Cardiovascular health depends on more than cholesterol alone. Long-term risk reflects the interaction of vascular and metabolic health with lifestyle, genetics, and family history.
hol+ provides physician-led cardiovascular and cardiometabolic care focused on understanding those connections and supporting prevention. Care is personalized around the patient’s risk profile and may combine medical treatment with lifestyle support and specialist involvement when appropriate.
What Is Cardiovascular Health?
Cardiovascular health refers to the heart and blood vessels, along with the factors that influence circulation and the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association’s framework includes diet, activity, nicotine exposure, sleep, weight, blood lipids, blood glucose, and blood pressure (1).
Cardiometabolic health describes the overlap between metabolic function and cardiovascular risk. Blood sugar regulation, insulin resistance, triglycerides, abdominal adiposity, and blood pressure often interact. Metabolic syndrome, for example, is defined by a cluster of risk factors that can raise the likelihood of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes (2).
A functional medicine heart health approach should begin with established cardiovascular risk factors. hol+ can then consider broader influences, including hormone health and other whole-body patterns, when they are clinically relevant.
Who is Cardiovascular Health Care for?
Cardiovascular care at hol+ is designed for adults who want prevention-focused support, better risk-factor management, or a more complete view of how metabolic health may be affecting the heart and blood vessels.
This care may be appropriate for people with:
High cholesterol, elevated or low LDL cholesterol, or high triglycerides
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Insulin resistance, prediabetes, or type 2 diabetes
Metabolic syndrome or other metabolic health concerns
A family history of premature heart disease, stroke, or inherited lipid disorders
Inflammatory risk factors or abnormal cardiovascular biomarkers
Body-composition concerns associated with cardiometabolic risk
A desire for cardiovascular screening or long-term heart disease prevention
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) can affect heart rate and circulation, but it is distinct from atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk and may require separate evaluation or specialist care.
Patients already under the care of a cardiologist or preventive cardiology team can use hol+ for complementary nutrition, metabolic, and lifestyle support. For patients interested in integrative cardiology, this kind of coordination can provide additional whole-person support, but hol+ does not replace specialty cardiovascular care.
When Symptoms Need Emergency Care
Chest pain or pressure, signs of stroke, severe shortness of breath, loss of consciousness, or other symptoms that could indicate a heart attack or stroke require immediate emergency medical attention. Call 911 rather than waiting for a routine appointment (3).
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How We Help
What Influences Cardiovascular Risk?
Heart disease rarely reflects a single factor. Some cardiovascular risk factors can be modified, while age, genetics, and family history cannot. A useful cardiovascular risk assessment considers both.
Major risk factors and contributors include:
Blood Pressure
Blood pressure. High blood pressure is a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and can damage the arteries over time.
Blood Lipids
Blood lipids. Elevated LDL and other atherogenic lipoproteins contribute to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Blood Sugar and Metabolic Health
Blood sugar and metabolic health. Diabetes and insulin resistance can increase heart disease risk, particularly when they occur alongside abnormal triglycerides or hypertension.
Smoking and Nicotine Exposure
Smoking and nicotine exposure. Smoking damages blood vessels and substantially increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (4).
Physical Activity and Body Composition
Physical activity and body composition. Regular physical activity supports cardiovascular fitness and metabolic health. Body composition can also influence blood pressure, glucose regulation, and other risk markers.
Nutrition
Nutrition. Dietary patterns can influence blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose regulation, and overall cardiovascular risk.
Genetics and Family History
Genetics and family history. Inherited factors may affect risk even when lifestyle habits are strong.
Sleep and Stress
Sleep and stress. Poor sleep and chronic stress can interact with blood pressure, metabolism, and health behaviors.
Kidney Health
Kidney health. Chronic kidney disease can increase cardiovascular risk and may affect treatment decisions.
Inflammation also participates in atherosclerotic disease. Markers such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein may sometimes add information, but they do not replace assessment of LDL, blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, or other established risks.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, which makes identifying and managing modifiable risks an important part of cardiovascular prevention (5).
