number of guidelines don't necessarily support betablockers for maintaining sinus rhythm but certainly clinically I see, over and over, patients who get long symptom-free periods using beta blockade. These are great drugs, they're pretty safe. They seem pretty effective in a good range of people, particularly those who have some emotion or anxiety triggers that can kick off their atrial fibrillation. For those people where beta blockers are not ideal, I will often use a calcium channel blocker and particularly in some patients who are getting a lot of extra atrial beats on their EEG or monitoring. For some reason, the extra atrial beat patients seem to respond very well to verapamil, at least in my observation. Again, current guidelines; European and Australian; don't necessarily support this as a maneuver for maintenance of sinus rhythm. But I certainly see in my own practice suggestion that this can be beneficial.

If calcium channel blockers and beta blockers are not working or poorly-tolerated, I might add in flecainide. Generally, I will use flecainide with a little bit of beat a blockade and use a combination hoping to get some effectiveness from both agents without pushing either agent too hard, which would raise the possibility of side effect. If I decide to use flecainide without a beta blocker or calcium channel blocker, I will often use it with a bit of digoxin and this is because we know that flecainide can increase the conduction of electricity through the AV node and if it increases the conduction of electricity through the AV node, it may increase the rate responsiveness of the atrial fibrillation for that individual should they go back into AF.

So I put a bit of digoxin into the mix so that that break is there as a safety just in case the patient returns to atrial fibrillation. Agents like amiodarone can also be used dronedarone can also be used. These are agents that are more complex, if you like, anti-arhythmic agents. They are more powerful. They're the next step. Together with that is an agent called Sotalol. These agents do need to be closely monitored and some regular ECGs to measure different components of the ECG are an important part of management.

Lastly, in my own practice for younger patients who are quite symptomatic from atrial fibrillation who have a fairly normal-looking heart, if they've been controlled perhaps on a beta blocker plus say flecainide or we're progressing to the stage where we might need amiodarone or Sotalol for those patients in the longer term, then I would next look to consider ablation of atrial fibrillation using electrophysiological technologies. This is a way to modify the atria in such a way that we alter the threshold of atrial fibrillation and we raise the threshold to development of it again. My own experience is that this is a really good way of helping us getting ongoing management and maintenance of sinus rhythm in the longer term. It's really important to understand that EP ablation is not a cure. It's not a magic bullet. It doesn't cut out the bit that is atrial fibrillation, but it does make atrial fibrillation harder to develop in the patient and it can buy up to several years, at least, of symptom-free Sinus rhythm. In my own practice, I tend to combine it with a small dose of something like a beta blocker or calcium channel blocker but atrial fibrillation ablation is a terrific supportive technique for helping us maintain sinus rhythm in the longer term in very selected individuals.

I hope that makes some sense. I hope you've enjoyed it. As always thank you for joining me and I wish you good health. Goodbye.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP35: Cardiovascular Risk Potpuri

Sun, 10 Jun 2018 17:00:05 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Warrick is a practicing cardiologist and author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education. Warrick believes educated patients get the best health care. Discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care and how this might apply to you or someone you love.

Hi, my name's Doctor Warrick bishop and I'd like to welcome you to my consulting room. Today I'd like to cover a few cardiovascular risk facts that you may find interesting. Fact #1 is related to alcohol. Everyone's ears prick up when you mention alcohol and cardiovascular risk. Well the question is, does abstinence improve your risk of avoiding a heart attack? Well let's cross our fingers and go to the literature. It turns out that abstinence doesn't protect you from coronary artery disease risk and it turns out in fact that maybe one or two standard drinks a day may well be protective. Isn't that great news?

So there's certainly no suggestion that drinking to excess is beneficial as it can raise blood pressure. It can damage the heart. And of course have multiple other organ damages and effects. But, 1-2 alcoholic drinks on a regular basis does help. That probably helps relax you, it may help with a little bit of blood pressure lowering and it may raise HDL cholesterol which could all be of benefit. There may also be that walking to the local bottle shop to pick up your alcohol is part of that positive effect, but that remains to be tested.

Cardiovascular risk fact #2: Does Vitamin E reduce your blood pressure or your cardiovascular risk. Lots of people take Vitamin E hoping that's going to provide some positive benefit to their health. Well it turns out that when you look at the studies where Vitamin E has been included, it's not a comprehensively clear-cut indicator that it does provide benefit. So, probably at this stage, the general consensus will be would be it's not beneficial in the big scheme of things.

Cardiovascular risk fact #3: Should everyone be taking aspirin? Should people over 40 be taking aspirin? And should people with cardiovascular risk over the next 10 years of greater than 7 percent be taking aspirin?The answer to this is probably no. The current guidelines would suggest that people between 50 and 59 are probably the group that should be considering taking aspirin, that they only do that if their 10-year risk of a cardiovascular event is 10 percent or greater. So matching up risk and benefit. They would take it if they don't have an indication for bleeding or something that could lead to bleeding.

It turns out that aspirin, at least in the trials that we've done, really only shows benefit after a number of years of taking it. So we would recommend that people take it for a minimum of 10 years and that means there's no point giving it to someone who has a life expectancy less than 10 years. So, aspirin, if you're little bit older, you're going to hang around for a while, you don't have a risk of bleeding and your risk of cardiovascular disease seems high enough that it, on balance, makes sense.

Cardiovascular risk fact #4: Does nicotine replacement help people quit cigarette smoking? Well, here is a really good fact. The use of nicotine replacement helps up to 50 to 70 percent of people give up cigarettes. This is great because it is a terribly addictive and difficult habit to shake. But these agents which support patients to get off smoking really do help in the majority of cases. So, don't despair. Get out there. And get some clean air. So a quick summary. Alcohol appears to be okay. Vitamin E doesn't appear to be that helpful. Aspirin, if you're at fairly high risk, and if you're smoking, then those nicotine replacement therapies really do work.

I hope that little summary has been informative and interesting for you. As always I wish you the very best. Good health. And good bye.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP34: Blood Pressure Quiz

Sun, 03 Jun 2018 17:00:27 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Warrick is a practicing cardiologist and author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education. Warrick believes educated patients get the best health care. Discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care and how this might apply to you or someone you love.

Hi, my name's Dr. Warrick Bishop and I'd like to welcome you to my consulting room. Today I'd like to share a couple of blood pressure points with you. A few little hints and tips. So, a couple of questions and let's see how it goes. First of all, blood pressure is considered as either primary or secondary. Primary means that it's part of your genetic makeup. You probably got it from your family and it's very hard to isolate a single cause that's driving that blood pressure. Secondary blood pressure or secondary hypertension is the term we give to blood pressure that we're able to isolate an exact cause for, and sometimes this is related to perhaps a problem with the kidneys or the glands related to the kidneys, or even other hormonal imbalances.

So, the question regarding primary and secondary hypertension is what percentage of patients have primary hypertension, and what percentage of patients have secondary hypertension? The answer is that about 90 to 95 percent of patients have primary hypertension and this means that with all our investigations, we're unable to turn up a single cause. But that means that in five to 10 people out of 100, we will turn up a specific cause for their hypertension. So it is pretty important to keep in your mind that we do turn out particular triggers or particular causes for high blood pressure. They don't turn up frequently but they are important to find.

Question #2 relates to thickening of the heart muscle. We call this left ventricular hypertrophy because the ventricle is the name of that main pumping chamber of the heart. So the question is if we find left ventricular hypertrophy despite what appears to be normal blood pressures in the office, would we treat that or not? It turns out the reason American guidelines would suggest we do treat it because that thickened left ventricular wall is representative of that person responding adversely to increase blood pressures. So we would treat that person. That thick wall is considered end organ damage or damage being caused by the blood pressure.

Associated with the thick wall is dysfunction of the way the heart relaxes and associated with that is also an increase of pressure on the left atrium. So the left atrial size can increase. All these are features that would indicate that this person should have their blood pressure lowered. That's despite clinic measurements and it's quite possible that other measurements would support that that person has high blood pressure.

Question #3: Are blood pressures measured in the office better than blood pressures measured either at home or with a monitor that you wear for 24 hours. The resounding answer to that is that the more information we get over a 24-hour period, the better the idea we have of exactly how someone's blood pressure is behaving. And so no, clinic blood pressure is not the best blood pressure measurement and certainly in my own practice my habit is to try and use 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring so we have the best idea of exactly what we're dealing with over a 24-hour period. Does the patient's blood pressure blood pressure spike during the day? Perhaps when they're trying to find a car parked to come and see me, perhaps when they're at work dealing with a colleague who could put their blood pressure up or has their blood pressure elevated at night, perhaps suggesting poor sleep?

We also know that the cleaning blood pressure can sometimes be quite normal but 24-hour or home blood pressures can be quite elevated. This is called masked blood pressure. And a phenomenon that we've become more aware of in recent years. So, I answered question three, office blood pressures are a great starting point. But they are not the most precise way of getting the best information about someone's 24-hour blood pressure averages about their profile and the way their blood pressure responds and really understanding how that person can be best managed for their therapy in the future.

Lastly. When we deal with blood pressures that are say 20 millimeters over 10 millimeters above ideal. Would a single agent be the best way to deal with that. Blood pressure that's 20 over 10 higher than ideal is considered second stage hypertension or second stage blood pressure. The 2017 American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association guidelines suggest that two tablets are the best way to deal with that sort of elevation. Now two tablets make a lot of sense. The reason is we can introduce two tablets a lowish dose. What we know is that the first introduction of a medication often has the best effect on blood pressure. So we can get a good effect with a low dose but we also know that side effects are associated with increased doses.

So if we can use a low dose, we can get good effect and reduce our side effect profile. If we used two agents we can be pushing and pulling at the same time often giving really good results at lowish doses with minimal side effects. So there is a quick quiz on what you know about blood pressure. It's an incredibly important aspect of care. Please make sure you check it with your local doctor on a regular basis and keep it under control. I hope you've enjoyed today's session. I really thank you for joining me, and of course, I wish you good health. Goodbye.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP33: Lipid Guidelines Update

Sun, 27 May 2018 17:00:25 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Hi, my name is Dr. Warrick Bishop and I'd like to welcome you to my consulting room. Today I'd like to give you a little bit of an update on the Lipid Guidelines from 2013 American Cardiology and the American Heart Association. I guess the thing that I want to try and convey is from those guidelines, who do we really think benefits from cholesterol lowering? Well, first of all and most importantly, there is absolutely no question that people who are in the secondary preventative role will benefit from cholesterol lowering. What is secondary prevention? Very quickly, secondary prevention is to stop someone having an event again or, if you like, a second time.

So, someone who's had a heart attack, we put them on cholesterol lowering agents and blood pressure tablets, and aspirin to try and reduce another event. That is called secondary prevention. There's absolutely no question that cholesterol lowering in the secondary prevention space, the data is robust and clear that that is beneficial. Interestingly, in America the recommendation is to just try and drive that target down as low as possible. In Australia, we recommend targets of about 1.8 mmols per liter, which is as low as 70 milligrams per deciliter. So we try and drive to a particular target.

So, secondary prevention, no question those people benefit. The second group that the 2013 guidelines recommend will benefit those with an LDL cholesterol. That's the so-called bad cholesterol above 190 milligrams per deciliter or that would be 4.9 mmols per litre. Now this is a very high cholesterol level, but there is good evidence to suggest for patients with cholesterol that high that they will, as a group, benefit from reduction of cholesterol using cholesterol agents. It turns out that most patients who would have cholesterol levels that high likely have a condition called familial hypercholesterolemia.

That can be a discussion for another time. So, who benefits? Secondary prevention and very high LDL cholesterol patients. There's also a group of patients that the 2013 guidelines recommend will benefit. And these are people with diabetes who haven't yet had an event, who have a cholesterol between 1.8 mmols per litre and 4.9 mmols per litre or between 70 and 190 milligrams per deciliter. These are people who are pushed up into a higher risk category because of their diabetes.

Makes a bit of sense if you think about it. Diabetes is a significant risk for that development of coronary artery disease. The last group of people that the 2013 Lipid guidelines recommend will benefit from therapy are patients between 40 and 75 years of age with a 10 year risk of greater than 7.5% of an event. In Australia, we would consider those people low intermediate risk and certainly, we know that within that group, particularly at a rate of 7.5% or greater over a 10 year period that if we treat 100 people, we're actually treating 7.5 within that group that do need therapy.

In my own practice, I try adding imaging to look at the heart and get even more of an idea of exactly what we're dealing with and I believe that gives us an opportunity for specific tailoring of a management strategy for individuals based on their particular needs and not just their cholesterol levels. So I'm not going to talk about imaging today, again a talk for another time, but I think that adds extra information that we can tie in with these 2013 Lipid Guidelines. Well,. If you're someone, nased on the 2013 Lipid Guidelines who would benefit from being on a statin and you're not on one, please go and talk to your local doctor.

I hope you found today interesting and informative. As always I wish you the very best and thank you for joining me. Goodbye.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP32: Children In Consultation

Sun, 20 May 2018 17:00:12 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's podcast channel.

Warrick is a practicing cardiologist an author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education. Warrick believes educated patients get their best health care. Discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care and how this might apply to you or someone you love.

Hi, I am Doctor work Bishop and I'd like to welcome you to my consulting room. Today I'd like to talk about a topic that's a little bit sensitive at times. Today I'd look like to talk about bringing children to your consultation.

So, talking about parents with their children can be a bit tricky, as you might imagine. And they can be a subject that needs to be dealt with with care and understanding. So that's what I'm going to do right off the bat. I'm going to let you know I have two kids and I remember what they were like when they were small and I know what they're like now and I love them dearly.

