EP343: Triglycerides and Heart DIsease (Part 2)

Doctor Warrick Bishop - Heart Health

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.

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.

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!

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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

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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