Why 10 Years Is Not Enough: The Lifetime Approach to Heart Disease Prevention

Why 10 Years Is Not Enough: The Lifetime Approach to Heart Disease Prevention

Cardiovascular disease is still the number one cause of death in the UK, but 80% of those deaths are preventable. But most doctors are using risk calculators that focus only on risk in the next 10 years. In this episode, Dr Lucy Hooper and Dr Hugh Coyne unpack why standard 10-year cardiovascular risk scores miss a huge proportion of preventable disease, particularly in younger adults, women, and those with a strong family history. They explain why the UK lags behind both European and American guidelines on this, and what lifetime risk models can show that a 10-year window does not. They cover the biology of atherosclerosis and how plaque builds silently over decades before rupturing without warning. They discuss lifetime LDL cholesterol exposure, why two people with identical blood results can have very different true risk, the emerging concept of plaque thresholds, and the extraordinary early-stage gene-editing treatments targeting PCSK9 that could offer a one-time cholesterol reduction lasting a lifetime. They also walk through how they use lifetime risk calculators in the clinic at Coyne Medical to have better, more empowering conversations with patients, and why the goal is not just to avoid a heart attack tomorrow, but to still be well and active at your grandchildren's wedding. Topics covered: * Why 10-year risk scores underestimate risk in younger people, women, and those with family history * What atherosclerosis actually is and why plaque rupture happens without warning * Lifetime LDL cholesterol exposure as an emerging clinical tool * The non-HDL risk and LPA clinical guidance calculators used at Coyne Medical * PCSK9 gene-editing treatments and the future of cholesterol management * Why risk factors in cardiovascular disease multiply rather than simply add * The lifestyle levers that matter most: physical activity, sleep, diet, stress, smoking, alcohol Coyne Medical is a private preventive medicine clinic based in Fulham, London. Find out more at coynemedical.com [http://coynemedical.com].

The Cholesterol Test Your Doctor Probably Hasn't Ordered Yet

Your cholesterol results came back "normal" — but are you actually safe? In this episode, Dr. Lucy Hooper and Dr. Hugh Coyne dive into apolipoprotein B (ApoB), the single most important marker for understanding your true cardiovascular risk — and one that most people have never had checked. They break down the science in plain English: why all cholesterol is actually the same molecule, how it travels around your body packaged in different "wrappers," and crucially, why only the particles carrying an ApoB protein can burrow into your artery walls and trigger the chain of events that leads to heart attacks and strokes. You'll learn: * Why "good" and "bad" cholesterol is an oversimplification that can mislead you * What discordance means — and why roughly 1 in 5 people get the wrong picture from a standard lipid panel * What your ApoB number should actually be (and it's probably lower than your doctor's target) * How diet, exercise, and medications can all move the needle * Why this simple, affordable blood test isn't yet routine on the NHS — and why that needs to change Whether you have a family history of heart disease, existing risk factors, or you simply want to take ownership of your long-term health, this episode gives you the knowledge to have a much more informed conversation with your doctor. Cardiovascular disease remains the number one cause of death globally — and up to 80% of it is preventable. ApoB testing might just be the missing piece of your puzzle. Dr. Lucy Hooper and Dr. Hugh Coyne are GPs and longevity medicine doctors. This podcast is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your own doctor before making changes to your health.

The Prescription: Exercise: The Under-Prescribed "Drug" for Longevity

Dr Theodore Topol lamented in 1907 that too few physicians prescribed exercise as medicine. Over a century later, not much has changed — and we think that's worth fixing. In this episode, Dr Lucy and Dr Hugh make the case that exercise isn't the intervention. It's the normal human condition. Sitting still is the intervention. They dig into the science of why muscle mass and strength are among the most powerful predictors of how long — and how well — you live. From a meta-analysis of nearly two million people to the ancient lifting stones of Ireland and Scotland, this is the evidence for why strength training deserves a place in every clinical conversation. You'll come away knowing exactly how much resistance training the research says you need (it's less than you think), which five movements matter most for functional independence, and how to start from scratch — even if the gym feels a long way off. – Visit coynemedical.com [http://coynemedical.com] to explore your own longevity roadmap. Follow us on Instagram @coyne_medical

The Praetorian Paradox: Why You Need to Check Your Lipoprotein(a)

Join Dr Hugh Coyne and Dr Lucy Hooper as they uncover the Praetorian Guard of your cardiovascular system, Lipoprotein(a). Like the elite Roman force that turned on its emperors, Lipoprotein (a) was designed to protect but can become a deadly double agent, doubling or tripling your risk of heart disease. In this episode, we explore: The Praetorian Paradox: Why this sticky particle, originally meant for wound healing, is now a major cause of plaque buildup. The Silent Risk: Why standard cholesterol tests miss it and why 1 in 5 people are walking around with high levels unaware. Who Needs the Test: Find out who should get this crucial blood test. Connect with us: Ready to build your own longevity roadmap? Visit us at coynemedical.com [http://coynemedical.com] Follow us on Instagram: @coyne_medical