And I do like kids. So that's all important as a disclosure, but it's a different scenario in the consultation room. There's a lot of stuff that goes on in a consultation, not least of which is the connection between the patient and the doctor. There is a limited time; there is a real need to concentrate. Sometimes we're talking about doses of medication, sometimes we're talking about treatment strategies we're talking about symptoms; we might even be talking about prognosis and some of these things are really important.

I want to share a couple of quick stories with you to give us some thoughts around children at consultations. I relatively recently saw Carol who is very anxious; she had multiple symptoms and lightheadedness. There was some loss of balance. Very complex issues. She was anxious and she came along with her two year old child who was everywhere. Our 15 minute consultation really didn't get very far because we were dealing with trying to entertain the child who found my stethoscope, my computer; was not happy drawing on the floor; and unfortunately we really didn't get very far in Carol's first consultation.

Now you can't always find a babysitter and that was the case for Carol as it happened. We saw very soon after she had been able to get someone to care for her child and in fact we had a far more meaningful consultation subsequently because we were able to concentrate without the distraction. Now I'm not saying kids are bad distraction, they can be a delightful distraction and things like, "oh, aren't they cute," and "aww, isn't that sweet," are all fine and lovely, but if they're impacting on the opportunity for the individual who needs care to get their care, then it's probably not the right place. Anyway, We've got Carol back on track. And she still brings her two year old from time to time if she can't get a sitter, but we've covered such a lot of ground. We're in a much better place to deal with that and move smoothly through those consultations.

Also recently I saw someone called Lindy who is pretty anxious also. She'd come because there was sudden cardiac death in the family. And as you would imagine, that concerned her and concerned her for the health of her child. She came with a three month old who was pretty new. That little baby slept for the entire consultation. Caused us absolutely no trouble whatsoever. I was able to engage with Lynda and share very complex ideas about her family history and what had gone on with her family and her own health. And even more than that, the health of the child. So the three month old slept, if you like, like a baby. No trouble at all.

Just the other day, Bruce came to see me. He was 85 years of age. And he brought his son Tony who was just over 50. Bruce has been around for a while. He was a little bit confused, he's got some complicated health issues. And I have to say, having Tony there was an absolute bonus. Tony was able to help me clarify exactly what drugs Bruce was taking. Tony was able to own one of the treatment strategies I wanted to put in place for his father, and so that consultation, without question, was made better by Bruce bringing his child along.

In summary, children in consultations are a difficult question. At the end of the day, what your doctor wants to do is to see you as an individual who needs care to get the best care, and that requires being engaged, having concentration. Being able to ask questions, being able to answer questions. Being able to deal with the detail that we need to cover to make sure that you get the best health care available. If you've got a little one who is going to tear around and climb the walls, there is no question that that will detract from the consultation, but if it can't be helped, it can't be helped. If you can get someone to look after that little one, brilliant. If you've got one that will sleep all the way through. Fantastic. If you've got a child who come along and help you get the best care, then all the better. At the end of the day, we just want to see you get what you need for your best health care, because then you can look after your kids as best as possible also.

I hope that makes a bit of sense. I hope you found it interesting. I hope I didn't give the impression that I'm not for Jordan. I desperately am, but there is a time and place and the consultation and the information is so important around that, it's really important to think about. I'd really like to wish you the very best. Thank you for joining me. And goodbye.

You have been listening to another podcast from Dr Warrick. Visit his website at www.DrWarrickBishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP31: Death And Dying

Sun, 13 May 2018 17:00:51 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Warrick is a practicing cardiologist and author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education. Warrick believes educated patients get the best health care. Discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care and how this might apply to you or someone you love.

Hi, my name is Dr. Warrick Bishop and I'd like to welcome you to my consulting room. Today, I'd like to share with you a personal experience, which is in regard to a patient I've looked after now for many years. Today, unfortunately, Tom passed away.

Tom was 89 years of age, and I've looked after him for over 15 years. The main reason that I've been involved with his care is in regard to his aortic valve. I monitored Tom up until the time that he needed the valve replaced, guided him through that process, and I've been following him up ever since. A couple of years ago, Tom had a busy year with cancer. This took a lot out of him. He's an intelligent man who continued to live independently with his wife, but he was starting to get frail.

I saw him just in recent weeks with increasing frailty, but also with increasing problems with fluid retention due to his heart but also problems with his kidneys which were starting to fail. Tom came into hospital about 10 days ago, really to try and help with the balance between his heart failure requiring and need to take fluid off and balancing that off against how his kidneys were working which really needed plenty of fluids and good blood pressure. It's a fine line, balancing up heart failure and what the kidneys need. Unfortunately, in the 48 hours prior to Tom passing away, he had significant blood loss into his gullet from ulcers which can come as people get stressed and run down.

Tom was blessed in that he had a family who loved and supported him, but most importantly, they were prepared for the final admission; the last time that Tom would come into the hospital. They understood the difficulty with frailty and the difficulty with different organs coming to the end of their functional capacity. Although Tom passed away at 89 years of age, up until his last admission, he'd been living independently with his loving wife, and active mentally and physically. As best as possible, maintaining his independence.

In his final stages, he passed peacefully, and with dignity. At the end of it all, there was very little I believe we can hope for when death comes. When our last admission is booked in. I think we can hope to have a long life, and Tom certainly did. I think we can hope to have a good life and do some good things, and there is no question this man also achieved that. We want to die before our children. And anyone who has children knows exactly what I mean. It is the way of nature that our children should bury us, not the other way around. Tom succeeded there also.

Lastly, if at all possible, we want to die with dignity. And I'm pleased to say that for Tom that was the case. The last submission. Our time of death occurs and will come for everyone. It is important that we think about it. It is important that we have some understanding and that as a family we understand how to support each other in this unavoidable process of life and death.

I really just wanted to share that with you today. For me, I found it emotional and sad to say goodbye to someone who is both a patient and a friend.

As always, I wish you the very best. Take care and good health. Bye for now.

You have been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at www.drwarrickbishop.com For the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP30: How Rapid Heartbeat (Arrythmia) Can Damage The Heart

Sun, 06 May 2018 17:00:08 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Dr. Warrick's Podcast channel.

Warrick is a practicing cardiologist with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand heart health through education. Warrick believes educated patients get the best healthcare. Discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care and how this might apply to you or someone you love.

Hi, my name is Dr. Warrick Bishop, and I'd like to welcome you to my consulting room. Today, I'd like to speak with you a little bit about a concept that we call tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy. That's a mouthful, so let me break it down for you. "Tachy" means fast. "Tachycardia", "cardia" relates to heart, so fast heart. Induced means the same whether it's referring to the medical term or common vernacular. "Cardia", referring to the heart, and myopathy referring to a problem with the muscle. So, fast heart-induced muscle problem, or Tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy.

I'd like to speak about this because it can tie in with atrial fibrillation. We see it most commonly in people who have silent atrial fibrillation that is persistent, so the patients not necessarily aware of the rhythm, and it lasts for an extended period of time. What we find is that if the heart is being driven rapidly over its normal rate of 70 to 100 beats a minute. If it's rapidly being driven to 120, 30s, 40s, or even above. Then over time that heart actually suffers from being made to be too fast.

Over time, it starts to show features of fatigue and it starts to dilate, and starts to not be able to contract as effectively. We call that a cardio - Heart, myopathy - Muscle problem. So the muscle of the heart just gets fatigued or wears out. By the time we see these people, they're often short of breath and it's been gradual.

Their heart rate is very fast they have a dilated heart which we can pick up clinically on ECG and most clearly on cardiography, and they have features of heart failure and respond well to that. In these people, there can be different things that are causing their heart to have dilated. They may have had an infective process that's damaged the heart muscle; an infective cardiomyopathy. Or these people might have consumed too much alcohol; an alcoholic cardiomyopathy. Or it may be that it is related purely to their heart rate going fast. Sometimes we can't be sure.

But nonetheless, one of our mainstays of implementation of therapy is to slow that heart rate down. If we slow that heart rate down effectively and start to bring it back towards the 70-odd beats per minute, which is normal, then we can see a fantastic response. Sometimes these patients even respond better if we're able to restore sinus rhythm. That's another story, but sometimes we can do that. The really satisfying thing about this condition is if we are able to slow these people down for several months - say three months - then often they'll come back feeling much better and a re-evaluation of their heart shows a marked improvement in function. It is a very satisfying outcome and really a very good reminder of the significance of rapid prolonged heartbeat on the functioning of the heart.

Well, tachy-cardia induced cardiomyopathy can be seen in atrial fibrillation. Fortunately, it is often fully reversible and a very satisfying thing in terms of something to treat that gets better and in terms of the patient feeling better as well.

I hope you find that an interesting little piece on fast hearts and atrial fibrillation. I would really like to thank you for joining me and as always, I wish you the very best. Goodbye.

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at www.drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP29: Do I Need A Pacemaker For Atrial Fibrillation?

Sun, 29 Apr 2018 17:00:52 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Warrick is a practicing cardiologist and author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand heart health through education. Warrick believes educated patients get the best healthcare. Discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care and how this might apply to you or someone you love.

Hi, my name's Dr. Warrick Bishop, and I'd like to welcome you to my consulting room. Today, I'd like to share with you one of the questions that I get asked regularly on my patients who have atrial fibrillation. And the question is: "Do I need a pacemaker?" It's a common question, and the general answer is no. And the reason is this: A Pacemaker is a device to provide an electrical stimulation for the heart when the heart is not producing enough electrical stimulation of its own. So we look at pacemakers as a solution to the heart beating to slow.

If we think about Atrial Fibrillation and what's happening is that the top part of the heart; the atria are beating you extremely rapidly, In fact it's chaotic, and it's throwing off electrical activity all the time, and more often than not, that electrical activity is bombarding the node or the gateway between the top and the bottom of the heart, the AV node with electrical impulses, and those electrical impulses are driving the ventricle to rapid contraction. The irregularly irregular rapid heartbeat of atrial fibrillation. So, in general terms, atrial fibrillation does not need a pacemaker because it's not going slowly. It needs heart rate regulation. So, a pacemaker is not needed for atrial fibrillation.

Occasionally, however, as is always the case, there are exceptions to the rule, and it can occur that when we try and control the rate of atrial fibrillation for a patient. But sometimes the medications may not be well-tolerated to allow us to slow conduction from the top of the heart to the bottom of the heart through the AV node. Or it might be that our medications just don't work very well.

In those occasional situations, what we do do is consider isolating the atria from the ventricle altogether, and we do that by what we call AV node or atrial-ventricular node that is connected between the top and the bottom, electrophysiological ablation. So we use special techniques; catheter techniques to ablate completely, the connection between the top and the bottom of the heart. Well, that means that the heart, left to its own devices, would only then generate a heart rate commensurate with what the ventricle would generate by itself, and that's too slow. And so if we do an AV node ablation for atrial fibrillation, we combine that with the insertion of a pacemaker to make sure that the heart rate is maintained.

So there you go. Do you need a pacemaker for fibrillation? The general answer is No. The reality is, very occasionally, it is required, but it's a very specific circumstance and in general terms, a pacemaker is to make sure the heart does not go too slow. And in general terms, atrial fibrillation is a rhythm that drives the heart too fast.

Well, I hope that explains a little bit to you about atrial fibrillation and where pacemakers fit in or not. I'd like to thank you for joining me, and as always, I wish you good health. Goodbye.

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at www.drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP28: Unexpected Positive Effects On Anticoagulation

Sun, 22 Apr 2018 17:00:05 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Dr. Warrick's Podcast Channel. Warrick is a practicing cardiologist and author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education. Warrick believes educated patients get the best health care. Discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care and how this might apply to you or someone you love.

Hi, my name is Dr. Warrick Bishop, and I'd like to welcome you to my consulting room. I'd like to talk a little bit today about the anticoagulants we use in atrial fibrillation and I'd like to talk about something just a little bit different in terms of how we often think about them. The blood thinners we use; the warfarin, and the normal oral anticoagulants, or non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants; the NOACs, we use to thin the blood. It reduces the risk of stroke because we reduce the risk of formation of a clot within the left atrial appendage, which is a recess within the left atrium of the heart.

The advantage of thinning the blood is clear in that situation. Thinning of the blood in that situation does carry side effects, however. If we thin the blood, we can increase the risk of bleeding. Importantly, we can increase the risk of bleeding into the brain, so the risk of hemorrhagic stroke can increase with blood thinners. The other thing that can occur is an increased risk of bleeding from the gut. Any lesions within the gut have a greater propensity to bleed. Having said all that, could there be situations where there are other effects of the blood thinning agents that could be beneficial?

Well, straight off the bat, if you're traveling long distances, then the treatment to thin the blood for atrial fibrillation is the same treatment we would use to thin the blood to treat a clot in the legs. So the development of a clot in the legs, which can lead to pulmonary embolism, a clot traveling to the lungs - which is a very serious condition - can be mitigated by taking an anticoagulant. So there is a silver lining.

Well is there a silver lining from increased risk of bleeding? Well, over the years, I've seen in my own practice, a number of patients who have had bowel cancer detected early because of risk of increased bleeding. And if you think about it, one of the tests that we use routinely for screening for blood cancer, is to look for evidence of blood in the stool. That blood in the stool comes because a lesion within the bowel; the beginnings of a cancer; gets abraded by the feces moving past, and that abrasion leads to a small amount of blood being detectable when we test for it in the stool. We call that a fecal occult blood test.

