The Healthspan Podcast

Can you spend over $100,000 a year on your health and still get worse? That's exactly what happened to a patient of Dr. Robert Todd Hurst, board-certified preventive cardiologist and founder of HealthspanMD.
In his 60s, elite fitness, 16% body fat, 100th percentile muscle mass, an A1C of 5.0 by every visible measure, this man was doing everything right. But a repeat CT angiogram with plaque composition analysis told a different story: his soft plaque volume increased from 259 to 290 cubic millimeters in a single year. The dangerous, reversible kind of plaque was growing.
In this mini Healthspan Podcast episode, Dr. Hurst breaks down why even the most expensive, cutting-edge care can fail… no genetic testing to uncover root causes, no adjustments based on feedback, and a regimen built on the latest treatments instead of the proven foundations that actually stop and reverse artery disease.
Heart disease reversal isn't about spending more. It's about knowing your root causes, personalizing your plan, and adjusting based on real data.If you've been diagnosed with heart disease, have a high calcium score, or want to know whether your current plan is actually working, this one is worth your time.
About the Guest
Dr. Robert Todd Hurst, MD, FACC, FASE, is a board-certified preventive cardiologist, former Mayo Clinic physician, and founder of HealthspanMD. His mission is simple: no one should die of a heart attack, ever. Through a proactive, precision-medicine approach, he helps patients identify hidden risks, address root causes, and prevent or reverse heart disease while extending healthspan and quality of life.
Learn more: Join.HealthspanMD.com
Key Timestamps
00:03 – The patient spends over $100,000 per year on health optimization
00:45 – Elite fitness, low body fat, and excellent metabolic markers
01:20 – Understanding CT angiograms and plaque composition analysis
02:05 – Why soft plaque matters more than calcified plaque
03:00 – The shocking discovery that artery disease was getting worse
03:55 – Why increasing soft plaque volume is unacceptable
04:45 – The missing pieces: genetics, cholesterol, insulin resistance, and inflammation
05:40 – Why expensive treatments failed to address the root causes
06:20 – The difference between leading-edge care and effective care
07:05 – Why healthcare is failing despite more spending
07:40 – The three biggest problems with modern healthcare
08:05 – Why HealthspanMD focuses on proactive, personalized, healthspan-focused care
08:50 – The mission to transform healthcare and add healthy years to life
 
This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Don't make any decisions about your medical treatment without first talking to your doctor.
 
*Connect* *with* *HealthspanMD* :
👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/healthspanmd/
👉 https://www.facebook.com/healthspanmd
👉 https://www.instagram.com/healthspanmd/
👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/5KQuoWqKP2vTBu05ci6EQB?si=fdb033a52b674909
👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-healthspan-podcast/id1680270608
 
🏆 Become a Member / 🤝 Partner With Dr. Hurst and His Expert Team To Add a Decade or More Of Healthy Life 
At HealthspanMD, we combine cutting-edge medicine, advanced technology, and concierge care to help high-achievers avoid heart attacks, strokes, and dementia. 
 
🔍 Learn how patients add years to their lives by going to 👉 https://www.healthspanmd.com. 
📅 Or schedule a Call Directly with a HealthspanMD Dedicated Patient Advisor by clicking 👉 https://join.healthspanmd.com/call