The hol+ Approach to Cardiovascular and Cardiometabolic Health
At hol+, functional medicine cardiovascular health care is organized around a simple clinical sequence: identify risk, assess metabolic patterns, consider inflammation in context, address lifestyle factors, and monitor change over time.
Identify Risk → Assess Metabolic Patterns → Consider Inflammation → Address Lifestyle → Monitor Over Time
Some risks are inherited, some arise from a medical condition, and some require medication or specialty treatment. hol+ evaluates what can reasonably be measured and modified while coordinating conventional cardiovascular care when needed.
A cardiovascular health doctor may review cardiovascular and metabolic markers alongside medical history and lifestyle factors to identify which areas deserve the most attention.
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What we Offer
Foundational Areas of Cardiovascular Health
Blood Sugar + Cardiovascular Risk
Blood sugar and heart health are closely connected. Elevated glucose and insulin resistance can occur alongside high triglycerides, high blood pressure, and changes in body composition.
Care may include:
- Fasting glucose and A1C review
- Insulin or additional metabolic testing when clinically appropriate
- Evaluation for prediabetes, diabetes, or metabolic syndrome
- Nutrition and activity strategies that support glucose regulation
For related support, hol+ can connect cardiovascular care with digestive health and diabetes support.
Lipids Beyond a Single Cholesterol Number
Cholesterol management involves more than total cholesterol. A standard lipid panel typically includes total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, interpreted in the context of overall cardiovascular risk.
Evaluation may include:
- Standard lipid testing and trend review
- Family history of premature cardiovascular disease
- Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), testing when appropriate
- ApoB testing in selected patients when it may clarify atherogenic particle burden
Current dyslipidemia guidance recommends measuring Lp(a) at least once in adulthood and supports selective apoB testing for additional risk assessment (6).
Patients with high cholesterol can also explore hol+ cholesterol management for more focused support.
Blood Pressure + Vascular Health
High blood pressure is one of the most important modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. Hypertension often causes no obvious symptoms, so accurate measurement and follow-up matter.
Care may include:
- Office blood pressure measurement
- Home blood pressure monitoring when appropriate
- Review of nutrition, activity, alcohol use, sleep, and medication
- Medication management or referral when needed
Current U.S. guidance emphasizes lifestyle treatment for elevated blood pressure and medication when indicated based on blood pressure readings and overall cardiovascular risk (7).
Patients who need focused blood-pressure support can also explore hol+ hypertension care.
Inflammation + Vascular Health
Inflammation and heart disease are connected through atherosclerotic processes, but inflammatory testing needs clinical context. hs-CRP may add risk information for some patients, while other findings may point to a separate condition.
Support may include:
- Review of hs-CRP or other clinically relevant inflammatory markers
- Evaluation of metabolic factors that can overlap with inflammation
- Nutrition and activity changes consistent with cardiovascular prevention
- Referral for persistent or unexplained inflammatory findings
Patients with broader inflammatory concerns can also explore hol+ inflammation care.
Nutrition + Physical Activity
A heart-healthy lifestyle is built around sustainable patterns. Heart-supportive dietary patterns generally emphasize vegetables, fruits, whole grains, healthy protein sources, and unsaturated fats while limiting excess sodium and added sugar.
Care may include:
- Personalized nutrition counseling
- Planning for regular physical activity and improved cardiovascular fitness
- Support to maintain a healthy weight when weight is a relevant risk factor
- Practical changes that fit medical needs, preferences, and daily routines
For some patients, losing weight may improve blood pressure or metabolic markers, but body weight is only one part of cardiovascular risk.
Sleep + Cardiometabolic Health
Sleep is included in the American Heart Association’s core cardiovascular-health measures. Poor sleep can overlap with hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and other cardiometabolic concerns (1).
Sleep-focused care may include:
- Review of sleep duration and consistency
- Screening for possible sleep apnea when symptoms suggest it
- Evaluation of nighttime waking or insomnia
- Referral for sleep testing when appropriate
Patients with persistent sleep concerns can also explore hol+ insomnia and sleep care.
Stress + Blood Pressure
Stress can temporarily raise heart rate and blood pressure and may affect sleep and health behaviors. Because the relationship between chronic stress and cardiovascular disease is complex, stress management should complement established risk-factor treatment (8).
