How to Prevent Heart Disease and Extend Your Healthspan | Dr Laurence Sperling | The Proof EP #366

👇 Visit The Proof website for the full show notes and supporting studies. 👇 https://theproof.com/podcast/ In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Laurence Sperling, a world-renowned preventive cardiologist, to unpack the truth about early cardiovascular disease, how it progresses, and most importantly how we can prevent it. We explore everything from cholesterol and blood pressure to genetic risk, environmental exposures, diet, and the role of screening tools like calcium scoring and CT angiograms. Dr. Sperling shares a refreshing, deeply informed perspective on heart health, breaking down complex science in a way that’s easy to understand and immediately useful. In this episode, we cover: Why heart disease begins in childhood (or even before birth) How to detect atherosclerosis before symptoms arise LDL, ApoB, and lipoprotein(a): what they mean and how low is low enough Blood pressure, triglycerides, and what “normal” actually means When to get a coronary artery calcium score or CT angiogram Whether keto diets and high cholesterol can be “healthy” The real impact of GLP-1 meds, obesity, and stress Daily habits I’m adopting based on this conversation Why public health and policy are key to fixing this crisis Whether you’re 25 or 65, this conversation is packed with insights that can help you live longer and better by understanding and protecting your cardiovascular system. Highlights: 0:00:00 Introduction 0:01:24 Why Prevention Should Start Before Birth 0:10:42 Is It Genetics or Lifestyle? Understanding Risk 0:16:48 Public Health Strategy That Prevents Millions of Heart Attacks 0:22:26 How Geography and Income Impact Heart Disease Risk 0:29:19 Familial Hypercholesterolemia and Lifetime Cholesterol Exposure 0:35:45 What Diet and Lifestyle Patterns Lower Risk Long-Term 0:47:34 LDL, HDL, and the New Science of Non-HDL Cholesterol 0:55:24 Does High Blood Pressure Still Harm Arteries if ApoB Is Low? 1:05:24 Lipoprotein(a): The Triple Threat You Should Know About 1:09:39 When Should You Start Cardiac Risk Assessments? 1:18:41 Can a Calcium Score of Zero Be Misleading in Younger Adults? 1:25:14 CT Calcium vs. CT Angiogram: Which Scan Is Right? 1:36:41 Is Subclinical Atherosclerosis the Same as Heart Disease? 1:43:19 What Are Optimal LDL and Blood Pressure Levels to Prevent Heart Disease? 1:51:21 How GLP-1 Drugs Help With Weight and Heart Disease Prevention 2:00:25 Public Health Policies That Could Save Millions 2:04:31 Cardiologist-Approved Daily Habits for a Healthy Heart Support the show: The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. Visit http://theproof.com/friends for exclusive discounts. Enjoy, friends. Simon This episode is brought to you by: 38TERA Consider 38TERA's DMN prebiotic supplement a daily multivitamin for your gut. Formulated by yours truly and gastroenterologist Dr Will Bulsiewicz. Head to https://38tera.com/?ref=SIMON and use code PROOF for 25% off at checkout. Pique Tea Pique's Nandaka provides sustainable, all-day energy and makes you feel like you’re doing something good for your body! Try Pique and get 20% off plus a FREE starter kit when you shop exclusively at http://piquelife.com/simon. LMNT Stay hydrated with LMNT. Try their limited-time Lemonade Salt flavour - salty, tart, and super refreshing. Receive a free LMNT sample pack with any order when you purchase via http://drinklmnt.com/simon. And if you don’t like it? Full refund, no questions asked. Function Health Take charge of your health with advanced blood testing and personalised insights. Function Health provides a practical solution to track key health markers such as cholesterol, blood sugar, and more. For the first 1,000 listeners, new members get a $100 credit when signing up. Head to https://www.functionhealth.com/simonhill to claim your credit. Only available to those living in the United States. Eight Sleep Upgrade your sleep with the Pod 5 Ultra by Eight Sleep. Clinically validated to deliver up to 1 extra hour of quality sleep per night through temperature control and biometric tracking. Use code THEPROOF for $350 off at http://eightsleep.com/theproof. Try it risk-free for 30 days, with worldwide shipping. WHOOP Whoop, the most advanced fitness and health wearable available. Your personalised fitness and health coach to recover faster, sleep better, and train smarter. Claim your first month free on http://join.whoop.com/simon. Simon Hill, MSc, BSc (Hons) Creator of http://theproof.com/ Host of https://theproof.com/podcast/ Author of https://theproof.com/book/