Can you really reverse heart artery disease?
In this episode, Dr. Robert Todd Hurst, MD, FACC, FASE, shares the remarkable story of a HealthspanMD member who thought he was doing everything right. Despite taking a statin, maintaining healthy blood pressure, staying active, and keeping his blood sugar under control, advanced imaging revealed he was still accumulating dangerous soft plaque in his coronary arteries. Dr. Hurst explains how plaque composition analysis works, why traditional cholesterol targets may not be enough for some people, and what happened when they implemented a more personalized strategy focused on achieving exceptional cardiovascular results.
Today's guest is a HealthspanMD member with a strong family history of heart disease who was committed to protecting his heart health. After advanced CT angiography revealed significant soft plaque progression despite years of following conventional recommendations, he partnered with Dr. Robert Todd Hurst, MD, FACC, FASE, and the HealthspanMD team to take a more proactive, personalized approach. One year later, his results demonstrated what may be possible when root causes are identified and risk factors are optimized.
Key Timestamps
00:03 – The patient's frustration despite doing everything "right."
00:45 – Understanding CT angiography and plaque composition analysis
01:32 – The concerning findings revealed by advanced imaging
02:15 – Why LDL goals below traditional guidelines may matter
03:00 – The strategy used to aggressively lower ApoB and LDL cholesterol
03:25 – One year later: the repeat CT angiogram results
03:45 – Soft plaque volume cut by more than half
04:00 – Low attenuation plaque reduced to zero
04:25 – What Dr. Hurst is seeing in patients with repeat plaque analysis testing
05:00 – Why guideline cholesterol targets may not be enough for everyone
05:35 – The seven root causes of coronary artery disease
06:05 – Lowering the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and dementia
06:45 – Can soft plaque disappear completely over time?
07:15 – Why proactive, personalized healthcare produces better outcomes
08:00 – The HealthspanMD philosophy for preventing and reversing heart disease
Topics Discussed
Reversing coronary artery disease
Soft plaque vs calcified plaque
CT angiography with plaque composition analysis
ApoB and LDL cholesterol targets
Coronary artery disease prevention
Personalized cardiovascular medicine
Root causes of heart disease
Plaque regression
Heart attack prevention
Healthspan-focused healthcare
 
This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Don't make any decisions about your medical treatment without first talking to your doctor.
 
*Connect* *with* *HealthspanMD* :
👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/healthspanmd/
👉 https://www.facebook.com/healthspanmd
👉 https://www.instagram.com/healthspanmd/
👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/5KQuoWqKP2vTBu05ci6EQB?si=fdb033a52b674909
👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-healthspan-podcast/id1680270608
 
🏆 Become a Member / 🤝 Partner With Dr. Hurst and His Expert Team To Add a Decade or More Of Healthy Life 
At HealthspanMD, we combine cutting-edge medicine, advanced technology, and concierge care to help high-achievers avoid heart attacks, strokes, and dementia. 
 
🔍 Learn how patients add years to their lives by going to 👉 https://www.healthspanmd.com. 
📅 Or schedule a Call Directly with a HealthspanMD Dedicated Patient Advisor by clicking 👉 https://join.healthspanmd.com/call

What if heart disease wasn't bad luck, but bad planning?
In this episode, Dr. Robert Todd Hurst, MD, FACC, FASE joins Carrie Camp and Hal Kramer of the Thrive at Home community for an honest conversation about what it really takes to prevent heart disease, stay independent as you age, and add healthy, vibrant years to your life.
A Mayo Clinic–trained preventive cardiologist, Dr. Hurst shares why he left a system he describes as built to react to disease rather than prevent it, including the leadership meeting where, after he showed how prevention could stop heart attacks, stents, and bypass surgeries, a colleague asked, "But isn't that how we make money?"
Together they dig into the questions people are quietly wondering about themselves: the truth about statins (who genuinely benefits and who may not), why insulin resistance may be the single biggest problem in healthcare, what "normal" cholesterol numbers can hide, and how high blood pressure quietly drives stroke and dementia. Dr. Hurst also explains the seven root causes of artery disease, why care that treats everyone the same so often misses the real driver, and how the right plan can stabilize and even reverse disease that's already present.
If you've been told your labs "look fine," you're caring for an aging loved one, or you simply refuse to leave your heart health to chance, this conversation offers a clearer, more proactive path forward.
Robert Todd Hurst, MD, FACC, FASE is a board-certified preventive cardiologist and founder of HealthspanMD. With nearly 30 years in medicine, including two decades at Mayo Clinic, he's dedicated his career to preventing and reversing heart disease through a personalized, root-cause approach helping people avoid preventable disease, stay strong, and remain mentally sharp for life.
Learn more: HealthspanMD.com