Feces fecal occult not easily seen are testing for blood fecal occult blood test. Well, of course, if you're on a blood thinner, when one of those lesions, early tumors gets rubbed, it is more likely to bleed. And so, a greater risk of fat or greater likelihood of that test being positive and showing up an abnormality. So if you do start an anti-coagulant; whether it's warfarin or NOAC, it may well be a good idea or a good time to go and check with your GP about whether you're due for fecal occult blood testing, looking for an abnormality in the gut.

It's also an interesting thought to think that maybe, in the future, to try and increase the sensitivity of fecal occult blood testing in regular screening. Perhaps we combine it with five to seven days of an anti-coagulant just to try and increase the sensitivity. I've not seen any data in that space, but it certainly is an entertaining thought, and I'll leave that with you.

I hope you found that an interesting piece on anticoagulants, and I thank you for joining me and always wish you good health. Goodbye.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP27: Blood Sugar And Testing

Sun, 15 Apr 2018 17:00:46 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast channel.

Warrick is a practicing cardiologist and author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education. Warrick believes educated patients get the best health care. Discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care and how this might apply to you or someone you love.

Hi my name's Dr Warrick Bishop and I'd like to welcome you to my consulting room. Today I'd like to tell you a little bit about a patient I saw this week. In particular, I'd like to talk a bit about glucose and blood sugar levels and how they're assessed. The patient I saw was in her mid to late 60s. She was carrying a little bit of weight around the middle. Her triglycerides were elevated a little bit. Her good cholesterol; her HDL was down a little bit. Her most recent blood test had shown a blood sugar level of 6.1. When I spoke with her, it became clear that her GP had organised these blood tests and had wanted to follow through.

The GP had organised a glucose tolerance test. Interestingly, the patient said she'd had one of these before and she said she remembered that her blood sugar level before the test; before drinking the glucose, was a bit high, but after drinking the glucose was normal. That's interesting. I wonder what that says to you. That says to me is that this lady quite possibly is producing insulin, but not enough at rest. When her insulin is triggered by a carbohydrate or a sugar load, her insulin response is very brisk , her insulin levels go high and drive the blood sugar levels down to normal range and perhaps even lower. This means that her glucose tolerance test which shows the blood sugar level at the time of fasting for drinking the sugary drink and then two hours after drinking the sugar sugary drink doesn't tell us exactly what happens with the sugar levels in between.

What I suspect happens for this lady is that her sugar level runs up; her insulin level runs up, her insulin drives the sugar back down, and so by the time the second blood test at 2 hours is taken, her sugar levels are back to normal. Because her sugar levels back to normal range, the test is reported as normal. However, we know her fasting glucose has elevated her triglycerides are elevated to good cholesterol or HDL is down and she's carrying weight around the middle. So it seems that the test that should be looking for an abnormality in this space is completely normal when she seems to have some of the signs. Well, I said to this lady is look hold off on the glucose tolerance test because of the limitations I've just described. What I said to this lady is what I think we really want to know is whether she's resistant to the insulin she produces or whether she produces a lot of insulin at any given time.

The test I tend to use for this to try and evaluate what's going on and try and understand the insulin resistance that a patient may have is a test called a HOMA. That stands for homeostatic metabolic assessment. You don't need to remember that, but very simply, the way we do it is, on the fasting blood, we check the blood sugar level, on the same fasting blood, we check the insulin level. There's a simple calculation that we multiply and we get an index. That index gives us an idea as to the likelihood of this patient having insulin resistance. If the sugars up a bit and the insulin is considerably elevated, then the index is high and this clearly shows that the person is using a lot of insulin to keep their sugar under control. This means that they're insulin resistant.

If the sugar is in the normal range and insulins in a normal range or lowish, then these people are not insulin resistant. Why is this important? The reason why I think this is important is for this particular lady, her fasting glucose was not high enough to demonstrate diabetes. It was unlikely that the glucose tolerance test was going to demonstrate diabetes. But the thing that was probably going to drive her cardiovascular risk into the future is whether she's insulin resistant, because insulin resistance is closely linked to elevated triglycerides, lower HDL levels and Central Adiposity.

These particular patients, in my experience, really do benefit from being aware of the carbohydrate they consume, and if they can start to cut it down and expose their body less and less to carbohydrate, they tend to turn down their insullin response, they tend to lose weight, they tend to lower their triglyceride,s improve their HDL cholesterol and overall have a much better profile for their cardiovascular risk in the future.

So when it comes to glucose, blood sugar levels and testing, a glucose tolerance test may not always be the best solution, and perhaps looking at insulin resistance with a HOMA using simultaneous blood sugar and insulin could be the answer. I hope you found that interesting and informative as always, I wish you the very best. And I'd like to thank you for joining me. Goodbye.

You have been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at www.drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP26: Transplants

Sun, 08 Apr 2018 17:00:11 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast channel.

Warrick is a practicing cardiologist and author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education. Warrick believes educated patients get the best health care. Discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care and how this might apply to you or someone you love.

Hi, my name is Dr. Warrick Bishop and I'd like to welcome you to my consulting room. Today I'd like to share with you a story - a bit of information that I got from a meeting I went to recently. And to be honest it was one of the most impressive "wow" moments I've had in medicine for a long time. I went to a meeting which was centered mainly on cardiology but we had the opportunity to sit in on a session given by a specialist in transplant medicine, and to be honest that's not my area at all so most of it was all pretty new to me. All sorts of things get transplanted as you're aware. Corneas, hearts, lungs, livers, kidneys etc.. It is an opportunity for a sad occurrence which can be the injury or death of someone to give rise to something really special and help another individual. Anyway, what I would like to tell you about is renal transplants from living donors.

So, it's a pretty simple concept. Imagine a couple, Bob and Mary. Let's say for argument's sake, Bob has renal failure and therefore bad kidneys and he's on dialysis. Let's say Mary loves him very much and would like to donate a kidney to her husband to help him out. Well it's all that simple. The tissue markers all have to match up so it's quite possible that even though Mary wants to help her husband Bob she is unable to do that because her kidney would just be rejected by his body. Well, Bob and Mary can now go on something that they call a "kidney donor registry" and on that kidney donor registry, the tissue types for Bob and Mary are listed, and of course they're recognized as Bob needing a kidney and Mary able to donate one. Let's imagine on that registry if there's another couple; say John and Elizabeth.

In John and Elizabeth's case, let's say Elizabeth needs a kidney. Her husband John wants to give her a kidney but their tissue types don't match. However, if they're both on the register and someone looks at the registry and sees that Mary's kidney might suit Elizabeth, and John's kidney might suit Bob, then there is an opportunity for, if you like a domino swap over, where one family are literally giving a kidney to another family in an exchange. Of course, you'd be pretty lucky to only have two people or two couples on a list for that to be able to happen. So you actually need a few lined up. It turns out that this is exactly what happens, and in Australia, the record for the most number of people undergoing renal transplant in one session in one setting based on a registry donor register; on a registry of donors and recipients, the maximum number in Australia was seven operations all in a domino effect to result in everyone donating and receiving kidneys as appropriate. And that's just fantastic. You can imagine the kidney going to here and there, one being received here and there, just crossing over.

I actually sat back and thought that was fantastic until during this presentation they said that the record in America for this occurring was 50 kidneys being transplanted in one go. Now I just sat back in my chair and went wow. That is just the most amazing medicine. It's just incomprehensible. It is fantastic to think that people can share with other people for everyone's good. I have to say it was completely new to me. It left me with a very warm smile. I was genuinely moved by thinking about that. So I thought I'd share that with you because is a remarkable bit of modern medicine and it's just so positive. I will say, and I'll put a plug in here for the transplant doctors, that not enough people have the conversation about transplant and not enough families are prepared about that conversation.

So if I can leave you with a thought, can I please ask you to think about transplantation if anything were ever to happen to you or your loved ones. Please have that conversation. It may not be something that you talk about over dinner but it might be something you talk about quietly within the family from time to time because that gift of giving an organ to someone else; of helping someone else's life move on, is just a remarkable opportunity. One of the reasons that there's a lack of transplantation tissue available is through lack of education and a lack of awareness, where families just haven't had the chance to think about it. So, I hope you like the domino kidney transplant story but I really would like to think about whether you would transplant or whether your loved ones would transplant if that situation ever arose. I strongly encourage you to have that conversation and I really encourage you to think about it.

As always, thank you for joining me. I wish you the very best in health and bye for now.

You have been listening to another podcast from Dr Warrick. Visit his website at www.drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP25: Exercise And Strain On The Heart

Sun, 01 Apr 2018 17:00:51 +1000

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Warrick is a practicing cardiologist and author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education. Warrick believes educated patients get the best health care. Discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care and how this might apply to you or someone you love.

Hi, my name is Doctor Warrick Bishop and I'd like to welcome you to my consulting room. Today I'd like to share a story with you. A patient who was in my rooms this week asking me, "what about exercise, doc? Can I strain my heart? Can I hurt my heart through too much exercise?" Well, I think most cardiologists, and most of us would think exercise is fantastic for your heart. Go on and do what you can. And to a large degree, there is absolutely no question that we love to see people exercising for their heart health, but when I answered this question of this patient, I realised there is actually a couple of scenarios that are worth touching on. What I'd like to explain is that there are two main types of exercise. There's exercise where the body moves fluidly, where the tension in the muscles is not super high, but there's lots of movement. We call that 'isotonic exercise', and things like swimming and walking fit that category. There are situations when we exercise and the muscles are bound up and tight and contracting firmly . They're not moving fluidly. They're stiff and hard ; pulled together; bunched up. We call that 'isometric'. It's not moving; it's staying the same. So, isometric exercise is the sort of exercise like weight lifting lifting heavy weights - really heavy weights.

So if we understand isometric and isotonic you actually can do a little bit of damage to your heart. First of all with isometric exercise lifting heavy weights - we know that bench pressing and lifting large weights can increase the blood pressure dramatically. If you're doing that over and over, then in fact you're increasing shear stress; the sort of stress that comes from blood rushing past blood vessels. You're increasing the stress on the major arteries every time you do it. So there is a real possibility that shear stress could cause wear and tear in the arteries. Arteries to the neck, arteries to the heart, and the main artery of the body, the aorta. The other thing is lifting those heavy weights, putting up that blood pressure, if that's occurring too often the heart responds by thickening up. The heart gets forced to thicken as the muscles do with training.

Now, a thickened heart muscle is called left, the left side of the heart we're talking about, ventricular the main chamber of the heart that we're talking about, hyper meaning increased, trophy meaning growth or size. So left ventricular hypertrophy is a consequence of elevated blood pressures. Now that could be possible from doing too much weight lifting. So, exercise that's excessive in that isometric straining type vein could be problematic. At the other end, though, isotonic exercise is normally fantastic for you. But occasionally we see endurance athletes who are doing so much training that their heart can be damaged as well. And we know that some super elite athletes who are training for hours every day actually get changes to their heart secondary to that prolonged excessive training.

So there are documented cases of very high-ranked athletes; triathletes, who have problems with their hearts because the heart dilates as part of this long-term training regime which leads to increased cardiac output and increased blood flow back into the heart, stretching the heart over time. The heart accommodates, but it doesn't always do it healthily, and occasionally these athletes at the extreme end of exercise for endurance training can have problems with their heart. So, in summary, can you put strain on your heart through exercise? Unless you are at two extremes of the scale and where those two extreme ends of scale, you can put strain on the heart which may not be good. All the stuff in-between, particularly the isotonic exercise that we would love people to do, plus some white isometric exercise to keep central muscles and core muscles stable is just fantastic for the heart. So, be careful of the extremes in exercise. All the rest is fantastic.

I hope that answers and questions that you might have had. As always I'd like to thank you for joining me. I'd like to wish you good health and goodbye.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP24: Recent Insights From Lipid Meeting

Sun, 25 Mar 2018 17:00:16 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel. Warrick is a practicing cardiologist and author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education. Warrick believes educated patients get the best health care. Discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care and how this might apply to you or someone you love. Hi, my name is Dr. Warrick Bishop and I'd like to welcome you to my consulting room. Today I'd like to talk a little bit about a meeting I went to just recently. And that meeting had a lot of information about cholesterol. Lots of people want to know lots of stuff about cholesterol and whether it's important or not. I'd like to share with you today some of the take-home messages that I got from that meeting. One of the first important messages is that, if we're going to reduce the risk of heart attack in someone who is at high risk, then we really want to get that cholesterol as low as possible. A lot of our work and a lot of our research has been done on what we call LDL cholesterol or low density lipo protein. This is the component of the cholesterol profile which we think is most linked to depositing fat or cholesterol in the arteries. We know over many years of trials now that as we bring that LDL cholesterol down, we also bring down rates of event. We've now seen studies with modern lipid-lowering agents that can reduce the total cholesterol and the LDL cholesterol down to levels that we previously hadn't even imagined possible. We can get LDL cholesterols down to 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 mmols per liter with some of these new agents. This is really quite extraordinary. To put that into context, the average LDL cholesterol is probably somewhere around 2 to 3. What's important to remember though, is that even though we do still get incremental benefit by lowering cholesterol, that if we're able to get cholesterol very very low, there still remains residual risk. And what I mean by residual risk is that although we've got the cholesterol to incredibly low levels, patients still have events. They still have events at a reduced rate but nonetheless they're still having events. This tells us really that although cholesterol is an important part of the plaque story; it's an important component of reducing risk; clearly it's not the whole component. One of the studies that came out fairly recently was a study looking at anti-inflammatory agents. Something to dampen down inflammation within the body and therefore inflammation with plaque. That study was called The Cantos trial and you looked at an agent called...Well I can't remember what it's called actually, but it was an anti-body directed at reducing inflammation and reducing inflammatory markers. That agent did demonstrate a reduction in risk without any difference in cholesterols. So this means that some of their residual risk in these high risk patients is probably related to inflammation within the arteries as well. I suspect there is no question that there are other factors going on that we just don't know about yet. One of the questions about how low you can go and still be safe, to a degree has been answered by these recent trials, but we know that a child - a newborn infant - is born with an LDL cholesterol of 0.7. So it would seem pretty reasonable at the very first assumption to believe that an LDL cholesterol of zero point seven would be a safe level for a human being, given a newborn child is probably one of the most synthetical growing stages of their entire life. One of the other things that came up during this meeting was the concept of staten intolerance or side effects from statins there's a lot of work going on around this and there's a lot of stuff on social media which I think confuses the picture a bit and that sometimes ramps up or amps up the sort of expectation that patients have when they're taking medication. There has been a bit of nice work done in this space and there was a series of trials just recently, specifically looking at patients who had indicated that they were intolerant to staten or lipid-lowering therapy, but specifically statens. They took several thousand of these patients and they randomize them, they double blind randomized them to a crossover study which meant that they gave them placebo or staten and crossed over without the patients knowing. At the end of the trial period which I think was four or six months the number of patients that were able to take statens with the same side effect profile reported as on placebo was 75 percent. What this tells us is that statens get blamed for aches and pains which are probably not caused by the staten probably 75 percent of the time, but it probably tells us that 25 percent of people really are having some intolerance to these medications and that we need to figure out the best solution for them. I think the take home message from that, for me, is that if statens really are an important part of the medication regime for an individual, we've got to be careful not to throw out the baby with the bathwater too soon and look more closely before we make a decision about putting a particular agent on the shelf and leaving it forever - particularly and specifically if it's going to help that individual in the future. I thought that was really interesting. I hope you've enjoyed this little chat about cholesterol and some of the stuff that I gleaned from the recent meeting. As always I wish you good health and take care. You have been listening to another podcast from Dr Warrick. Visit his website at www.drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP23: Changing Terminology

