Trying A Holistic Approach to Cardiovascular Disease

Dr. Matthew Lewis

Apr 19, 2026

High Cholesterol, Heart Disease

Holistic Doctor for Heart Disease and High Cholesterol

Holistic & Functional Medicine in Tampa: 2 Locations + Virtual Appointments ›

Trying A Holistic Approach to Cardiovascular Disease

By Dr. Matthew Lewis, D.C., DACBN, CFMP® — Founder, PROVOKE Health

Medical Disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making any decisions about your health or treatment.

One of the biggest issues I have seen over the last 25 years is the spreading of misinformation that has led to a false sense of security when it comes to metabolic health and cardiovascular disease.

To be clear: lowering cholesterol alone does not solve heart disease. It has been presented as a solution, but the evidence tells a more complicated story. A more accurate framing that is fairer to the full body of research is that inflammation and elevated cholesterol represent a dual pathway to atherosclerosis. Mainstream medicine has focused almost exclusively on cholesterol while largely ignoring the inflammatory side of the equation. I have been measuring C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients for 25 years, because much of the research being openly discussed today was actually conducted many years ago.

A recent 2025 study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology reinforces this view, identifying inflammation pathways as a key driver of cardiovascular disease progression, independent of cholesterol levels. Read the study →

Cardiovascular disease is a combination of lifestyle and genetics. Proper diagnostics and the correct interpretation of what those diagnostics signify are critical; without them, patients are given a false sense of security.

At our practice, we focus on diagnostics, comprehensive workups, lab testing, calcium scoring, and a fatty liver assessment (FibroScan).

In simple terms: check the pipes and check the metabolic system that influences them.

Understanding What Cardiovascular Disease Is and How We Treat It

Cardiovascular disease is a metabolic disorder where the arteries are struggling to clean themselves.

The cardiovascular system is supposed to function like a self-cleaning oven that naturally breaks down built-up plaque and cholesterol. With cardiovascular disease, that system isn’t working well anymore. So instead of just “blockages,” we are dealing with a larger body imbalance: a metabolic and inflammatory issue.

Holistic Treatment Options for Cardiovascular Disease

Phosphatidylcholine (PC) Therapy

One therapy we use is phosphatidylcholine (PC), sometimes referred to by brand names in clinical settings. PC has been studied for its potential role in supporting lipid metabolism and vascular health, and the research continues to evolve.

The mechanisms supporting PC’s role in cholesterol and lipid metabolism are documented in the peer-reviewed literature. A study published in Lipids in Health and Disease outlines several of these pathways, and animal studies have shown positive impacts on cholesterol levels and plaque reduction. Review the study →

PC therapy has a history that predates modern evidence-based standards, having been used in earlier decades for atheroma plaques in cardiac disease and in emergency contexts. See historical reference →

It is important that we note the regulatory status of PC therapy. PC administered by injection for systemic cardiovascular disease represents an off-label use. It is not currently FDA-approved for this indication. Patients should understand this when considering it as part of their broader protocol. We use it as one component of a comprehensive approach.

In our practice, PC therapy is used to help stimulate enzyme reactions that naturally occur in the body to break down cholesterol and plaques, essentially enhancing a signal the body already uses.

Peptide Therapy

We also use peptides (alongside structured exercise) that can signal the body to develop collateral circulation, encouraging new blood vessels to form around areas of blockage.

Full Treatment Protocol

When integrating these treatments and lifestyle changes together, we often see optimal results:

• Phosphatidylcholine (PC) therapy

• Glutathione

• Peptides

• Targeted supplements

• Diet changes

• Lifestyle changes

The Biggest Misconception About Heart Disease

The most common misconception about cardiovascular disease is that it is caused primarily by cholesterol.

This belief has shaped decades of treatment, and it is not entirely wrong, but it is significantly incomplete. What the research has shown for many years is that cholesterol by itself is not the problem. Treating cardiovascular disease solely with cholesterol-lowering medications has, at best, a very mild impact on disease progression or reversal.

For a broader perspective on this, cardiologist Dr. Jack Wolfson, who has transitioned to a more holistic, root-cause model of cardiology, has written extensively on the limitations of statin-only approaches. Read his analysis on statin drugs →

Today, more people are living with cardiovascular disease. In some ways, this speaks to the value of modern medicine: we are better at lowering blood pressure, performing emergency interventions, placing stents, and keeping people alive. However, survival is not the same as reversal. The underlying disease process often continues.

The real problem in cardiovascular disease is a metabolic issue rooted in endothelial dysfunction, and inflammation is at its core.

Why Conventional Medicine Has Been Missing the Full Picture

The evidence connecting causes and solutions for cardiovascular disease, particularly atherosclerosis, is vast. Genetic factors certainly play a role. But for the great majority of people, lifestyle far outweighs genetics as the primary driver of disease. Cholesterol does play a role in cardiovascular disease, and that role should be acknowledged and addressed. The problem is not that cholesterol was included in the conversation, it is that it became the entire conversation.

For too long, the conventional pharmaceutical model promoted the idea that cholesterol medication would be the solution: the one therapy needed to get your health in order. This was oversold. And much of the science regarding metabolic inflammation, sometimes called inflammaging, that has been available for decades was largely ignored in the standard approach to cardiovascular care.

By 2008, we already knew that treating inflammation alone could significantly lower the risk for heart disease, and that people with completely normal cholesterol levels were not immune to atherosclerosis. The landmark JUPITER trial demonstrated that statin therapy reduced cardiovascular events in patients with normal LDL but elevated hsCRP, pointing directly to inflammation, not just cholesterol, as the actionable target.