A severe blockage in the "widowmaker" artery sounds like an automatic trip to the cath lab but is it always? In this episode, Dr. Robert Todd Hurst, MD, FACC, FASE shares a remarkable real-world case that challenges conventional thinking about stents and heart disease treatment. He explains the difference between stable and unstable coronary artery disease, reviews the research behind stents versus aggressive medical therapy, and reveals how one patient with a severe LAD blockage improved his artery health without undergoing an invasive procedure. You'll also learn why understanding root causes, optimizing risk factors, and taking a personalized approach to prevention may be more important than many people realize.
About Dr. Robert Todd Hurst, MD, FACC, FASE
Dr. Robert Todd Hurst, MD, FACC, FASE is a board-certified preventive cardiologist, former Mayo Clinic physician, and founder of HealthspanMD. His mission is simple: that no one dies of a heart attack, ever. Through a proactive, precision-medicine approach, he helps patients identify hidden cardiovascular risk, reverse heart disease, and add strong, vital, mentally sharp years to life. In this podcast, he shares practical insights from more than two decades of experience helping people prevent and overcome cardiovascular disease.
Key Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction: Do severe blockages always require a stent?
00:27 – Case study: A patient with a severe LAD ("widowmaker") blockage and no symptoms
01:14 – Why stress testing, echocardiograms, and symptoms matter when evaluating blockages
01:39 – What research shows about stents versus aggressive medical therapy for stable coronary artery disease
02:46 – The real risks of angiograms, stents, and invasive procedures
03:36 – Why the patient's condition did not automatically justify a stent
04:15 – Optimizing cholesterol, insulin resistance, and other root causes
04:42 – One year later: Severe blockage improves to moderate stenosis
05:04 – Evidence of plaque regression and why the results matter
05:35 – How cardiology thinking has evolved since the COURAGE trial
06:07 – When stents and bypass surgery may still be the right choice
06:41 – Questions every patient should ask before agreeing to a stent
07:02 – Long-term considerations and risks of living with a stent
07:20 – Why healthcare remains reactive instead of preventive
07:47 – HealthspanMD's mission: Moving from disease treatment to health optimization
08:08 – Final thoughts and invitation to learn more about HealthspanMD
08:34 – Medical disclaimer
This episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always discuss treatment decisions with your healthcare provider.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Don't make any decisions about your medical treatment without first talking to your doctor.
Connect* with HealthspanMD :
👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/healthspanmd/
👉 https://www.facebook.com/healthspanmd
👉 https://www.instagram.com/healthspanmd/
👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/5KQuoWqKP2vTBu05ci6EQB?si=fdb033a52b674909
👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-healthspan-podcast/id1680270608
🏆 Become a Member / 🤝 Partner With Dr. Hurst and His Expert Team To Add a Decade or More Of Healthy Life
At HealthspanMD, we combine cutting-edge medicine, advanced technology, and concierge care to help high-achievers avoid heart attacks, strokes, and dementia.
🔍 Learn how patients add years to their lives by going to 👉 https://www.healthspanmd.com.
📅 Or Schedule a Call Directly with a HealthspanMD Dedicated Patient Advisor by clicking 👉 https://join.healthspanmd.com/call

In this powerful episode of the HealthspanMD podcast, Dr. Robert Todd Hurst, MD, FACC, FASE sits down with patient Claudio and Healthspan Strategist Claire to explore what happens when someone who seems “healthy” on the surface discovers serious hidden risks beneath. They discuss high blood pressure, insulin resistance, and undetected coronary artery disease and how early detection, the right guidance, and committed lifestyle changes can completely transform a person’s trajectory. Claudio shares the emotional and physical realities of confronting a life-threatening diagnosis and the mindset shift required to take control of his health.
This conversation is both eye-opening and inspiring, highlighting how proactive care, personalized coaching, and accountability can turn fear into action and ultimately into long-term health and vitality.
Claudio is a high-performing professional who came to HealthspanMD after struggling with high blood pressure despite maintaining what he believed was a healthy lifestyle. Through advanced testing, he discovered severe underlying cardiovascular disease, including a 90% blockage in a major artery. Since then, Claudio has undergone a remarkable transformation. Losing significant weight, improving key health markers, and embracing a lifelong commitment to health. His story is a powerful example of how early detection and the right support system can change and potentially save a life.
Key Timestamps00:01 – Episode introduction and overview of Claudio’s story01:00 – Claudio’s initial concerns: high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and weight gain03:30 – Discovering hidden risks: insulin resistance and early signs of artery disease05:30 – Stress test results and the turning point toward deeper investigation07:00 – Heart catheterization reveals significant blockage08:30 – Emotional impact: fear, job concerns, and facing a serious diagnosis10:30 – The importance of coaching, guidance, and a team-based approach11:30 – Transformation results: weight loss, improved fitness, and lifestyle changes14:30 – The mindset shift: from denial to taking ownership of health16:00 – “Get busy living” moment and redefining identity as a heart patient18:00 – Measurable improvements: blood pressure, cholesterol, and long-term risk reduction20:00 – Why knowledge alone isn’t enough, execution is everything22:00 – Final reflections and encouragement for listeners to take action
 