Sun, 11 Mar 2018 17:00:13 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel. Warrick is a practicing cardiologist and author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education. Warrick believes educated patients get the best health care. Discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care and how this might apply to you or someone you love. Hi, my name is Dr. Warrick Bishop and I'd like to welcome you to my consulting room. Today, I'd like to touch on a concept of terminology. The terminology that we use in some of the reporting we undertake when we're evaluating the heart. This is something I touch on in my book because I see it as a very important issue. What I'd like to do is remind you that there are two situations where we are interested in minimising risk for an individual patient. In the most obvious situation, someone who's had a heart attack, we want to reduce the risk of that occurring again. We want to reduce the chance of them having a second episode. We call that "Secondary Prevention." These are people who have had chest pain; shortness of breath; a heart attack. Some clear indication, which would be a symptom or a loss of function that demonstrates they've got coronary artery disease. And we want to reduce their risk of having another episode. On the other hand, we also deal with people before they've had an event. This is called "Primary Prevention." These are people who, when we're looking after them, have not had an event; they're basically fit and well. Now, in the primary prevention group is where I want to focus. What's happened, in recent years, with the ability of scanning the heart, is that we can now see the health of the arteries. As a profession, we're yet to come to a conclusion and a consensus on the best way to describe what we see in the arteries in the primary preventative setting. Now to my mind, in primary prevention, we've not yet had a disease. We've not had a disease because the definition of a disease is a symptom or a loss of function. In primary prevention we're dealing with asymptomatic people. These are people without any signs whatsoever. The crux of this discussion is that in modern time with the advantage of C.T. imaging to allow us to look at the arteries, we now see plaque build up. Now, many of my colleagues who report these studies when they see any plaque at all, whether it be in a primary preventative setting. Or in a secondary setting, will report that plaque as coronary artery disease. Now think about it. In the secondary setting, that makes perfect sense. The patient has had a symptom or a loss of function and any plaque is part of the plaque burden that they're carrying which is attributable to that disease. But in the primary prevention setting, our objective is actually to stop the disease. Now if we call coronary artery disease is present in someone in primary prevention, we've just blurred the line between primary and secondary prevention. Well, what's the consequence; what's the big deal? Why would I fuss about that? If you stop to think about it, the consequences can be significant. Firstly, the patient who is seeking to be proactive about reducing their risk of a heart problem, suddenly gets labelled with a disease. They turn up looking to be proactive, and they get told even though I feel perfectly well, that they have coronary artery disease. Well, I have to say I would take that as a little bit of an emotional and psychological blow. So it doesn't surprise me that some patients would find that a difficult pill to swallow. Importantly, if we document the term 'coronary artery disease' in a patient report, then full disclosure in the setting of insurance means that person may be denied insurance in the future. Now remember, this could even be in the situation where very little plaque or very little build up of cholesterol in the arteries is seen. And even though it's a small amount, it gets referred to as coronary artery disease. If that person then looks to get insurance of any sort, they do have to disclose it and that could be an enormous problem in the future. It may be that these people are years away from having any problems and perhaps may never have a problem because they went through the testing and have been put on the appropriate medication, yet the terminology will stick and may well have a significant impact. Remember we could also be dealing with people who require licensing for their work for example. Imagine the impact on a pilot; a commercial pilot who wants to be proactive about his health and has, written in a report, about his heart that he has coronary artery disease even though he might be running 10 kilometres a day, he may be fit, active, well and appropriate therapy. This just won't be good for him when it comes to re-accreditation or recertification or licensing as an aircraft pilot. I think we have to be really careful about the terminology and language we use. And I think it's really important to think about it. I'm really lucky to have a couple of leading cardiologists in Australia who also support that opinion and together we're looking to try and raise awareness around this issue. But I think it's a really important one for you to think about and discuss as well, so you're aware of it. I make a particular point in my own correspondence back to general practitioners and in the service that we provide here that we refer to plaque build-up in the arteries in the primary prevention setting as at heroma burden. We don't mention the word 'disease' at all. I hope that makes a bit of sense to you. I hope you've enjoyed the discussion. As always, I wish you the very best. And thank you for joining me. Goodbye. You have been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP22: How Do We Slow The Heart?

Sun, 04 Mar 2018 17:00:27 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel. Warrick is a practicing cardiologist and author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education. Warrick believes educated patients get the best health care. Discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care and how this might apply to you or someone you love. Hi, I'm Dr. Warrick and I'd like to welcome you to my consulting room. Today I'd like to speak with you about rate control in atrial fibrillation. When we see someone in the acute setting or someone who has had atrial fibrillation for the first time, often that rhythm is fast and rapid and really quite distressing for the patient. So, one of the things we want to do is to try and slow that heart rate down. It'll make the patient feel better. It'll make the heart work better and it's a good starting point. So, we're very keen to start to address this as soon as possible. There are a number of drugs that we use to control rate and I'd like to touch on each of those to give a little bit of an overview. Probably one of the most commonly-used drugs are a group of drugs called beta-blockers. Beta blockers are a class of drug that acts through the receptors that are associated with the sympathetic nervous system. And the sympathetic nervous system is the accelerating nervous system within the body. It's the process that gives us fight and flight. So, it increases heart rate, it increases blood pressure. The beta blockers act to block the receptors that drive that response. And so they actually act on receptors within the heart to slow the heart. Blocking what would be the accelerating features or factors that could act on the heart. The beta blockers can be given either via tablet or in through the vein. They're flexible and work very well. One of the things that we do want to be aware of when we give beta blockers is because they dampen down the sympathetic nervous system, they can also lower the blood pressure. So, we want to keep a close eye on blood pressure and occasionally if the blood pressure is low we may not be able to use beta-blockers in the way we want to. One of the other things that we know about beta blockers is that they can occasionally start asthma. So, in certain patients who may have sensitive airways, we would be very cautious about using beta blockers. But an agent such as Metoprolol which is a very commonly-used beta blocker is very often a first line agent in atrial fibrillation used either as a tablet form - We call that Aurelie or - as an in-the-vein injection. We call that intravenously. Sometimes we'll use beta-blockers in conjunction with other medications or we'll use other medications instead of beta-blockers depending on the heart rate response to the first line of therapy. One of the agents I like to use often in conjunction with beta-blockers is digoxin. Digoxin is from Digitalis and digitalis is from the foxglove plant. You might know a little bit more about plants than I do. But this has been around for many years and it's a tablet that has effects on the heart. Digoxin can actually be given orally as a tablet, but it can also be given in through the vein. The advantage of digoxin is it has an action on the node that is between the top of the heart and the bottom of the heart that regulates the electrical activity. Going from the atria to the ventricle. So, in atrial fibrillation when this chaotic electrical impulses bombarding the atria-ventricular node leading to ventricular excitation then digoxin acts at the node and slows transmission of electrical signals through the node, therefore meaning that the ventricular right can slow down and be better-controlled. One of the nice things about Digoxin is it doesn't tend to lower blood pressure and in the first instance is often very well-tolerated. One of the side effects or problems with digoxin is that if the kidneys are not working well it can accumulate. So it is a tablet or a medication, I should say, that we want to keep a close eye on. But in the first instance either alone or in combination with beta-blockers it can work very effectively to bring the heart rate down. One of the other agents that we use particularly if we choose not to use beta blockers, say in the situation of someone with asthma, is a centrally-acting calcium channel blocker. Well, that's a bit of a long description but that simply means a calcium channel blocker that acts predominantly on the heart and a calcium channel blocker is an agent that affects the way calcium flows through the cell membrane. One of the agents within this group is called verapamil, and one of the other agents is called Diltiazem. In general terms, verapamil is probably used slightly more than Diltiazem in this particular role. Verapamil and Diltiazem, it can both be given either by a tablet or in through the vein. Both have the benefit of regulating ventricular response or slowing the ventricular response down in atrial fibrillation. Both can have a bit of an impact on left ventricular function, so reduce how well the heart's pumping and this can be important for people who already have problems with their left ventricular function. But neither of these agents tend to be associated with worsening asthma, which is one of the reasons they might be chosen. Having discussed the beta blockers, Digoxin, the calcium channel blockers, they're the main agents for rate control, however in certain circumstances, in an acute setting occasionally Amiodaron might be used for rate regulation and Amiodaron is a separate sort of agent altogether with a different class of anti-arrhythmic effect. It can be given intravenously. It can also be given orally but because it takes a long time to really build up its levels in the body, it's far more effective in the acute setting, or in the immediate setting to give it in through the vein. This agent of its own can slow atrial fibrillation right down. It is also a fairly powerful reversion agent. So, it is a way to start to slow the heart with the possibility of returning the patient to normal rhythm. Amiodaron is not at the top of the list for controlling rate and that's because of a number of potential issues it has. It carries a lot of iodine in it and because of the iodine, it can certainly affect the thyroid gland in up to 20 to 25 percent of patients depending on geographical location. It can lead to some toxic toxicity with the lungs. It can even lead to some toxicity in the liver. So, it is one to keep up the sleeve, probably at the end of that list. In summary, then, we want to control rate when people present with rapid atrial fibrillation. We have beta blockers, we have calcium channel blockers, we have Digoxin, and we can fall back to an agent called Amiodaron if it's really needed. I hope that makes a bit of sense. I hope you've enjoyed today's discussion. As always, good health. You have been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at www.drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP21: How Do We Treat Atrial Fibrillation?

Sun, 25 Feb 2018 17:00:47 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Hi, my name is Doctor Warrick and I'd like to welcome you to my consulting room. Today, I'd like to talk about how we treat atrial fibrillation. I've spoken about atrial fibrillation previously, but as a quick reminder, atrial fibrillation is when there is a loss of the electrical synchronicity of the top chambers of the heart. The top chambers of the heart called atria. So atrial fibrillation means pertaining to the atria which are fibrillating. And fibrillating is simply another word for twitching or wiggling chaotically. And fibrillation is a chaotic, uncoordinated rhythm.

So, the atria move in a completely random, chaotic way. The consequence of that is that they don't work properly. They don't contract in the normal way that we see. The atria contract and then the ventricle in normal, what we call, sinus rhythm. In atrial fibrillation, the loss of synchronicity or the trembling and twitching of the atria mean that the chamber doesn't contract properly. The atria also send lots of electrical signal signals to the bottom chambers of the heart; to the ventricles. The ventricles are therefore bombarded by these chaotic signals and beat rapidly and irregularly; so fast, often, that the heart doesn't fill properly.

So, when we're treating atrial fibrillation, one of the first things we want to do is improve the pump function. There are a number of things we can do to improve the pump function. Firstly, and most obviously, we can try and return the patient to normal sinus rhythm. We can try and stop the atrial fibrillation and return to normal rhythm. Of course, we can do that. We can restore the synchronicity of the pump and the function of the pump. Sometimes we're unable to restore sinus rhythm, either immediately or down the line. If that's the case, then the next thing we would want to do is simply slow the atrial fibrillation so that that chaotic contraction at least slows down. And if it does, then the slower contraction allows for slower feeling and better functional capacity of the left ventricle and the right ventricle. So as we slow a heart that is in atrial fibrillation, we also improve the function of the pump. Not back to normal, but certainly enough to improve symptoms for a patient in the vast majority of people. Lastly, if we're dealing with pump function we want to make sure that some of the other issues that could be associated in the context of atrial fibrillation are being dealt with. Is the infection that could be there underlying, has that been dealt with? Is there anemia? Has that been dealt with? Is the thyroid function abnormal? Does the patient have cardiac failure?

