Doc's Opinion

CT Calcium Score vs. CT Coronary Angiography: Understanding the Difference

By Axel F. Sigurdsson, MD, PhD | February 20, 2025

Cardiovascular imaging has revolutionized the assessment of heart disease, providing powerful tools to detect and evaluate coronary artery disease (CAD) before it leads to serious complications. Two common heart imaging tests—CT Calcium Scoring (CAC) and CT Coronary Angiography (CCTA)—serve distinct purposes. While both utilize computed tomography (CT) technology, they differ significantly in what they measure, … Read more

Rethinking LDL-Cholesterol: Is Lower Always Better for Heart Health?

By Axel F. Sigurdsson, MD, PhD | February 15, 2025

For years, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) has been considered the main culprit in heart disease. The common belief is that high levels of LDL-C clog up arteries, leading to heart attacks and strokes. This idea has driven medical experts to focus on lowering LDL-C as much as possible, often using medications like statins. However, as … Read more

Bempedoic Acid – A New Treatment Alternative for Statin Intolerant Patients?

By Axel F. Sigurdsson, MD, PhD | March 5, 2023

Statin drugs play an important role in the treatment of cardiovascular disease and have been shown to improve the prognosis of patients with established atherosclerotic heart disease. Statins, however, are not without side effects, and 7 to 29% of patients report adverse musculoskeletal effects that limit their ability to use them as recommended by clinical … Read more

Do COVID-19 Vaccinations Reduce the Risk of Heart Conditions Following Covid-19 Infections?

By Axel F. Sigurdsson, MD, PhD | February 26, 2023

A hugely important question for the clinical cardiologist is whether Covid-19 vaccinations reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications following Covid-19 infections. It is well-documented that being infected with SARS-CoV-2 increases the risk of short-and long-term cardiovascular complications, many of which may be severe. Therefore, practicing clinicians and patients will embrace every tool that can be … Read more

Intermittent Fasting and Health – What’s the Scientific Evidence?

By Axel F. Sigurdsson, MD, PhD | February 5, 2023

Our human ancestors had different food habits than we do. They did not routinely eat two to three regularly spaced, large meals every day. Indeed, food was often scarce, and there may have been long periods between meals. Furthermore, through the ages, fasting has been practiced in many communities for cultural and religious purposes. As … Read more