Connect with HealthspanMD:👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/healthspanmd/👉 https://www.facebook.com/healthspanmd👉 https://www.instagram.com/healthspanmd/👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/5KQuoWqKP2vTBu05ci6EQB?si=fdb033a52b674909👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-healthspan-podcast/id1680270608
Partner With Dr. Hurst and His Expert Team To Add a Decade or More Of Healthy Life At HealthspanMD, we combine cutting-edge medicine, advanced technology, and concierge care to help high-achievers avoid heart attacks, strokes, and dementia.  Learn how patients add years to their lives by going to 👉 https://www.healthspanmd.com. 📅 Or Schedule a Call Directly with a HealthspanMD Dedicated Patient Advisor by clicking 👉 https://join.healthspanmd.com/call

In this highlight episode, Dr. Robert Todd Hurst, MD, FACC, FASE sits down with neurologist Jeremy Pruzin, MD to unpack one of the most common and most misunderstood topics in brain health: the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. They explore how vascular health, protein buildup like amyloid and tau, and lifestyle factors all intersect to influence cognitive decline. The conversation also dives into the concept of “mixed dementia,” why prevention strategies overlap with heart disease, and what actionable steps can significantly reduce risk, especially for those with genetic predispositions like APOE4.
Watch the full podcast episode here: https://youtu.be/5hIKmiPNGjA
Dr. Pruzin is a Behavioral Neurologist, Dementia Specialist, Alzheimer's Disease Researcher - specializing in cognitive disorders and dementia. He brings deep clinical insight into how brain pathology develops over time, helping patients understand risk, early symptoms, and the evolving landscape of treatment. His approach emphasizes both cutting-edge science and practical, personalized strategies for prevention and care.
Connect With Jeremy Pruzin, MD - Behavioral Neurologist, Dementia Specialist, Alzheimer's Disease ResearcherWebsite: https://pacocommunity.com/Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/jeremypruzinmd/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-pruzin-82867615/
Key Timestamps00:00 Introduction to HealthspanMD Heart Longevity Program00:40 Overview of episode topics: dementia vs Alzheimer’s01:10 Prevention strategies and link to heart health02:19 APOE4 explained and what it means for risk03:00 Practical lifestyle changes to lower dementia risk04:30 Life’s Simple 7 and its impact on dementia05:45 Why heart health and brain health are deeply connected06:40 Risk-based prevention and treatment strategies08:00 Medications and emerging therapies for brain health08:58 Understanding dementia pathology: vascular vs protein causes09:40 Difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease10:30 What is mixed dementia and why it’s most common11:20 Rethinking how dementia is categorized12:30 APOE4 risk levels and implications13:20 Final thoughts and how to take action with HealthspanMD
Connect with HealthspanMD :👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/healthspanmd/
👉 https://www.facebook.com/healthspanmd
👉 https://www.instagram.com/healthspanmd/
👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/5KQuoWqKP2vTBu05ci6EQB?si=fdb033a52b674909
👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-healthspan-podcast/id1680270608
🏆 Become a Member / 🤝 Partner With Dr. Hurst and His Expert Team To Add a Decade or More Of Healthy LifeAt HealthspanMD, we combine cutting-edge medicine, advanced technology, and concierge care to help high-achievers avoid heart attacks, strokes, and dementia.
🔍 Learn how patients add years to their lives by going to 👉 [https://www.healthspanmd.com](https://www.healthspanmd.com/).📅 Or Schedule a Call Directly with a HealthspanMD Dedicated Patient Advisor by clicking 👉 https://join.healthspanmd.com/call