So, we can restore normal rhythm. We can slow the rate response of atrial fibrillation, and we can also address some of the associated conditions occurring, all to try and improve pump function. The second thing we want to deal with in actual fibrillation is related to stroke. If the atrial chamber is not moving properly, then blood could pool within the atrial chamber it turns out that both the left and the right atrium have a small recess inside of them; a small corner if you like where blood can pool - and does pool. That area; that recess is called the appendage, and we see in the right atrium and in the left atrium. If blood pools particularly within the appendage in the left atrium and it pulls air for long enough a clot can form. And if a clot forms within the left atrial appendage, that clot can break off. It can then be drawn into the left ventricle. And it can be pumped around the body. With a 25 percent chance of it landing in the brain and giving rise to a stroke. This is a disaster. So we want to address risk of stroke.

So in atrial fibrillation, we're looking to thin the blood to reduce the likelihood of a clot forming within the atria and reduce the risk of stroke for that individual. When we look at risk of stroke, there is a spectrum. Some people can be very high risk and some much lower risk. The way that we address that risk is by looking at associated conditions that are recurring or associated features that are present with the atrial fibrillation. Cardiac failure is very important. Hypertension, age, diabetes, and previous stroke. This particular group of associations has such a strong correlation that it's given rise to what we call the CHATS score.

Standing for each of those features. C for cardiac failure. H for hypertension. A for age. D for diabetes. S for stroke. Previous stroke or systemic embolisation, which means a clot moving somewhere within the body. We can generate a CHATS score based on the degree of cardiac failure or other features and that score can help us predict the risk that patient may carry. We can refine that CHATS score a little bit and I will talk about that CHATS score in more detail in another session. But of course, as we're looking at the risk of reducing the likelihood of a stroke by thinning the blood, we also have to look at the risk that thinning the blood would carry in a patient.

For that, we have another score, which allows us to estimate or have some idea of the risk of bleeding that individual might be carrying by the use of an anticoagulant. And so, when it comes to risk of stroke we want to reduce the likelihood of a patient suffering from an embolance or a clot moving from the heart to the brain or another part of the body for that matter. But we have to weigh that up against the risk of that individual bleeding. Again, I'll cover that in more detail later.

At the end of the day, there are two main things we deal with when we find atrial fibrillation in a patient. The first is that we want to improve pump function as best as possible. We can restore sinus rhythm. We can control rate. And we can also deal with associated issues. The second thing when we're treating atrial fibrillation is that we want to reduce the risk of stroke. And we want to do that, understanding what risk that patient actually has and then balance that up against the risk of bleeding that person would have by being on anticoagulant therapy.

The message here is that one size does not fit all, but the principles are applicable to everyone and the role of the doctor treating the individual is to match up that person's needs with the best possible outcome. By the best management of getting the pump working as well as possible. And by the best management to reduce risk of stroke without adversely increasing the risk of bleeding to a degree that is unacceptable. I hope that makes some sense. Thank you for joining me. And as always, good health.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP20: Treatment Risk And Benefit

Sun, 18 Feb 2018 17:00:19 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel Warrick is a practicing cardiologist an author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education. Warrick believes educated patients get the best health care. Discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care and how this might apply to you or someone you love. Hi. My name is Dr. Warrick and I'd like to welcome you to my consulting room. Today I'd like to speak with you about a concept around treatment. When we come to treat a patient, I think it's absolutely critical for that individual patient, that we have an understanding of the concept of risk and benefit and this is something that we should do with every medication. There is no medication available that has zero risk. If we gave people too much water, we can cause problems. If we give neonates; newborns, too much oxygen which can cause problems. There is no drug that we have that is completely free of any side effect. So everything carries some sort of risk. Is inherent therefore that if we're going to prescribe a therapy for an individual patient, we need to be clear about what that risk would be. When we think about the risk, we need to put in the context of the benefit that that patient will see when we're considering benefit for an individual, that needs to generally be considered in two different components. One component is in regard to the symptomatic benefit that a patient may see by the therapy. The other benefit is a prognostic benefit. I'll give you an example. In the situation of hearts where I'm dealing with people on a regular basis regarding, say, atrial fibrillation. What we know is that if we reduce patients heart rate if they're in atrial fibrillation, we can improve those patients symptoms. So the risk of the heart rate medication is weighed up against the improved symptoms for that individual, and so we'll try therapy, and then check with the patient to see that they really are having a benefit. Because if they're not, the benefit doesn't necessarily stack up and outweigh the risk. If we have improved their symptoms then the benefit outweighs the risk for that individual, it's a reasonable intervention. That's a symptomatic intervention. Prognostic intervention in a true fibrillation is to give someone an anticoagulant to reduce the risk of stroke. Taking an anti-coagulant or a blood thinner carries a risk; a risk of bleeding. So we have to match that up against a prognostic benefit. Now the individual patient won't be able to report that to us, because if they don't have a stroke they can't report that they know they're better or worse; they just haven't had an event. So we have to weigh that up against the risk we believe that individual carries based on our research. Has this person got other associated conditions like cardiac failure, hypertension, increasing age, diabetes, have they had a previous stroke; all factors which really point to them being at very high risk, and therefore getting a lot of benefit from anticoagulation. Or is this a person who might be prone to tripping, bad eyesight, poor with taking medication; someone who is unreliable and could inadvertently make a mistake with their medication, in which case their risk of taking a blood thinning medication is, perhaps unacceptable. So in the prognostic setting, are we able to demonstrate that the risk of our intervention - using blood thinners in this case - is our risk of bleeding outweighed by the reduction in the risk of stroke for this person. Really important to understand that this sort of conversation and this thinking is what determines every intervention and every medical therapy that we introduce for a patient's care. I really want you to understand that all our medications will carry some risk but the patient will receive some benefit from it. It's up to you and the doctor to discuss those risks and benefits to figure out what suits you the best. It's a simple concept but it's critical to the way we deal with people on a daily basis. I hope it's made a bit of sense to you. As always, I'd like to wish you the best of health. Thank you for joining me. Goodbye. You have been listening to another podcast from Doctor Warrick. Visit his website at www.drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP19: How Clots Occur

Sun, 11 Feb 2018 17:00:20 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel. Warrick is a practicing cardiologist an author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education. Warrick believes educated patients get the best health care. Discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care and how this might apply to you or someone you love. Hi, my name is Doctor Warrick Bishop and I'd like to welcome you to my consulting room. Today I would like to speak with you about Clotting and thrombus formation, including the coagulation cascade and platelets. Well, that all sounds pretty confusing and I have to say as a medical student, I found it really difficult to understand. The concept, however, is really simple. The body needs to protect itself if there's a break in the circulation. So if you get cut or scratched, the body has to have mechanisms to stop you bleeding from their cut or scratch because if you bleed and don't stop, you'll bleed to death. So it makes perfect sense. We have systems in place to form clots to stop bleeding. The concepts behind the coagulation cascade are pretty straightforward except when I was a medical student I just didn't understand it because they were presented in a way that I found fairly complicated. In simplest terms, we deal with two major components that give rise to the formation of a clot. One of those components are the small particles that come from the bone marrow. These are called platelets. They don't have any colour. But they are part of what forms a clot. The other thing that forms a clot, in conjunction with platelets, is a strong protein, cross bridging strand protein called fibrin. It forms a meshwork and that meshwork with platelets, forms the clot. When there is damage to the blood vessels, the contents of the blood vessels become aware of that because proteins and markers that are not normally exposed to the circulation become exposed to the circulation. With this, platelets come in contact with receptors that normally they wouldn't be able to. Those receptors activate the platelets and lead to the platelets undergoing changes in preparation for forming a clot. At the same time, so that fibrin is formed to work with those platelets, a cascade of different factors is started off to produce fibrin. That cascade of different factors is called the coagulation cascade. So the thrombus formation is occurring through activation of platelets, which then results in platelets interacting with fibrin but the fibrin needs to be generated through what's called the coagulation cascade. I'm going to tell you a bit more about the calculation cascade now. The concept behind it is simple. A few proteins get activated, which lead to each of those proteins activating a few more proteins of their own and then more and more and it replicates a little bit like a domino effect. This makes perfect sense because it's a rapid amplification system. It means that by the time it's replicated through several different factors there's quite a lot of fibrin or end product left for formation or formed for the generation of a thrombus. When we learned this at university; at school, one of the things that was difficult in understanding that simple step-by-step process is that each of the factors had different names, and each of them had different numbers and instead of the very first factor that was activated being number one which would make sense, fibrin the last factor is actually labelled number one. So we start out here at factor 7 or 12 or something and then we don't even go numerically to get to factor 1. Some of the factors are missing, so factor 6 is not there. So they're not in order. They're not all there. It ends where it should begin and each of them have names and some of those names are for the active form and some are for the inactive form. I guess I'm sad and confused already but it is a simple idea and that is that the activation of the pathway occurs when contents outside the blood vessel or factors outside that blood vessel trigger one of the calculation factors within the bloodstream. That, once it's activated, triggers an inactive next stage to the active stage, and that stage then triggers the next stage and so on until we get to fibrin, which is what forms a clot with platelets. The reason why it's important to understand a little bit about the calculation and clot-forming pathway is that it helps us understand where our medications work. Platelets, for example, we use agents like aspirin and clopidogrel to dampen down some of the receptors to recognize proteins that can trigger them. For the coagulation cascade, we use warfarin. We use heparin and we use some of the new oral anticoagulants or novel or oral anticoagulants. And these act at different locations. Essentially, to decrease the production of the product - Fibrin - to reduce clot formation. So, a little bit complicated. It is important to have some understanding of it. I will cover it in a little bit more detail later on, but I just want you to get a very simple overarching understanding of it. Damage to the blood vessel, activation of platelets and coagulation cascade with activated platelets eventually interacting with the end product of the coagulation cascade which is fibrin. Fibrin and platelets together forming a clot. That blocks off or seals the blood vessel which makes perfect sense. I'm going to mention a couple last things and then leave it at that. So that the whole body doesn't end up as one big clot the coagulation cascade continuing and continuing. There are also factors that are generated that limit the progression of a clot. These are called the fibrinolytic system. Don't need to remember that name but they basically stop the clot going too far. So, as it's forming a clot, it's also forming factors that prevent the clot extending too far. This is really important, so we don't just clot up altogether. The other thing that I'm going to mention is that clotting makes perfect sense if we cut ourselves but the situation that we are concerned about in medicine, more often than not, in situations like atrial fibrillation and heart attack are the formation of clots. In situations where we don't want them to form because they can cause a problem either a heart attack or stroke to the brain. So, I hope that gives you a little bit of insight into the coagulation pathway into clotting or thrombus. You see it has two names as well. And I hope it gives you some understanding as to the normal function and why we're interested in the normal function going wrong in disease. I wish you the very best. Thank you for joining me and goodbye. You have been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at www.drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP18: Peter's Story

Sun, 04 Feb 2018 22:52:43 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel. Warrick is a practicing cardiologist an author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education. Warrick believes educated patients get the best health care. Discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care and how this might apply to you or someone you love. Hi, I'm Dr. Warrick and I'd like to welcome you to my consulting room. Today I'd like to talk to a patient who has atrial fibrillation. Peter is a 65-year-old man who I literally saw just today, and his type of atrial fibrillation was the sort that was found completely incidentally. About a week or so ago, Peter was lining up for a routine colonoscopy which is a check of his lower bowel to see if there was any evidence of malignancy. During that examination while the anesthetist was looking after him, the patient was found to have an irregular heart rate. The ECG and subsequent monitoring confirmed that he was in atrial fibrillation. Turns out the patient had no clue he was in atrial fibrillation - he had nothing in the way of symptoms and this is not entirely uncommon. A number of people walk around with what we would call asymptomatic atrial fibrillation. When I spoke with the patient, it turns out that he saw his GP probably three months ago and his blood pressure and pulse were checked then. Everything apparently was okay at that stage. This would probably suggest that Peter has gone into atrial fibrillation in that intervening period of time. Peter's other health includes a little bit of hypertension for which he was on therapy. He also has a bit of central adiposity and doesn't exercise a lot and central adiposity just means the weight you put around your belly preferentially. This can be a marker of prediabetes and it is worth keeping in mind. When we look at Peter's risk of a stroke on that CHAD Vasc score, he had a score of 2. He scored one for age and one for hypertension. But in the back of my mind I would have added an extra score for prediabetes. With a score of 2, his risk of stroke is considered mild to moderate and the indications from that CHAD Vasc score are that he should be on full anticoagulation. I commenced him on full anticoagulation from the consultation today. We also had some other information available. We had a 24-hour heart rate monitor, and this showed us that in the asymptomatic state on average this patient's heart was beating at nearly 100 beats a minute. It went up as high as 180 beats a minute at times of exertion. For a gentleman who is in his mid-60s, that's a very fast heartbeat and I must admit I was quite surprised that he was asymptomatic. With that information, one of the next things I did was to add in a drug to try and slow that heartbeat down. Because if we can do that I'm pretty sure we'll give him a little bit more puff because it will allow his heart to work a bit better. A heart that's revving so fast just doesn't fill properly and therefore doesn't pump properly and so patients will almost invariably describe some shortness of breath in that situation. The other information that I had available was an ultrasound of his heart and this is a very important test to allow us further planning and certainly to rule in or rule out whether there is any structural abnormality, particularly around the mitral valve, which is the valve that controls blood flow out of the left atrium. Essentially Peter's structure of the heart and function of the heart was relatively normal, but I focused in on this occasion on this side of his atria. It turns out his atria were mildly to moderately dilated not moderately not moderately to extensively, but they were dilated. At this stage, my plan is to bring Peter back with full anticoagulation for at least four weeks and really consider whether we should restore sinus rhythm. Sometimes we're caught between trying to restore sinus through them and leaving people in atrial fibrillation and sometimes the lack of symptoms will drive us to simply control rate. In this particular situation, though, I'm thinking in the back of my mind that the patient is relatively young and my observation over the years and there is some research coming through to support this is that if we restore sinus rhythm we may have a positive effect on any morphological change or structural change the heart could undergo. What I mean by that is that if we leave people in atrial fibrillation for many, many years we see changes of the heart as a consequence of that atrial fibrillation. The most notable thing is that the atria dilate and enlarge. The other thing that we have seen and I've got a number of cases where this has occurred, is I believe the ring that connects the atria to the ventricle - the AV ring over a period of time, also dilates as the atria dilates and if that ring dilates, then the fixtures for the valves that that holds, particularly the tricuspid valve, which is on the right side of the heart can be stretched and as it gets stretched the leaves or that the cusps of that tricuspid valve don't come together as well. So, although I haven't restored sinus rhythm in Peter yet, certainly, it's front of mind when I see him next to think about restoration of normal rhythm to try and maintain the structure of his heart as best as possible in the long term. Regardless of whether I return him to silence rhythm or not, however, he will be on a anticoagulation life-long now. His CHAD Vasc score is high enough that that's the case and particularly with him being completely unaware of symptoms, we wouldn't even think to rely on him to tell us when he's in and out of the rhythm. Another interesting case of atrial fibrillation. I hope it gives you something to think about. Thank you for joining me, and good health. You have been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at www.drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP17: Population Vs Individual Risk

