Lifeline Screening

Lifeline Screening offers access to carotid artery ultrasound screening for arterial disease. It is a good service because it calls attention to arterial disease and other signs of cardiometabolic disease.   

But their common recommendation to monitor annually misses the best opportunity to reverse arterial disease when it is “mild.”   

Calling arterial disease “mild” is about as logical as referring to “mild cancer.”   

Even if the disease is advanced and they suggest referral to an interventional specialist, you should consider the option of The CureCenter. 

If you have a Lifeline Screening report, register at CureCoach.App, scan and upload the report to the message thread. Or fax it to 866-594-7830 or mail a copy to The CureCenter for Chronic Disease, 2131 W. White Oaks Dr. Suite A, Springfield, IL 62704. Include contact information (mobile phone and email) so we can reach out to you. Or register for a Discovery Call.

We will review it and use it to advise you how it can support efforts to reverse your disease and get rid of the threat of stroke and heart attack by finding and addressing your specific root causes with a CurePlan. 

What is Cardiometabolic Disease?

Cardiometabolic disease, also known as atherosclerosis (arterial disease) dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome, refers to a cluster of conditions that increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. It is characterized by a combination of risk factors that affect the metabolism and cardiovascular system. These risk factors include obesity, high blood pressure (hypertension), high blood sugar levels (insulin resistance or diabetes), and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels. 

The exact cause of cardiometabolic disease is not fully understood, but it is believed to result from a combination of genetic factors, poor lifestyle choices, and environmental influences. Sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet (high in processed foods, starch and sugars), smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and chronic stress are among the contributing factors. 

When a person has cardiometabolic disease, they are at a higher risk of developing serious health complications, such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. These conditions can lead to significant disability and mortality rates if not properly treated. 

The diagnosis of cardiometabolic disease is typically based on the presence of specific criteria, including abdominal obesity (measured by body composition or waist circumference), elevated blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, elevated triglycerides, and low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. 

Treatment and management of cardiometabolic disease includes lifestyle modifications, such as adopting a healthy diet, regular physical activity, weight loss, and smoking cessation. Medications may also be prescribed to control blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and cholesterol. Supplements are recommended to treat identified deficiencies like vitamin D and folic acid to reduce homocysteine.

Preventing or reversing cardiometabolic disease requires a comprehensive approach that addresses the underlying risk factors. It is important to promote a healthy lifestyle, educate individuals about the risks associated with cardiometabolic disease, and provide appropriate medical interventions to reduce the impact of this condition on individuals' health and well-being by putting it into remission. 

For more information, and to begin the process of reducing your threat from cardiometabolic disease, request a complimentary discovery call with Dr. Backs.

How do I optimize my diet for prevention of chronic disease?

The cause of most chronic diseases can be summed up using the five Bad S’s: Sweets, Starches, Snacks, Seed oils, and Sitting. 

Should I go on a diet?

There are so many diets out there: Paleo, Vegan, Ketogenic, Atkins, Zone, Mediterranean, Whole 30, Weight Watchers, and Nutrisystem to name a few. One of the main issues with dieting is that eventually you will go off, and then what happens? The whole diet falls to pieces and you typically regress to your original habits. The common promotion of eating three meals a day, “healthy” snacking, and counting calories create and perpetuate the problem.

We recommend watching this interview with Dr. Mark Hyman, one of the foremost leaders of health, from the Cleveland Clinic.

Our goal is to change the way you view food and how it fits into your life and your health. 

How can I optimize my diet without “dieting”?

First, we recommend you start with a baseline body composition analysis. You improve what you measure, so don’t be discouraged by your initial reading if it is not ideal. This measurement helps you set an attainable goal and achieve it.

Weighing on a scale alone is not adequate. The body composition test allows you to know your muscle and fat mass, including your visceral fat. Visceral fat leads to diabetes and heart disease, so knowing this measurement is crucial to your overall health.

Come back regularly for additional body composition analyses. Seeing “The Judge” for detailed, measurable improvement over time will help you stay motivated.

Drink more water. Your urine should be copious and clear in appearance.

Avoid sweets (both natural and artificial). There is added, hidden sugar in every processed food. Avoid them all!

A rare sweet treat can be handled by most, but sugar is a toxin that should be avoided like tobacco. 

Artificial sweeteners raise insulin levels without also raising glucose. Elevated insulin is inflammatory, promoting prediabetes and arterial disease, among other chronic inflammatory conditions. These conditions dramatically flare when acute triggers, such as a virus, cause additional inflammatory sickness. Covid-19 is an extreme illustration of this effect. Artificial sweeteners are a “gateway drug” that strengthens your sweet tooth. They are a slippery slope to more sugar and carb cravings.  

Avoid starches including bread, pasta, white potatoes, and rice. Eat real food with no limits on vegetables, including sweet potatoes. 

Limited amounts of fruit provide micronutrients and fiber, but come with sugar. Do not juice. It removes  fiber that makes the sugar in fruits absorb more slowly with less rise in insulin. Avoid dried fruit, as it is almost pure sugar.

Stop snacking. Snacks are typically full of sugar and undermine our need to have periods of fasting to allow our insulin levels to drop. Fasting for 12-16 hours daily is a great “house cleaning” strategy.

Include good fats in your diet such as olive oil, coconut oil, nuts, seeds, olives, and avocados. Include lean protein such as salmon, sardines, and poultry, in your diet. Eat red meat on a limited basis. When purchasing red meat, look for grass fed and organic options if you can afford them.

Intermittent fasting (only drinking water, black coffee, and unsweet tea) for 12-16 hours per day allows your insulin sensitivity to be regained by allowing your insulin levels to fall.

Learn about the influence of your Microbiome. While probiotic supplements may help, eating a probiotic diet is even better. This includes fermented foods such as unpasteurized sauerkraut and KimChi. High fiber vegetables feed your good bacteria and can fix a great deal of health issues.

Get connected, motivated, and informed to support your changes.

Need help getting started? Request a complementary Discovery Call with Dr. Backs and begin your journey to better health.