In this episode of the HealthspanMD Podcast, Dr. Robert Todd Hurst, MD, FACC, FASE sits down with Dr. Selen Courtney to explore one of the most overlooked pillars of longevity: physical performance. They dive into how strength, stability, and functional movement play a critical role in preventing frailty, extending healthspan, and maintaining independence as we age. From understanding progressive overload and muscle failure to identifying hidden blind spots like power and balance, this episode offers a practical, science-backed roadmap to staying strong, resilient, and capable for life.
Dr. Selen Courtney is a Doctor of Physical Therapy with a unique background in psychology, yoga, orthopedics, and leadership at the Mayo Clinic. Now at HealthspanMD, she focuses on shifting physical therapy from reactive injury care to proactive performance and prevention. Her work centers on helping individuals identify weaknesses early, optimize movement, and build the strength and stability needed to live longer, healthier lives.
Key Timestamps
00:00 – Intro and why you don’t need to train to full failure01:00 – Why avoiding frailty is essential for longevity02:20 – Dr. Selen Courtney’s background and journey to HealthspanMD04:40 – Rethinking physical therapy as prevention, not just rehab06:30 – Why decline accelerates in your 60s and how to prevent it08:00 – Muscle loss, injury, and the downward spiral of aging09:20 – Inside the HealthspanMD physical performance assessment11:30 – How strength, balance, and movement are objectively measured13:50 – Why “average” isn’t good enough for longevity15:50 – Common fitness blind spots and imbalanced training18:20 – Why people gravitate to what they like (and what they neglect)20:30 – Fixing the reactive, one-size-fits-all fitness model22:50 – What stability really means (rotator cuff, trunk endurance)25:10 – Safe strength training principles for longevity27:30 – Progressive overload and training close to failure explained29:50 – The importance of protein and recovery for muscle growth32:00 – Overtraining and why more is not always better33:50 – What functional movement actually means in real life34:40 – The physical performance age score explained36:50 – How data reveals your biggest opportunities37:00 – Technology used to measure strength, power, and balance41:30 – The most overlooked blind spot: power training43:50 – Final advice: start small and build consistency
Connect with Dr. Selen Courtney:👉Instagram: @drselencourtney👉LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/selen-courtney-76402770/
 
This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Don't make any decisions about your medical treatment without first talking to your doctor.
Connect with HealthspanMD :👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/healthspanmd/
👉 https://www.facebook.com/healthspanmd
👉 https://www.instagram.com/healthspanmd/
👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/5KQuoWqKP2vTBu05ci6EQB?si=fdb033a52b674909
👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-healthspan-podcast/id1680270608
🏆 Become a Member / 🤝 Partner With Dr. Hurst and His Expert Team To Add a Decade or More Of Healthy LifeAt HealthspanMD, we combine cutting-edge medicine, advanced technology, and concierge care to help high-achievers avoid heart attacks, strokes, and dementia.
🔍 Learn how patients add years to their lives by going to 👉 [https://www.healthspanmd.com](https://www.healthspanmd.com/)
📅 Or Schedule a Call Directly with a HealthspanMD Dedicated Patient Advisor by clicking 👉 https://join.healthspanmd.com/call