Sun, 28 Jan 2018 17:00:23 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel. Warrick is a practicing cardiologist with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education. Warrick believes educated patients get the best health care. Discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care and how this might apply to you or someone you love. Hi, I'm Dr. Warrick and I'd like to welcome you to my consulting room. Today I'd like to speak a little bit about my book, "Have You Planned Your Heart Attack?" And I'd like to specifically talk about our current approach to risk assessment. I talk about this in the book because it's important as a starting point for where we are at the moment. I really want to emphasize the differences between population-based risk assessment versus individual-based risk assessment. I'm going to give you an example to help me explain that. Imagine we take a 50 year old male who wants to be proactive about his health and so he goes to see his general practitioner; his local doctor; and says "what's my risk of a heart attack?" Well, the doctor will use, in our current approach, a standard risk calculator which will include things like age, sex, blood pressure, cholesterol level, his diabetic status, whether he smokes, and maybe some other factors. The doctor will enter that 50-year-old male's characteristics into the risk calculator and then come back to him with an estimated risk of event. Let's say this 50-year-old male who is being proactive is fairly average in all those respects. So, he is a non-smoker and not diabetic. Chances are, the risk calculator will estimate for him having an event will be 10% over 10 years. So, his doctor will turn around and say “your risk of a heart attack over the next 10 years is approximately 10% based on this risk calculator.” Now, in medical lingo, we consider that intermediate risk. And for intermediate risk, we don't tend to implement therapy. So, the doctor routinely would reassure the patient, and the patient would feel reassured, because if he did a quick calculation in his head, he would understand that he had a 99% chance per annum of not having an event. Everyone would be happy and that's where it would be left. The GP or local doctor would probably say things like "keep exercising or look after yourself, don't put on any weight, eat healthily," etc. However, if the local doctor reframed the information from that risk calculator, it might mean something different. How about if the local doctors said, "look, based on the criteria you've just given me; your age, sex, blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetic status, smoking status; based on those criteria, my risk calculator is telling me that if we follow 100 men with the same criteria as you for a 10-year period, 10 of those men will have a coronary event. And in all honesty, I don't know if you're one of the 10 or one of the 90." If you let that sink in, you will understand the difference between population-based risk assessment, where it's a 10% risk for the entire population versus individual-based risk assessment because in an individual-based risk assessment, 10 men out of that 100 will have an event, 90 men will not. That means that 90 men have a 0% event rate, and 10 men have a 100 percent event rate. Well, the question then becomes "am I one of the 90 who are not going to have an event, or am I one of the 10 who are high risk or likely to have an event?" That's the platform and the starting point for my book where I talk about imaging to help us separate out and be more precise about that risk stratification. Finding those individuals who really are at high risk and finding those individuals who are just not at high risk. I hope you enjoy that as a small introduction. I'm sure you would find the read interesting if you found the discussion interesting. I think it's really important to understand the difference between population-based risk versus individual-based risk. I really thank you for joining me as always, I wish you good health. Goodbye. You have been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at www.drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP16: The Art Of Good Medicine

Sun, 21 Jan 2018 17:00:34 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP15: What Is An Angiogram?

Sun, 14 Jan 2018 17:00:12 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP14: Assocation Vs. Causation

Sun, 07 Jan 2018 16:00:53 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP13: Who Gets Atrial Fibrillation?

Sun, 24 Dec 2017 08:00:45 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel. Warrick is a practicing cardiologist and author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education. Warrick believes educated patients get the best health care discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care and how this might apply to you or someone you love. Hi, I’m Dr. Warrick Bishop and welcome to my consulting room. Today I'd like to talk a little bit more about atrial fibrillation and one of the things that people often ask is "who gets it?." Well, men and women get it. Men - probably slightly more if you look at the numbers. Women interestingly when they suffer the condition run a higher risk of complication. So although there are more men in numbers actually suffer with atrial fibrillation, women have a higher rate of complication and therefore are impacted equally. This is particularly the case as people get older because one of the things that we see with atrial fibrillation is an increasing incidence of the condition as people age. We do see a genetic predisposition and there are certain families where a genetic link can have a significant up regulation of the likelihood of someone within their family developing that condition. This is not the most common situation but it certainly is important to be aware of. When we think about the things that are likely to increase the likelihood of atrial fibrillation, then we can think of “aetiologies” or causes that impact the structure and function of the atrium, the top chamber f the heart. Simple things like high blood pressure where the back pressure has a stretching effect on the atrium, over time will change the shape of the atrium and by changing the shape of the atrium, increase the likelihood of developing an abnormal rhythm within. The change of shape is often associated with scarring - microscopic scarring nonetheless but scarring that affects the way that electricity flows through the atrium and again starts to push that risk of developing atrial fibrillation up. So age, with a little bit of micro scarring, general wear and tear with time, high blood pressure leading to pressures affecting the atrium. The valves being abnormal can also have an effect on the pressures within the heart and so abnormality of the valves and how they work can lead to back pressures that again impact on the atrium and therefore the structure and subsequently the function. Of course things like cardiac failure or abnormality if the muscle of the heart can also be implicated and associated with an increased likelihood of developing atrial fibrillation. We can also think of things that cause atrial fibrillation in the context of external factors or things outside the heart that impact the heart. It turns out things like diabetes over the long term seem to impact the heart possibly with byproducts of diabetic metabolism ending up within the structure and the fibres of the myocardium, therefore impacting how the atria and the muscles work. We see that obesity is linked with an increased likelihood of atrial fibrillation and obesity together with obstructive sleep apnea a condition where people obstruct their respiratory system at night while they're asleep and really suffer with low levels of oxygen overnight. These situations trigger a very brisk response of the autonomic nervous system so the body is heightened although the person is asleep and can increase blood pressure and it can drive scarring and inflammation within the heart. Again all contributing to the possibility of developing atrial fibrillation. We see that people with bad kidney function over a period of time have a high propensity to develop atrial fibrillation - nearly 20 percent of people with chronic renal disease will develop the condition and this is a complication of multiple things: elevated blood pressure, inflammation, general propensity to scarring and change within the heart. We also know that external toxins - and probably the most common is alcohol - can raise the likelihood of development of actual fibrillation. So, a boozy night out with a lot of snoring and bad sleep is exactly the sort of thing that could trigger off enough electrical activity within the heart to kick off an episode of atrial fibrillation. In fact we do see it not uncommonly that people will turn up on a Monday morning with a Saturday night arrythmia from exactly that. We see other stresses on the heart also have an effect in the likelihood of atrial fibrillation being present or being precipitated by such things as surgery; whether it be bowel surgery but of course very commonly, any surgery on the heart where the atrium are actually manhandled and touched during the process markedly increase the risk of development of atrial fibrillation, as you'd expect. Infections can do it as being a trigger as severe infection of any sort. In actual fact because the body is responding in such a way that extra adrenaline, extra nervous activity is all being generated and that can increase the likelihood of abnormal rhythm within the heart - particularly atrial fibrillation. We know that other conditions such as pancreatitis, for example, could also lead to atrial fibrillation. So anything within the body that can really increase what we call the autonomic nervous system - which is the fight or flight nervous system - can kick off an episode of atrial fibrillation. Lastly and really importantly emotional stress can do it as well and it is not uncommon for me to see patients who for various reasons had a significant emotional impact - whatever that might be - and they literally felt that in their heart with their heart jumping and fluttering. And that emotional stressor it being the precipitant for actual fibrillation to kick off in that individual. So what can we do. Well, age we cannot avoid. It will lower our threshold of development of atrial fibrillation no matter what. So age is one that we can do little about. But things like blood pressure, weight control, good sleep, not too much alcohol, not too much emotional stress and being aware of where actual fibrillation can occur is a really important first step. One of the areas where atrial fibrillation occurs - which is really surprising so I've left it to the end - is that we can sometimes see it in endurance athletes, so we know that exercise in general is very good for our health, no question about that. Normal levels of exercise, moderate on a weekly basis or several times a week will lower our risk of coronary artery disease, lower our risk of heart related illness, and in fact lower our risk of atrial fibrillation. However in a specific subset of athletes who train for endurance events or long protracted training sessions and long events these people have been shown for multiple reasons to run a higher risk of atrial fibrillation in the longer term. And this is possibly related to that endurance activity leading to significant stress on the heart with return of blood that acts as its own impact on the chambers of the heart leading to dilation and compensation of the heart. That long term exercise seems, together with a change in the neurological way that the heart responds with a tendency towards the Parasympathetic nervous system (slows the body down) which is the opposite of the Sympathetic Nervous System (speeds the body up), seems to lower the threshold for development of atrial fibrillation, and so quite surprisingly, the last group who may get atrial fibrillation is the group of people who are actually very well trained athletes. So be aware of atrial fibrillation and who gets it, I hope that all make sense. Thank you very much for your time. You have been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at. www.drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP12: An Introduction to Atrial Fibrillation

Sun, 17 Dec 2017 08:00:04 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP11: Reversing Anticoagulants - Warfarin Vs. NOACs

Sun, 10 Dec 2017 02:45:41 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Warrick's Podcast Channel.

Warrick is a practicing cardiologist and author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their hot health through education. Warrick believes educated patients get the best health care. Discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care and how this might apply to you or someone you love.

Hi, my name's Dr Warrick Bishop and I'd like to welcome you to my consulting room. Today, I'd like to speak with you about a conversation I've had with a number of patients in recent time. That conversation is about having a medication for anti-coagulation and having available for that medication, an anti-dote. There are two groups of anticoagulant that we use at the moment. Historically, and currently we've use Warfarin. Warfarin is a drug that works through the vitamin K dependent factors of the coagulation cascade. The newer group of agents, which we're going to call the NOACs, Novel Oral AntiCoagulants, work at precise locations within the calculation cascade. When it comes to reversing anticoagulation, the simplest way to do it is to just withhold the medication. With time, the body produces the factors involved in the coagulation cascade, and the system returns to normal. This can be a matter of days for most of those agents.

In an emergency setting, if you've broken a leg, or if you're bleeding internally, or need urgent surgery and there's a requirement to reverse that anticoagulation urgently, particularly in a situation of severe hemorrhage, then one thing we can do regardless of whether it's Warfarin or one of the NOACs is take fresh frozen blood products and put those products which include the factors for coagulation into the patient so that it provides what's needed to stop bleeding and return the coagulations system or the clotting system back to normal.

Some of my patients say look, I'd rather stay on Warfarin because we can use vitamin K as an antidote. Well, that is partly true but not fully correct. The reality is that vitamin K dependent factors take time to produce. So if someone does have bleeding problems with Warfarin and you give them Vitamin K to overcome the blocking effect of Warfarin to try and restore the coagulation system, then the liver actually has to produce those factors to have the system working again. Vitamin K dependent co-factors can take six hours or more to start being produced. So in the acute, very urgent setting of severe hemorrhage, that's just not quick enough and in that setting, the blood products injected into the blood stream do the job. In the situation of the NOACs, one of the agents, called the Dabigatran, has had a particular agent made, which, when it's injected into the body, binds with the Dabigatran and makes it inactive. This particular agent called Praxbind works almost immediately, and is an ideal solution in the setting of uncontrollable bleeding.

There are two other NOACs - one called Rivaroxaban and one called a apixiban, and both of these agents have an antidote on the horizon called Andexinate. Andexinate is not yet available in Australia. It is undergoing trials at the moment, and it does look promising, and if Andexinate does prove to be effective, then it will have a similar role in being able to be injected, and provided a decoy protein for absorbing these particular agents and restoring the coagulation system very rapidly.

So, as much as it would be nice to think that there's an antidote for Warfarin, there sort of is but it doesn't work quickly enough to be effective.

With regard to our NOACs, Dabigatran has Praxbind available, and this is a fantastic agent that really works. It is available in the Australia, and particularly in major centres. The other NOACs may well have an agent available in the next couple of years. In the meantime, if Praxbind is not available, and you're on Dabigatran or if you're on Warfarin or one of the other two NOACs, then injection of blood products to restore and replace the coagulation cascade is really the only option.

I'm afraid Vitamin K is just not an adequate antidote for Warfarin reversal in the the acute setting, it can be helpful however in some less urgent situations.

Little bit of a complex subject, hope it makes some sense and I hope you enjoyed it. Thank you so much for listening and I wish you the very best. Thank you.

