Video: How Environment and Lifestyle Factors Impact Heart and Cardiovascular Health

Have you gotten a test reflecting high cholesterol or other heart health issues recently?

Do you want to start now to ensure your heart stays healthy throughout your lifetime?

Maybe you have a genetic predisposition to heart and cardiovascular issues. (The good news: your DNA is NOT your destiny.) Lifestyle Factors Impact Heart and Cardiovascular Health

Last month, Mimi Guarneri, MD held a Zoom presentation with La Jolla Community Center about the environmental and lifestyle factors that impact heart and cardiovascular health. This video explains how 80% of cardiovascular disease can be prevented through healthy diet and lifestyle.

Dr. Guarneri explains that these lifestyle factors impact heart and cardiovascular health negatively:

• toxic exposure – in 2017, 4.3 million U.S. deaths could be attributed to INDOOR air pollution. In the same year 3.7 million deaths were directly linked to outdoor air pollution. With careful laws enacted, California has been bringing these numbers down consistently.
• toxic emotions – persistent anger, stress, and other negative emotions
• the Standard American Diet – high in processed foods and bad fats
• alcohol use – which leads to inflammation, which damages LDL cholesterol which damages arteries, all allowing for the laying down of plaque
• visceral fat – this fat produces inflammatory cytokines, angiotensin II, and more, all of which raises blood pressure

These lifestyle factors impact heart and cardiovascular health in positive ways:

• healthy diet – see below
• healthy sleep
• positive emotions – love, gratitude, and happiness
• exercise
• purpose

Signs that you may have high cholesterol include:

• unusual white (cholesterol deposits) in the eyes
• grey hair before 55
• deposits of cholesterol on the skin
• black patches on the neck
• tooth discoloration on the gum line

Following Dr. Guarneri, Pacific Pearl Naturopathic Doctor and Holistic Nutrititionist Dr. Pedi Mirdamadi explains how you can avoid the inflammation that diminishes heart and cardiovascular health in two ways:

Avoid inflammatory foods like:

• sugar
• fried foods
• processed food
• dairy

Instead, get more of these foods into your daily diet:

• fruits and vegetables
• olive oil, avocado oil
• nuts and seeds
• line-caught, wild fish like salmon and sardines

Finally, Dr. Mirdamadi encourages all listeners to maintain their strength and muscle with regular movement like walking and in-home exercise.

If you’re interested in learning more about how YOUR environment and lifestyle impacts your heart and cardiovascular health, reach out to us by calling the Pacific Pearl of La Jolla at 858-6919 or

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