Because Good Medicine Deserves Better Explanations
In medical school, they had taught him that numbers don’t lie.
Tonight, the numbers felt like they were whispering through clenched teeth —
speaking in halves, withholding the rest.
He printed the report, folded it twice, and slipped it into his pocket.
A contradiction he wasn’t ready to resolve.
A question he knew he would carry for years.
At first, they were diabetes drugs.
GLP-1 receptor agonists—liraglutide, semaglutide, and later tirzepatide—were developed to help patients with type 2 diabetes regulate blood sugar. They mimicked a gut hormone, GLP-1, that modulates insulin, glucagon, and gastric emptying. They also acted on the brain.
Appetite went down.
Weight came off.
And people noticed.
In cardiovascular medicine, some numbers are sacred. LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) has long been the cornerstone of risk assessment and treatment targets. But what if we’ve been following the wrong number? This updated article revisits and expands on a piece I wrote in 2021 — enriched by new evidence, deeper clinical insights, and a clearer understanding of … Read more
It’s called Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a) for short. And if you haven’t had it measured, you’re not alone—most people haven’t. In fact, most of you may have never heard of it. It’s not part of a standard lipid panel. It doesn’t show up in routine check-ups. And yet, one in five people carry levels so high … Read more
Coronary calcium score is a simple, non-invasive scan that reveals hidden plaque and helps predict your risk of heart disease. Your cholesterol may look perfect. You may feel healthy. But silently, beneath the surface, plaque can build inside your coronary arteries — and you’d never know it. That’s where the coronary calcium score (CAC score) … Read more