Despite this, metabolic markers like high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) remained sidelined in routine primary care, reserved for the cardiologist’s office to help predict a patient’s risk of a future stroke or heart attack after they already needed to see a cardiologist. This is too late. This is reactive, not proactive.

The question that should be asked at every primary care visit is: Why are we not routinely checking everyone’s calcium score, hsCRP, and lifestyle habits before disease has progressed? Based on the most current data, this is how cardiovascular disease should be addressed: comprehensively, early, and with the full picture in view.

The Real Beginning of Heart Disease: Endothelial Dysfunction

Arteriosclerosis begins with endothelial dysfunction.

Endothelial dysfunction can be caused by many factors, including:

• Hypertension

• Diabetes

• Smoking

• Elevated lipid profiles

• Chronic inflammation

The endothelium is the tissue layer that protects the blood vessels; think of it like a protective lining that keeps the vessel wall intact. Endothelial disease occurs when that protective layer starts to deteriorate due to underlying immune signals that drive inflammation in the arteries.

It is this inflammation that allows cholesterol to accumulate and plaque the arteries. Cholesterol itself is essential: it is used for cellular repair, hormone production, and brain function. It is not cholesterol’s intended role to plaque the arteries.

When we lower cholesterol artificially, we can unintentionally create additional problems. The brain is composed of approximately 80% fat and cholesterol. There is a reason the body produces cholesterol in the liver: the brain needs it. Cholesterol plays an essential role in brain structure and function. This also includes maintaining nerve insulation and supporting communication between brain cells. Some research has explored a potential correlation between very low cholesterol levels and neurological outcomes, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, though findings in this area remain mixed and ongoing.

How We Evaluate Cardiovascular Risk at Provoke Health

Cardiovascular prevention and management begin with proper diagnostic information. Simply knowing your LDL and HDL cholesterol numbers is not sufficient.

We evaluate a more complete picture.

Inflammatory Markers

We evaluate markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), a protein made in the liver that signals systemic inflammation. CRP can also signal fatty liver disease, which is strongly associated with arteriosclerosis.

Advanced Lipid Testing

We use NMR lipid profiling, which provides a deeper assessment of cholesterol particle types. Some particles are significantly more dangerous than others, a distinction that standard lipid panels do not capture.

Hormone Testing

Another important market that cannot be overlooked is hormones. Hormones play a major role in cardiovascular health. Comprehensive lab testing helps identify:

• Cortisol levels

• Insulin status

• Blood sugar regulation

Cortisol and insulin can work together to create hyperglycemia, elevated blood sugar commonly seen in pre-diabetes and diabetes, which increases the inflammatory burden on the endothelium.

Calcium Scoring: Measuring Plaque Burden

A coronary calcium score provides a direct understanding of your plaque burden today.

Ideally, your calcium score should be zero. This test is done through a CT scan at an imaging center and is ordered by your Provoke Health provider. In many cases, screening can begin as early as age 30.

• A score of zero means you are starting with little to no plaque burden.

• A score above zero means the plaquing process has already begun, which is common and can be addressed with prevention and reversal strategies.

Calcium scoring can be repeated periodically, depending on age, to ensure plaque burden is not progressing.

Unfortunately, many cardiologists and general practitioners do not routinely order these tests. The prevailing belief is that if cholesterol is lowered and blood pressure is normal, cardiovascular disease is well managed. This creates a false sense of security. The underlying endothelial dysfunction can continue even when cholesterol and blood pressure are controlled with medication.

Diet, lifestyle, and targeted therapies are required to truly address endothelial dysfunction at its root.

Real Patient Result

We had one of our patients come to us with inflammation, elevated cholesterol, and early signs of plaque buildup. Our approach addressed cholesterol numbers and the underlying metabolic dysfunction. We used targeted therapies, lifestyle changes, and peptide support and the patient saw significant improvements in inflammatory markers and overall cardiovascular risk within months.

Read the full case study → [link]

Interpreting Heart Disease Root Cause and Treatment Approach

Cardiovascular disease is not only a cholesterol problem. It's a metabolic and inflammatory condition that develops over time. If we focus only on lowering cholesterol, we will risk missing the underlying dysfunction that allows the disease to progress.

The good news is that with the right diagnostics, a deeper understanding of your metabolic health, and a holistic treatment approach, cardiovascular disease can be addressed at its root.

Our goal is not just to manage numbers on a lab report, but to identify and correct the underlying processes driving disease, including inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and metabolic imbalance.

Taking A Holistic Approach to Your Heart Health

You may have been told your cholesterol is under control with medication. It's important that you understand your health requires a more comprehensive evaluation. We recommend:

• Looking beyond basic cholesterol labs

• Evaluating inflammation and metabolic health

• Measuring actual plaque burden with calcium scoring

• Creating a personalized plan that supports your body’s ability to heal

Schedule a consultation with Provoke Health to receive a comprehensive cardiovascular evaluation and a personalized plan designed around your unique needs.

About the Author

Dr. Matthew Lewis, D.C., DACBN, CFMP® is the Founder of PROVOKE Health (previously Functional Healthcare Group), — a Tampa, Florida-based functional medicine and integrative healthcare practice that is committed to motivating, guiding, and supporting patients on their journey to regaining their confidence, resiliency, and health. By creating and co- managing highly personalized treatment plans that address complex health problems, Dr. Lewis and the team at PROVOKE Health repair patients' confidence, resiliency, and health.