Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death. Diet and lifestyle can dramatically reduce the risk.

Cardiovascular disease has long dominated the list of the most common causes of death in modern times and in the western world, accounting for 33% of all deaths in Sweden in 2018 (source: Socialstyrelsen – Swedish National Board of Health). Living with an ailment of the circulatory system can greatly reduce the quality of life with uncomfortable symptoms, constant worry and often lifelong medication. Perhaps you or someone in your family suffers from heart disease. Perhaps you wonder about your risk profile and how you can optimise your lifestyle to prevent cardiovascular disease. Whether you want to get an overview of your individual risk factors, get preventative advice for optimal heart health, identify root causes of existing symptoms, or get help to put together a rehabilitation plan after a stroke, Nordic Clinic can help.

Many factors have been identified as causes of atherosclerosis, stroke, myocardial infarction and high blood pressure. Some factors are well known, such as high BMI, smoking, stress, a sedentary lifestyle and processed food. But many potential root causes are less well known to the public. Inflammation, sleep apnea, gum infections and mineral deficiencies are examples thereof. The connection between heart health and our gut microbiome is also studied extensively in research, with exciting results.

Poor dietary and lifestyle habits are the biggest risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease. But what diet is better? And how do we best succeed with sustainable dietary and lifestyle changes? Make an appointment with one of our practitioners who looks at your diet, lifestyle and routines.

Furthermore, they can investigate abnormalities in stress hormones, sleep patterns, nutritional status and gut flora. They can also look at blood pressure, blood sugar and inflammatory markers. Our DNA tests can let you know if you have an elevated genetic risk of cardiovascular disease and provide indications to how you should adjust, for example, your diet accordingly.

If you’re concerned about blood lipids, we offer an extended test panel with a detailed report on blood lipids in general (triglycerides, HDL, LDL) but also oxidised LDL, the important relationship between LDL and HDL, as well as various subtypes of LDL. This has been reported in recent research as a more accurate way to look at cholesterol than the limited panel used at health centers and hospitals.

Taken together, a functional medicine approach is excellent for developing individually tailored interventions for prevention and rehabilitation.