In this episode, Robert Todd Hurst, MD, FACC, FASE delivers a powerful and thought-provoking talk on the real drivers of heart disease and why the current healthcare system often misses the mark. Moving beyond traditional medicine, he explores how stress, habits, leadership, and the pace of modern life quietly shape our long-term health. This episode challenges the idea that heart attacks are inevitable and instead presents a compelling case for prevention through a systems-based approach to healthspan.
Drawing from decades of experience in preventive cardiology, Dr. Hurst shares personal stories, clinical insights, and groundbreaking data that reveal how up to 90% of heart disease may be preventable. He breaks down the failures of reactive, one-size-fits-all care and introduces a proactive framework focused on identifying root causes, personalizing strategies, and continuously optimizing health. 
Key Timestamps00:00 – Introduction and keynote context00:58 – Heart disease as the modern plague03:18 – The patient story that changed Dr. Hurst’s career05:38 – The evidence that 80–90% of heart disease is preventable07:58 – Why prevention works in real-world practice10:22 – Failure #1: Reactive, event-driven healthcare12:37 – Hidden risk and Dr. Hurst’s personal wake-up call14:59 – Failure #2: One-size-fits-all medicine17:23 – Personalized care through advanced imaging19:48 – Failure #3: Disease-focused healthcare21:46 – The shift from lifespan to healthspan23:53 – Why preventing disease isn’t enough26:14 – The 3-step system to prevent heart attacks28:37 – Understanding risk and root causes30:53 – The overlooked role of stress and mental health33:13 – The Healthspan framework and key drivers of longevity35:38 – Personalizing goals and strategies38:04 – Defend and optimize approach to long-term health40:28 – Final thoughts: turning back the clock and ending heart disease
Connect with Robert Todd Hurst, MD, FACC, FASE here :👉Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roberttoddhurst/👉LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/longevity-cardiologist/👉Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586086675137
This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Don't make any decisions about your medical treatment without first talking to your doctor.
Connect with HealthspanMD :👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/healthspanmd/
👉 https://www.facebook.com/healthspanmd
👉 https://www.instagram.com/healthspanmd/
👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/5KQuoWqKP2vTBu05ci6EQB?si=fdb033a52b674909
👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-healthspan-podcast/id1680270608
🏆 Become a Member / 🤝 Partner With Dr. Hurst and His Expert Team To Add a Decade or More Of Healthy LifeAt HealthspanMD, we combine cutting-edge medicine, advanced technology, and concierge care to help high-achievers avoid heart attacks, strokes, and dementia.
🔍 Learn how patients add years to their lives by going to 👉 https://www.healthspanmd.com.📅 Or Schedule a Call Directly with a HealthspanMD Dedicated Patient Advisor by clicking 👉 https://join.healthspanmd.com/call

In this episode of the HealthspanMD podcast, Dr. Robert Todd Hurst, MD, FACC, FASE sits down with a member to explore what it really takes to reverse chronic health issues through sustainable lifestyle changes. This conversation dives into weight loss, heart health, atrial fibrillation risk reduction, nutrition fundamentals, and how personalized strategies outperform generic advice like “eat less and move more.” You’ll hear how small, consistent changes in movement, protein intake, and daily habits can lead to dramatic improvements in blood pressure, triglycerides, body composition, and overall energy.
Our guest, Mr. David, shares his powerful health transformation after years of struggling with obesity, heart issues, and ineffective medical guidance. Following a triple bypass and ongoing arrhythmia concerns, Mr. David sought a better approach and found a personalized plan through HealthspanMD. 
Over the course of a year,   • he lost over 40 pounds,   • improved nearly all of his lab markers  • regained the ability to do activities he once thought were gone for good.
His story highlights the importance of individualized care, persistence, and finding a plan that truly fits your life.
Key Timestamps• 00:00 – Introduction and episode overview• 00:30 – Paul’s health background and why he sought help• 02:50 – Referral to Dr. Robert Todd Hurst, MD, FACC, FASE and first visit• 04:30 – The connection between weight loss and heart rhythm issues• 05:00 – Starting point and limitations before transformation• 06:00 – Nutrition education and why calories alone aren’t enough• 07:00 – Building a personalized plan and step baseline strategy• 08:30 – Why “eat less, move more” fails most people• 10:00 – Adapting exercise to real life (resistance bands, short workouts)• 12:00 – Consistency over perfection and real-life challenges• 13:00 – One-year results: weight loss, blood pressure, labs, body composition• 15:00 – Muscle gain vs typical weight loss outcomes• 16:00 – Why treating root causes beats medication-only approaches• 18:00 – Improved energy, mobility, and daily life activities• 19:00 – Regaining independence and physical capability• 21:30 – Turning back the clock on aging• 23:30 – Paul’s message of hope and persistence• 25:00 – The importance of personalized, sustainable health strategies
This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Don't make any decisions about your medical treatment without first talking to your doctor.
Connect with HealthspanMD :
👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/healthspanmd/
👉 https://www.facebook.com/healthspanmd
👉 https://www.instagram.com/healthspanmd/
👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/5KQuoWqKP2vTBu05ci6EQB?si=fdb033a52b674909
👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-healthspan-podcast/id1680270608
Become a Member / Partner With Dr. Hurst and His Expert Team To Add a Decade or More Of Healthy Life
At HealthspanMD, we combine cutting-edge medicine, advanced technology, and concierge care to help high-achievers avoid heart attacks, strokes, and dementia.
Learn how patients add years to their lives by going to 👉 https://www.healthspanmd.com.
📅 Or Schedule a Call Directly with a HealthspanMD Dedicated Patient Advisor by clicking 👉 https://join.healthspanmd.com/call