Support may include:
- Identifying stress patterns that affect daily health behaviors
- Mind-body or nervous-system regulation approaches
- Exercise and recovery planning
- Referral for mental-health support when appropriate
Related support is available through hol+ cortisol and stress care.
Hormones + Cardiovascular Health
Hormonal and endocrine changes can affect cardiovascular risk in specific contexts. Thyroid disease can influence lipids and heart rate, while the menopause transition can coincide with changes in body composition, cholesterol, and vascular health.
Evaluation may include:
- Thyroid testing when clinically indicated
- Review of menopause-related metabolic and cardiovascular changes
- Coordination with hormone balancing when symptoms or treatment decisions require it
- Attention to blood pressure, lipids, and glucose during midlife transitions
Patients navigating midlife hormonal changes can also explore hol+ menopause care.
The Gut-Heart Connection
Research continues to explore how the gut microbiome may influence cardiovascular and metabolic pathways. These emerging connections should remain secondary to established cardiovascular risk factors, such as LDL and smoking.
Gut-focused care may include:
- Nutrition strategies that also support cardiometabolic health
- Evaluation of significant digestive symptoms
- Gut testing when there is a separate clinical indication
- Coordination with digestive health care when appropriate
Heart Health Testing and Cardiovascular Risk Assessment
Heart health testing at hol+ is selected according to medical history, family history, existing diagnoses, medications, and prior results. Testing should answer a clinical question rather than simply add more data.
Foundational Cardiovascular Testing
Depending on the patient, cardiovascular screening may include:
- Blood pressure measurement to identify elevated blood pressure or monitor diagnosed hypertension
- A lipid panel measuring total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides
- Glucose and A1C to evaluate blood sugar regulation and screen for prediabetes or diabetes
- Kidney function testing when relevant to cardiovascular risk or medication management
- Other routine laboratory markers based on health history and existing conditions
Additional Cardiovascular Biomarkers
Some patients may benefit from more detailed assessment, including:
- Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), which can identify genetically influenced cardiovascular risk not captured by a standard lipid panel
- ApoB in selected patients when it may provide additional information about cholesterol-related cardiovascular risk
- hs-CRP when an inflammatory marker would add clinically useful risk information
- Additional metabolic testing when it would answer a specific clinical question
The 2026 dyslipidemia guideline recommends Lp(a) measurement at least once and notes that ApoB can provide additional risk information for some patients (6).
When Imaging or Specialist Testing May Be Needed
A laboratory cardiovascular risk assessment cannot answer every question. For selected adults in primary prevention, clinicians may use the AHA PREVENT equations and, when risk remains uncertain, coronary artery calcium scoring to help refine treatment decisions.
Cardiology-specific testing or imaging may require referral. hol+ can help coordinate that evaluation when needed rather than substituting functional testing for specialist care.
Treatment options
Personalized Cardiovascular Treatment + Prevention
Treatment depends on the patient’s risk profile. A plan for cardiovascular disease prevention may combine medical management with realistic changes in nutrition and other daily habits.
Nutrition + Lifestyle Medicine
A personalized plan may focus on dietary quality, regular physical activity, smoking cessation, alcohol intake, sleep, and body composition when clinically relevant. The goal is to establish sustainable habits that support long-term heart health.
Patients who need more individualized dietary guidance may also work with hol+ nutrition counseling.
Medication Management
Lifestyle changes are important, but medication may be necessary for high LDL, hypertension, diabetes, or other risks. hol+ physicians can review prescriptions and coordinate medication decisions with other clinicians when needed.
Medication is not a failure of holistic care. For patients who meet treatment criteria, medication can provide additional risk reduction alongside lifestyle measures.
Targeted Supplementation
Supplements may be considered for a documented nutritional need or another appropriate indication. They are not substitutes for evidence-based cardiovascular medication and can interact with prescription drugs, so they should be reviewed with the complete medication list.
Coordination With Cardiology
Functional medicine can complement cardiology by supporting metabolic health and other modifiable risk factors. Patients with established cardiovascular disease, concerning symptoms, or conditions requiring specialty management may need care from a cardiologist or another specialist.
Not sure where to start?