You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick. Visit his website at www.drwarrickbishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

EP10: Women and Heart Health

Sun, 03 Dec 2017 01:47:56 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Dr. Warrick's Podcast Channel.

He's a practicing cardiologist with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education. Warrick believes educated patients get the best health care. Discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care and how this might apply to you or someone you love.

Hi, my name's Dr. Warrick Bishop and I'd like to welcome you to my consulting room.

Today, I'd like to speak about the topic that I haven't seen much written about but something that I see through my consulting rooms on a regular basis. And that's the role of women in heart health, and of course in other health. Through my own practice, in my rooms - though I've gotten no documentation of this but I do see it - I find that regularly women are the driver for best health care within the family.

This may be the case in your family. I have two seats in my consulting room, one for partners. Often, if a woman comes she'll come by herself. Most often, if a man comes to see me, particularly in a preventative role, or really in anything that could be to do with their heart, it's his wife or partner who is driving him to be there.

So, it seems to me that women are really tuned into prevention and taking the steps that are required. They seem to be interested and engaged a little bit more than men and I don't know why that is. It is a sweeping generalization but it's an observation. I'm not going to try and justify it. I have men come in and basically say that they're here because their wife has told them to or has made them or has read - in fact - has read my book and told them that they need to come and see me.

I have to laugh because when I was in the early stages of producing this book, I took it to a group of friends, and out of that group of friends everyone said bits and pieces, some of the men actually were taking a step back rather than taking a step forward, but one of the women turned around and said this is "a book you would buy for someone you love".

And that was so powerful that I actually put on the front cover of the book, because I understand that if you do love someone, you want to see the best for them and you want them around for as long as possible to be with you.

So, the statistics over and over tell us that men in happy married relationships live longer than singles. We know this. We see it not only intuitively, but that is supported by data, and we know that having someone loving us is a huge thing in our life, but in my observation, often women are driving good health care, and that's probably also helping our married men live longer.

So, if you've got a wife who's driving you to be in better health, thank her and go with the flow.

I hope that makes a bit of sense and starts a conversation at home. I wish you the best. Take care and bye for now.

You have been listening to another podcast from Dr Warrick. Visit his website at www.DrWarwickBishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP09: Treadmill Drugs and Preparation

Sun, 26 Nov 2017 02:44:53 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

EP08: Let's Talk About Blood Pressure

Sun, 19 Nov 2017 02:40:02 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Dr. Warrick's Podcast Channel. Warrick is a practicing cardiologist an author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education work believes educated patients get the best health care discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care and how this might apply to you or someone you love. Hi, my name is Dr. Warrick and I'd like to welcome you to my consulting room today. I'd like to talk a little bit about blood pressure which is pretty common. So what is it? Blood pressure is what we measure to give us an appreciation of the pressure of the blood flowing through the main arteries. You've probably heard of the upper blood pressure measurement and the lower blood pressure measurement and these are called systolic for the upper one and diastolic for the lower one. Systolic is the higher one you tend to remember. Diastolic is the lower one. Systolic pressure reflects the blood pressure through the circulation at that time when the full force of the contraction of the heart is expelling blood. The aortic valve is open and blood is flowing through it, this is when we are seeing the highest pressure in the system. This is called the systolic blood pressure. Things that would affect the systolic blood pressure are how stiff the aorta is and how stiff some of the other pipes (blood vessels) are. Think of the circulation like an irrigation system, as if you were trying to push water into an irrigation system. If the pipes have some elasticity then the pressure within those pipes would be less because some of the energy would be absorbed by the expansion of the pipes. This is why as people get older and your arteries get stiffer their systolic blood pressure gets higher and higher because as the heart compresses and squirts blood into a stiff tube which really doesn't stretch or gives less than when that person was much younger. So the systolic pressure goes up. The diastolic pressure is then the pressure that we see when the aortic valve of the heart is closed. It's the pressure that the circulation rests at before the next beat. This is really defined by the recoil within the major arteries. So if there is an elastic recoil within the arteries then that will maintain the diastolic pressure but it's also related to the resistance within the circulation. So if the small blood vessels that the blood is flowing into, if they are tight then there is a resistance within the system and that will keep the blood pressure up. If those small blood vessels are relaxed and open then the blood will flow freely into the vascular space and that will lower the blood pressure. So Systolic is the highest blood pressure. It's the measurement on top and it's related to the contraction of the heart, diastolic the lower measurement is related to the pressure within the system when the heart's relaxing and refilling ready for the next compression. Well, why do we bother about blood pressure? We talk about it a lot and this piece is raising awareness about it. So what's the big deal? Why do we worry about it. Well, we know that blood pressure is very important in the stress forces that it applies to the blood vessels and so can apply stress force to the blood vessels of the neck and of the heart. It can also put blood pressure blood vessels under strain within the brain. So elevated BP is a very significant driver of stroke and heart attack. Stroke is the formation of a clot in the carotid artery that occurs subsequent to the artery being damaged from high blood pressure, less likely a rupture of an artery can occur in the brain because of elevated blood pressure. So in terms of reducing the risk of stroke and heart attack, we really want to keep the blood pressure down. We also know that elevated blood pressure is closely linked with the development of atrial fibrillation, this is a condition that is common and so the better we can manage blood pressure within the population the better we can reduce the burden of this condition. Lastly one of the really important reasons for keeping blood pressure down is in regard to the development of cardiac failure. This can occur gradually as the heart stiffens is in response to long-term pressure overload required to deal with elevated blood pressure within the blood vessels. As the heart becomes stiffer, it can also thicken and when this occurs it just doesn't work as well. It is common to see in the elderly particularly those who have had elevated blood pressure that they develop symptoms related to this, this particular type of blood pressure is characterised by well-maintained contraction of the heart it's just that it is stiff and doesn't relax properly. The impact of this on the population is huge and I cannot underscore enough the importance of maintaining good blood pressure control to avoid this in later life. So, I have told you what blood pressure is and I have explained why we're concerned about it. Well, how do we check it? Most commonly it will be your GP who will put the cuff on around your arm and listen to the arterial pulse at the elbow to check both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. This is the most common way to measure and is a really good start. It is what we have done for many years. The limitation, however, is that BP can vary considerably from minute to minute, hour to hour and day-to-day. As many as 20 people in the 100 or 20% of the population will have significant variability which we call “white coat” syndrome. It is important to understand this as a measurement taken could well define management for the patient for many years to come. One way to get around this variability is to use home blood pressure measurements. The availability of cheap accurate automated machines means that this is far more accessible these days. It is very reassuring to have good home blood pressure measurements which would suggest that the patient does have a component of “whitecoat” hypertension. The other way that we may measure blood pressure is if we are particularly interested in having as much information as possible is to arrange for a 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitor. This is an excellent device for providing multiple blood pressure readings throughout the 24 hour period, both daytime and nighttime, so we get an exquisite profile of exactly what is going on for the individual. My own preference is to use information from ambulatory blood pressure monitoring to make decisions about long-term therapy for patients as I believe it provides the best information. I do like to remind patients that BP is important and we do need to follow through to make sure it is well managed in the longer term, because patients don't suffer symptoms from BP, in most cases, it is easy to be complacent about it. The take-home message, however, is that BP is very very important and really does need to be properly assessed and managed in the long-term for the best possible outcome for the individual. It is a condition that both the patient and Dr have to work together to find the best solution for the individual patient having obtained as much information as possible to inform the decision-making. I hope you’ve found this interesting, I hope it has encouraged you to go and make sure your blood pressure is well controlled and of course as always I wish you good health. Thank you for taking the time to read this. You have been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick visit his website at DrWarrickBishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast feel free to leave us a Review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

E07: ABC Radio Interview with Dr. Warrick Bishop

Sun, 12 Nov 2017 06:47:09 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP06: Interesting Emergency Worker Cases

Sun, 05 Nov 2017 22:33:59 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Dr. Warrick's Podcast Channel. Warrick is a practicing cardiologist and author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education work believes educated patients get the best health care to discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care and how this might apply to you or someone you love.

Hi, my name is Dr. Warrick Bishop and I'd like to welcome you to my consulting room. I'd like to speak with you today about two cases I've had in the last couple of weeks who've really reminded me of the difficulty we sometimes have in predicting who's going to have a heart attack. Both these cases were emergency workers. Both of these cases were men. The first man was just over 50 years of age. He was fit and he was well. In fact, if you walk past him on the street you would pick him as someone who looked after himself and exercises regularly which he did.

This man who was just over 50 years of age without any substantial risk factors whatsoever and ended up in the hospital with chest pain out of the blue. That chest pain was in association with an abnormal blood test which we call a positive troponin confirming that there was some involvement of his heart plus he had ECG changes. He went on and had further investigation, he had an invasive coronary angiography and this demonstrated that he had narrowing within his artery. Running down the front of his heart. He'd had a blockage of the left anterior descending artery.

This was completely unexpected. This was a man who looked fit and well for him, it was very difficult to even understand what had happened. As you can imagine as you would believe he was bemused by the outcome. We've of course treated his cholesterol. He's now on aspirin. He's on blood pressure therapy which we use as part of our treatment for heart attack, and thankfully he's made a good recovery.

But it is a very timely reminder of how difficult it is for us to know looking at the outside what the health of someone's inside is. Literally within a week or two of this 53-year-old male ending up in the hospital with me. A young man 45 years of age also an emergency worker came to see me. This second man was young and fit, in very very good condition, in fact, he went out of his way to train regularly attending the gym and undertaking exercise, jogging, and other activities. Six months earlier he had been to another cardiac service.

There he'd gone through treadmill testing. That had been done because there was a bad family history of premature or coronary artery disease. This young man 45 years of age breezed through the treadmill testing, didn't turn a hair got a very high capacity and had absolutely no symptoms and no signs of a problem whatsoever. He was reassured and left it at that.

His mum however in the intervening time had come across a copy of my book, "Have You Planned Your Heart Attack", had read it and said to her son, "Son you really need to go and see Dr. Bishop and get another opinion". When I saw this man I explained to him that treadmill testing is a really good way of picking up if there is a blockage or a narrowing in the arteries.

But it's not a great way of telling if there are the beginnings of a build up or a potential build up in the next few years that could lead to a problem. We did speak about imaging to literally look at his arteries, I explained the costs. I explained the exposure to radiation, and that we often inject xray contrast. So the contrast side effects or allergies I covered those as well. This young man was still keen to have that testing done to see exactly what was going on with his arteries...... and thankfully he did. Interrogation of his heart using CT Imaging clearly demonstrated plaque in the artery running down the front of his heart.

A plaque which left unattended would run a very very high risk of the serious consequence of heart attack. In the next five to 10 years. This man was clearly at a much higher risk than you would have imagined from looking at him, and that was suggested by his treadmill test only six months earlier. This 45-year-old man is now on the appropriate therapy. And hopefully, one day won't end up in hospital in the same way that the 53-year-old gentleman did because we had that chance to be ahead of the game, because we've had the chance to put in place therapies that will make a difference.

We've also had the chance to educate this man and raise his awareness such that if any symptoms ever do occur he is forewarned for prepared and knows exactly what to do. Although there is no clear-cut evidence in the literature of this sort of use of technology to guide therapy in individuals like this patient, I feel confident that in this man we've made a difference that could be life-changing. The issue of using cardiac imaging is not yet a guideline recommendation but I recommend it's something that you should be aware of and engage your doctor in a conversation about if it might fit for you. I don't want to see 53-year-old men who are otherwise fit and well in hospitals surprised by a heart attack.

Running the risk of dying in the process. Similarly the more I can find younger patients, a 45-year-old man who we can do something for before an event has occurred the better as far as I can see. I hope you've enjoyed this short note on a couple of cases that I've seen just recently. I wish you the very best. Bye For Now.

