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Cardiovascular disease is the #1 cause of death in the U.S., responsible for 1 in 5 deaths — yet heart health remains one of the most misunderstood topics in modern medicine. In this episode of The Med Edit Podcast, Dr. Jessica Gray and Dr. Cari Sorrell sit down with board-certified cardiologist Dr. Kelly Ratheal to bust viral cardio myths, decode prevention strategies, and explain what your social media feed gets wrong about heart disease.

From red wine rumors to “artery detoxes” and supplement scams, this episode separates real cardiovascular science from noisy wellness trends — while giving you practical, evidence-based ways to protect your heart today.

Meet Our Guest: Dr. Kelly Ratheal

(Board-Certified Cardiologist • Preventive Cardiology • Cardio-Metabolic Medicine)

Dr. Ratheal specializes in early identification and prevention of cardiovascular disease through lifestyle optimization, advanced lipid testing, genetics, and metabolic health. She brings a holistic but firmly evidence-based approach to preventing the #1 killer of men and women.

In This Episode, We Cover:

1️⃣ Understanding the Modern Heart

• What preventive cardiology is — and why it matters
• Why heart disease kills more women than all cancers combined
• When young adults should start caring about their risk
• What “cardio-metabolic health” actually means

2️⃣ Viral Heart Health Claims: Fact or MIS?

Dr. Ratheal tackles the biggest myths circulating online:

• “You can detox your arteries.”
• “Red wine is good for your heart.”
• “Supplements can reverse plaque.”
• “Women don’t need to worry until menopause.”
• “Cholesterol doesn’t matter anymore.”
• “Too much cardio is bad for your heart.”

(Spoiler: the internet is wild.)

3️⃣ The Heart–Metabolism Connection

• Insulin resistance and inflammation as silent drivers of heart disease
• Why only 6.8% of U.S. adults meet all five markers of optimal metabolic health
• The role of sleep, stress, hormones, and visceral fat
• Why “normal” labs don’t always equal healthy

4️⃣ What Actually Prevents Heart Disease

• Lifestyle changes proven to reduce cardiovascular mortality
• How even 5–10% weight loss improves lipids and insulin sensitivity
• When medications like statins or GLP-1s are appropriate
• Why women’s symptoms are often missed or misdiagnosed
• How social media can be used for good in heart health education

Key References

(Provided in the episode research)

• CDC Heart Disease Facts, 2024
• American Heart Association: 2024 Heart Disease & Stroke Update
• JAMA: Metabolic Health in U.S. Adults (2019–2022)
• NIH: Women & Heart Disease

Continuing Medical Education (CME)

Clinicians — claim your CME credit for listening!

https://cmetracker.net/TTUHSC/Publisher?page=pubOpen&nc=7120399723#/myPortal

 

Connect with us!

https://themededitpodcast.com/

Instagram: @TheMedEditPodcast: https://www.instagram.com/themededitpodcast/

Facebook: The Med Edit Podcast: https://www.facebook.com/themededitpodcast/

LinkedIn: The Med Edit Podcast: https://www.linkedin.com/company/themededitpodcast/

LinkedIn: Dr. Jessica Gray: https://www.linkedin.com/in/Jessica-gray-md/

LinkedIn: Dr. Cari Sorrell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cari-sorrell-42545a7b/

Listen Now

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms.

CME available — see show notes for details.