In this episode of the HealthspanMD Podcast, Dr. Robert Todd Hurst, MD, FACC, FASE sits down with Dr. Du Mond to explore a critically overlooked driver of cardiovascular disease, brain health decline, and chronic inflammation: the mouth. They dive into the powerful connection between oral pathogens and systemic inflammation, the role of red complex bacteria in heart disease and Alzheimer’s risk, how saliva testing can uncover hidden inflammatory triggers, and why simply brushing and flossing may not be enough. If you’ve optimized your diet, exercise, and labs but your inflammatory markers like HSCRP or Lp-PLA2 remain elevated, this conversation may uncover the missing link. About the Guest Dr. Du Mond is a dentist with advanced expertise in oral systemic disease, pathogen testing, laser dentistry, ozone therapy, and immune-informed treatment planning. She approaches oral health not as a cosmetic issue, but as a foundational pillar of longevity, cardiovascular prevention, metabolic health, and neuroprotection. By combining CBCT imaging, salivary pathogen testing, and immune profiling, she helps identify hidden sources of inflammation that traditional dentistry often overlooks. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐫. 𝐃𝐮 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞:👉Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dmd.dental/ 👉Website: https://www.dmd-dental.com/This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Don't make any decisions about your medical treatment without first talking to your doctor.
Key Timestamps 00:00 – What proactive, personalized prevention really means 00:37 – Why oral health is a major driver of heart, brain, and metabolic disease02:00 – The study linking periodontal disease and cardiovascular events 04:30 – How dentistry evolved into systemic inflammation care 07:30 – Inflammation explained: protective vs. destructive 10:00 – Root cause vs. band aid treatment of inflammation 12:10 – Which lab markers matter: HSCRP, Lp-PLA2, myeloperoxidase 15:00 – The role of CBCT imaging in detecting hidden oral infections 17:00 – Why direct-to-consumer lab testing needs expert interpretation 18:30 – Dr. Du Mond’s personal inflammation discovery 21:30 – Who should consider advanced oral pathogen testing 23:50 – Oral microbiome vs. gut microbiome connection 26:00 – Why one size fits all health advice fails 30:40 – Why symptoms appear after tissue destruction begins 33:00 – Advanced dental tools beyond standard cleanings 35:30 – What red complex bacteria are and why they matter 37:40 – Oral health and longevity optimization 41:00 – Insurance limitations vs. preventive care 46:00 – How to work with Dr. Du Mond 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐌𝐃 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/company/healthspanmd/ 👉 https://www.facebook.com/healthspanmd 👉 https://www.instagram.com/healthspanmd/ 👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/5KQuoWqKP2vTBu05ci6EQB?si=fdb033a52b674909
👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-healthspan-podcast/id1680270608
Become a Member / 🤝 Partner With Dr. Hurst and His Expert Team To Add a Decade or More Of Healthy Life.At HealthspanMD, we combine cutting-edge medicine, advanced technology, and concierge care to help high-achievers avoid heart attacks, strokes, and dementia.    Learn how patients add years to their lives by going to: https://www.healthspanmd.com.  📅 Or Schedule a Call Directly with a HealthspanMD Dedicated Patient Advisor by clicking here: https://join.healthspanmd.com/call