You have been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick visit his website at DrWarrickBishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast feel free to leave us a Review. Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP05: Stopping Statins and Other Drugs

Sun, 29 Oct 2017 22:37:01 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Dr. Warrick's Podcast Channel. Warrick is a practicing cardiologist an author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education work believes educated patients get the best health care discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care and how this might apply to you or someone you love. Hi my name is Dr. Warrick Bishop and I'd like to welcome you to my consulting room. Today I'd like to talk about patients stopping statins and other medication. This week I've had a number of patients come in missing both their statins but also other medications. And I'd like to talk a little bit more a bit more about this because it's a really important area. What tends to happen is that patients would come in and report that they have had a side effect. Well, that's a pretty important thing. But often they will attribute that side effect to a particular medication and stop it. They do this without discussion and without involving the doctor in that decision-making process. Some patients will just run out of the medication so if they, for example, have been in hospital and a particular medication has been started then the discharge script for that medication lasts a month for example, when that month runs out some patients will believe that they finished the course of therapy that they are required. True perhaps for antibiotics but not usually for other medications. So, it's really important to check that it's not the case, but perhaps a lifelong preventative strategy or if it is a course to be clear about that. Some people just forget to take their medication. That can happen. It's very hard to focus that priority. But certainly, if someone's had a heart attack, for example, they are more likely to remember their medication, than, for example, someone who has mildly elevated blood pressure who feels perfectly well and doesn't like the idea of taking tablets. Lastly, some people will read information on social media and again make unilateral decisions about what care they should be on without engaging the doctor who prescribed their medication in a conversation about it. I think it's very very important to understand that the best way to deal with this situation is to understand the risks that could be associated with taking a particular medication and the benefit for that individual and understanding that the risk exists with any medication is a risk of side effect. But different patients will have a different benefit and statins are a very good example of this. There is no question that any medication including statins run the possibility of some risk to the patient. A side effect may be is muscle aches and pains. This is the same for almost any medication whether it's Panadol aspirin or even water, too much water could give people a side effect. Well, we have to weigh up those in therapeutic doses. Does the risk of a particular agent balance up or is it outweighed by the benefit it can offer that individual patient? And this is where the conversation needs to be specific to the individual who we're dealing with. There is no question that in secondary prevention which is taking people who've had a heart attack or an event like a heart attack we have clear evidence from multiple studies that lowering those people's cholesterol reduces future risk of the event. This is really important. It's really robust and it needs to be really clearly communicated to the patients so they understand the objectives of the doctor. In other areas, the benefit and the risk equation are harder to be sure about. Harder to articulate. Certainly, many patients who feel perfectly well, and I think blood pressure is a good example, whose blood pressure might be borderline elevated. They might be carrying a little bit of extra weight. They may not wish to take a tablet or could be one of the groups of people who say I just don't like tablets. These people may find that the risk of a blood pressure tablet is not going to really provide the benefit that they want in their perceived view of their health. This is where they can have a clear and open discussion with the prescribing doctor This is really important so that the objectives the doctor is trying to achieve can be articulated to the patient and the patient be part of that decision-making process. I think it's really important in that space to recognize what the aim of the doctor is providing that recommendation for treatment. The aim will generally be a better outcome for the patient either in terms of symptoms or prognosis. Symptoms are really clear-cut. So if a patient misses a medication that's related to symptoms then they will be more symptomatic. So the link between the medication and and its effect is pretty straightforward. The conversation is more complicated generally in a prognostic situation so where the patient takes a medication to prevent an issue that could occur a year or two or 10 years down the line. This is where the immediacy of the effect of the agent is nowhere near as clear and where education and explanation is absolutely paramount to engage patient in the process. I deal with patients who have very elevated cholesterol. These are people who may come from families where there is high cholesterol and premature coronary disease throughout the family. So familial increased cholesterol of people within families. There's no question these people can have the risk of a heart attack reduced in decades to follow by starting their cholesterol therapy early. The trouble is they will only take their medication if they fully understand the benefit it will provide to them because without an explanation of the benefit all they see is the risk (the side effect of the medication). From my perspective I don't wish to force people to take something they don't want to take nor do I want to force tablets on people who don't need them. I have no desire to simply write out scripts and hand out pills. What I do have is a deep desire to make a meaningful difference for individuals based on their particular needs and matching their particular need with the appropriate therapy for them. That's why a conversation with the individual and their particular needs is so important and for my patients particularly the ones who have made decisions about unilaterally stopping drugs. Apart from letting them know that I'm a bit upset about that, what I really really try and do is invite them to be engaged in the conversation about what we're trying to achieve how we're trying to achieve it, and if there are troubles with the medication, how do we find a solution that best suits that individual. It is a complicated area but what I really encourage you to do is not find this path alone. What I really encourage you to do is engage with your doctor or the person who prescribed that drug to discuss the best way, the unique way to find the solution that best works for you. The very starting point in all this is education. The second point is communication and they go side by side. I really hope this gives you second thoughts about stopping medication. I think I really hope it gives you second thoughts about engaging your doctor or your prescriber whatever medications your on. And I really hope it reminds you of what we're trying to achieve on this side of the desk is the best outcome for you in the long term. It's up to us to articulate that clearly and explain it to you clearly so that you are engaged and part of that process. I really do wish you the best of health. Take care. And bye for now. Thank you. You've been listening to another podcast from Dr Warrick Visit his website at DrWarrickBishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast feel free to leave us a review. Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP04: Don't Miss Your Appointments

Sun, 22 Oct 2017 09:00:03 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Dr. Warrick's Podcast Channel. Warrick is a practicing cardiologist an author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education work believes educated patients get the best health care discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care and how this might apply to you or someone you love. I'm Dr Warrick and I would like to welcome you to my consulting room. I want to share with you some information today about a case that I saw this week. The important message about this case is please, please don't miss your follow up appointments. I had a patient come and see me earlier this week, it turns out when I last saw him approximately eight years ago at that time there were a couple of issues that we were following up. One was in regard to an irregular heartbeat. The other was in regard to elevated blood pressure. Now when I had seen him eight years ago I had put in place a strategy to monitor blood pressure using a cuff that he could wear for 24 hours. That blood pressure cuff is a really good way to get blood pressure measurements over a 24 hour period to give us an idea of his blood pressure profile, variability between night and day and variability from hour to hour. It will also tell us if the person's blood pressure is volatile or not. When I saw him last week I said to him, "when I look at the notes I was meant to see you to follow up on that test 8 years ago" and he turned around and basically said he felt well and thought if there was a problem with the test I probably would have called him. Well, I guess I can understand that logic. The reality, however, is that a lot of medical practice systems don't have a safety net like that. That catch-all opportunity for bringing those important results to the attention the doctor the GP and ultimately the patients in our practice, the safety net we use, is bringing the patient back with that result to make sure that it's dealt with and that the cardiologist provides the appropriate advice on that information. We don't report the tests and call the patient back if they are abnormal because either someone else has requested the test in which case it's their obligation to follow it up with the patient or if we arranged the test we have a follow up in place, after all that is our safety net. Then why would we call the patient back for an appointment which is already booked? The long and short of it is that for this gentleman eight years ago he had a markedly elevated blood pressure, and there's no question he would have gone onto therapy to drive that blood pressure down. Eight years ago he failed to turn up for the appointment which he thought was only going to be actioned if findings were abnormal and by the way "he felt well". Therefore they couldn't have been a problem. Turns out we had put a plan in place. He just thought that it wasn't required because nobody called him up and said that result that you're going to be discussing Dr. Bishop is abnormal. From my perspective, I would really like you to consider that if you are seeing a specialist for a particular condition or issue make sure that if you do believe you've had a final appointment with that specialist that the condition has been summed up, a line is being drawn under it and it's come to a clear-cut conclusion and your care has been handed back to your regular doctor. I really didn't spend much time speaking with this patient about why he didn't follow up. But the consequence for him was huge. He's had years potentially been significantly under treated for high blood pressure which we know is strongly linked to risk of stroke, risk of heart attack, risk of atrial fibrillation and cardiac failure! Put yourself in his shoes would you have rather have gone eight years without appropriate treatment because you felt fine or would you rather have had proper therapy? Waiting for a problem to arise. If we think about it people may not turn up for their follow up appointments with the specialist because of issues regarding cost. If that's the case please speak to your specialist about that.Invariably we want to see patients treated the right way and we invariably want to find a way for you to be able to do that. Some patients might think they're being over serviced. It's a very fair and valid concern anything. Please just ask. I know sometimes I get caught in my own thoughts and I'm organizing tests and planning the next consultation, and even the consultation after that without necessarily keeping the patient informed of exactly what I'm thinking, and in that situation, if the person were to ask "Do I really need this test, is that really required?" then, of course, I can deconstruct that and explain where my thoughts are. The thought processes and the objectives we're trying to meet. Unfortunately feeling well doesn't mean you don't have to turn up for your appointment. I'm sure that you don't wait until your car breaks down to take it for service and you'll miss something. Please make sure that if there is something that needs to be sorted out, even if you're feeling well you get it sorted out because some of these issues particularly something like blood pressure in this example has significant consequences over many years. And if we miss the opportunity early on to address these factors we may miss a great opportunity to avoid problems down the line. So if you're not sure, just ask. Your care is what we're here for, and from my side of the desk, it's extremely disappointing to see someone missing out on an opportunity. We're talking about an opportunity for the single most important thing that you have which is your health. Money can't buy that. I really want to leave you with the strong message that if you've got a follow-up appointment please turn up for it. If you do have a condition that's being sorted out by your specialist before you return to your GP and stop seeing that specialist you've made sure that that particular condition has been sorted out and line is being drawn underneath it and you are fine to return or that there is an appropriate follow up strategy in place to make sure that there is surveillance and appropriate care for you in the longer term. In this situation prevention is better than cure. The opportunity to get in early is far better than waiting till later on. So, please. Please don't miss your appointments. Think about the consequences. I wish you good health as always. Take care. You've been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick Visit his website. And DrWarrick.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast feel free to leave us a review.

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

EP03: Keeping Track of Your Medications

Sun, 15 Oct 2017 02:55:19 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Check out my book at http://drwarrickbishop.com/books/

Audio Book Now Available - Have You Planned Your Heart Attack (Sample)

Thu, 12 Oct 2017 06:19:02 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Get The Audio Book Here: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/shop/product/have-you-planned-your-heart-attack-audio-book/29

Have You Planned Your Heart Attack? is not the next optimistic, self-help, heart disease reversal, low carb, cure-all approach to health. Believing that prevention is better than cure, it presents a proactive approach to cardiac disease prevention. It is the first-of-its-kind, offering a balanced and referenced discussion of coronary risk assessment using modern technology.

EP02: Have You Planned Your Heart Attack?

Wed, 11 Oct 2017 22:38:57 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

My name is Doctor Warrick Bishop. I'd like to welcome you to my consulting room today. I'd like to give you a little bit of insight into a book I've written called, "Have you planned your heart attack?". The introduction for the book begins with a story from 2005 where I was driving to work on a weekend I stopped at a commotion at a fun run. A man had fallen while running, dead! He had a heart attack and was being resuscitated by ambulance crews and passers-by, people who were doctors or medically trained. I stopped to help out, that man did so well that two days later he was on the front page of the local newspaper.

I was quite proud to be part of that resuscitation and shared that information with my staff who pointed out that two years earlier I had seen the very same patient. I had undertaken the treadmill tests and had reassured him that everything was fine. As you can imagine this was a confronting thing to realize and it really opened my mind to what can we do differently and what can the technology that we have available today offer that can improve the way we make predictions for men like this man who collapsed during the race. Our current approach to understanding the risk for individuals is to use what we call a risk calculator. Those risk calculators take information like cholesterol, age, blood pressure, diabetic status, smoking status and we put that information into an algorithm or a data set to come up with a likelihood of an event.

We've been using risk calculators for over 25 to 30 years. The trouble is that those risk calculators are not precise for the individual. What they provide us is information on the population that that individual resides in. And so if we take a 50-year-old male with average cholesterol average blood pressure etc. who don't smoke we could tell him that his risk of an event is in the order of 10 percent in 10 years, this is based on a standard risk calculator formula. However, we can't tell him if, in fact, he is one of the 10 out of the 100 who will have an event or one of the 90 who won't have anything. This is because his actuality is either going to be a 100 percent, he has an event or zero percent he doesn't have an event. It's very hard to have a 10 percent heart attack. What's happened is that in the last years we've now had available to use the technology called Cardiac CT which allows us to literally take pictures of the heart so we can be more precise about exactly what's going on in the arteries and exactly who is going to be at greatest risk of having an event.

This book is about that technology and how it can bring precision to an individual's care. I talk about why the tests are not more broadly used but I also talk about who it may be beneficial for. I try and cover where statins fit in and where family history fits in. Also if you are just wanting to be ahead of the game and proactive with your own health or fitness. I've put plenty of references in this book so it is supported by good data. I also reflect on exactly how I approach patients in my own clinic. I've written it for general consumption. There are plenty of diagrams and pictures and explanations in there so it's accessible to you as an individual. It gives you the chance to engage with your doctor about a conversation about the relevance of future testing for your health benefit your education and your choice to be proactive. I really hope you find the book an interesting read. Thank you for taking the time to listen. I wish you the best.

You've been listening to another broadcast from Doctor Warrick visit is the website at DrWarrickBishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast feel free to leave us a review.

Welcome to Doctor Warrick's Podcast Channel

Fri, 06 Oct 2017 05:02:31 +1100

JOIN OUR HEALTHY HEART MEMBERSHIP HERE: https://healthyheartnetwork.com/page/starter

Welcome to Dr. Warrick's podcast Channel. Warrick is a practicing cardiologist an author with a passion for improving care by helping patients understand their heart health through education work believes educated patients get the best health care discover and understand the latest approaches and technology in heart care and how this might apply to you or someone you love.

Hi. My name's Warrick Bishop. I'd like to welcome you to my consulting rooms. Thank you for joining me and my hope is to produce for you over the next weeks to months podcasts and some videocasts on common issues around cardiology that will help you or help with loved ones who have questions and queries. Hopefully talking about common things and common problems and giving you information that will shed a bit of light on one of the most important structures in our body our hearts. My background is that I trained here in Tasmania and I've moved into cardiology with a particular focus on prevention. I'm involved in lipid management and pursue that. I'm involved with the Australian atherosclerosis society which is an organisation dedicated to looking at the build-up of cholesterol within the arteries. I have an interest in the local university and the Menzies Research Institute.

I'm also very involved in scanning the heart using C.T. technology to try and see what the health of the arteries are. In fact, I've written a book in that space called "How To Plan Your Heart Attack" where I talk about how that technology may be beneficial in finding who could be at risk before they have a problem. I'm hoping that I'm able to provide over a series of podcasts and videocasts information that might fill the gap for you or for people you know a lot of information on common conditions like cholesterol like heart attack like blood pressure like a true fibrillation like palpitations. There are so many things that turn up in cardiology on a daily basis. In my consulting room, I'd like to share some of those conversations with you.

Hopefully, that'll give you more understanding and may allow you to ask more questions about your own health care, and certainly provide enough background so that you can be involved in seeking the best care for you. So I really hope that the information that we generate over the next weeks to months helps you and that you find it interesting. It would be my pleasure to provide that. And I wish you the very best. Thank you.

You have been listening to another podcast from Dr. Warrick visit his website at DrWarrickBishop.com for the latest news on heart disease. If you love this podcast, feel free to leave us a review.