Schedule your free 15-minute consultation and we'll help you find the right path.
Schedule a 15 Minute Consultation ➞
Cardiovascular care at hol+ brings functional medicine and holistic assessment to conversations about blood pressure, cholesterol, and metabolic risk. Patients can schedule in-person visits in Brookhaven (Atlanta), Johns Creek, New York City, and Los Angeles, or connect virtually nationwide.
Benefits of Treatment
Goals of Cardiovascular Care
Preventive care can give patients a clearer understanding of risk and a plan for factors that can be changed. No treatment can guarantee that a heart attack will never happen, but management of modifiable risk factors can support cardiovascular wellness and long-term prevention.
Potential goals may include:
Better understanding of individual heart disease risk
More consistent blood pressure management
Improved lipid and blood-sugar management
Better cardiorespiratory fitness and activity consistency
Sustainable nutrition, sleep, and smoking-cessation support
More coordinated care across hol+, primary care, and specialists
Risks and Considerations
Cardiovascular care needs to match the patient’s level of risk. Genetics can strongly influence cholesterol and cardiovascular disease risk, and healthy habits do not eliminate inherited susceptibility.
Important considerations include:
- Functional medicine does not replace cardiology, preventive cardiology, or emergency cardiovascular care.
- Medication may be needed even when nutrition and lifestyle habits are strong.
- Supplements can interact with blood thinners, blood-pressure medications, lipid-lowering drugs, and other prescriptions.
- Test results should be interpreted in context rather than treated as isolated targets.
- New chest pain, stroke symptoms, or severe difficulty breathing require emergency evaluation rather than outpatient cardiovascular care.
the hol+ process
What to Expect as a Patient
The first visit reviews cardiovascular history, existing diagnoses, current medications and supplements, family history, smoking or nicotine exposure, and relevant lifestyle patterns.
The clinician evaluates existing blood pressure and laboratory data, including lipids and glucose markers, and identifies gaps in the current cardiovascular risk assessment.
Testing is selected according to clinical need and may include conventional labs, selected advanced lipid markers, inflammatory markers, or metabolic testing.
The treatment plan may combine nutrition, lifestyle medicine, medication management, targeted supplementation, or referral. Recommendations are based on the patient’s risk profile rather than a fixed cardiovascular protocol.
Follow-up allows the physician to review blood pressure, relevant laboratory markers, treatment response, and changes in overall risk. The plan can then be adjusted as health needs evolve.
Not sure where to start?
Schedule your free 15-minute consultation and we'll help you find the right path.
Schedule a 15 Minute Consultation ➞
Why hol+ for Cardiovascular Health?
hol+ approaches cardiovascular prevention as part of whole-person medicine while keeping established medical risk factors at the center of care.
Physician-Led Prevention
Patients receive medical evaluation and treatment planning from a physician-led team rather than lifestyle coaching alone.
Cardiovascular + Metabolic Integration
Blood pressure, lipids, glucose regulation, insulin resistance, body composition, and related metabolic patterns can be evaluated together rather than in separate silos.
Functional + Conventional Medicine
A holistic heart health plan at hol+ can include systems-based evaluation, but conventional testing and medication remain part of care when clinically appropriate. Power RX® and the broader hol+ framework can help organize whole-person considerations without replacing evidence-based cardiovascular treatment.
Longer, More Connected Evaluation
Longer visits allow physicians to consider the patient’s cardiovascular risk in the context of their medical history and current care. This can be especially useful for patients who want complementary support while working with primary care, endocrinology, or cardiology.
Take the Next Step
If symptoms affect your quality of life, you deserve care that goes deeper. hol+ provides holistic and functional health services designed to uncover root causes and guide long-term well-being.
Schedule a personalized evaluation with a hol+ provider to begin building a care plan for your next stage of life.
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Emergency Guidance
Chest pain or pressure, stroke symptoms, severe shortness of breath, sudden loss of consciousness, or other signs of a possible cardiovascular emergency require immediate medical attention. Call 911. Functional medicine and outpatient cardiovascular care are not substitutes for emergency medicine or specialist cardiology care.
Medical Disclaimer
The contents of this website, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this website (“Content”), are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.