Cram Chiropractic and Wellness Center

03/14/2026

The Big Takeaway on Heart Disease

Heart disease rarely appears suddenly.

It usually develops slowly over 10, 20, or even 30 years.

By the time symptoms appear, the process has often been happening for decades.

That’s why prevention requires looking deeper than just cholesterol numbers.

We need to ask bigger questions like:

• Is inflammation present?
• Is blood sugar damaging the arteries?
• Are infections driving chronic inflammation?
• Are nutrient deficiencies contributing?
• Is blood flow functioning properly?

When we start asking these questions early, we dramatically increase the chances of preventing heart disease before it ever happens.

Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in the United States, yet the way we often evaluate cardiovascular risk is surprisingly…

03/13/2026

A Test Everyone Should Consider Before a Heart Attack

One of the most valuable imaging tests for cardiovascular risk is the Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) scan.

This test looks for calcium buildup in the arteries that supply the heart.

The ideal CAC score is: 0

If calcium begins appearing in the arteries, it suggests plaque formation may already be occurring.

The important thing about this test is that it can detect problems years before symptoms appear.

That gives us time to intervene early.

Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in the United States, yet the way we often evaluate cardiovascular risk is surprisingly…

03/12/2026

Exercise and Nitric Oxide

One of the most powerful molecules for cardiovascular health is nitric oxide.

Nitric oxide allows blood vessels to expand and relax, improving blood flow and lowering blood pressure.

Interestingly, one of the medications used in emergency medicine works through this mechanism.

Nitroglycerin.

When someone experiences chest pain, nitroglycerin dilates blood vessels to improve circulation.

Exercise does something very similar — but in a much healthier way.

Regular exercise improves nitric oxide production, which helps the arteries remain flexible and responsive.

This is one reason physical activity is one of the most powerful tools we have for cardiovascular health.

Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in the United States, yet the way we often evaluate cardiovascular risk is surprisingly…

03/11/2026

Why Nutrients Matter for Cholesterol

LDL particles contain fats on their outer structure.

When oxidative stress is present, those fats can become damaged.

Think of it like rust forming on metal.

Several nutrients help protect LDL particles from oxidative damage:

• Vitamin E
• Vitamin C
• Magnesium

If someone is deficient in these nutrients, LDL particles become more vulnerable to oxidation.

And oxidized LDL is far more inflammatory for the arteries.

This is one reason nutrient status is an often overlooked part of cardiovascular prevention.

Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in the United States, yet the way we often evaluate cardiovascular risk is surprisingly…

03/10/2026

Chronic Infections and Heart Disease

Something that is rarely discussed is the connection between chronic infections and cardiovascular disease.

Several infections have been associated with heart disease risk, including:

• Chlamydia pneumoniae
• H. pylori
• Lyme disease
• Chronic streptococcal infections

These infections can drive long-term inflammation within the body.

Over time, that inflammation may contribute to damage in the vascular system.

This doesn’t mean infections are the only cause of heart disease, but it does highlight something important:

Heart disease is often multifactorial.

Sometimes the root issue isn’t just cholesterol or diet — it may involve immune system stress as well.

Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in the United States, yet the way we often evaluate cardiovascular risk is surprisingly…

03/09/2026

Heart Disease Is an Inflammatory Condition

Heart disease is not just about cholesterol.

At its core, it is largely an inflammatory process.

That’s why I always like to evaluate several markers that reflect inflammation and oxidative stress.

Three of the most valuable are:

C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
This is produced by the liver when inflammation is present in the body.

Optimal level: under 1

Homocysteine
An amino acid that can damage blood vessels when elevated.

Optimal range: 6–8

Ferritin
A marker of stored iron that can contribute to oxidative stress if elevated.

Optimal level: roughly around 100

When these markers are elevated, it suggests inflammation may be damaging the vascular system.

And that’s where cardiovascular disease often begins.

Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in the United States, yet the way we often evaluate cardiovascular risk is surprisingly…

03/09/2026

❤️ Most “Heart Tests” Miss the Real Problem

When people want to check their heart health, their doctor usually orders a basic cholesterol panel.

Total cholesterol.
LDL.
HDL.
Triglycerides.

That’s it.

But heart disease is far more complex than that.

Plaque forms because of a combination of things like:

• Inflammation
• Oxidized cholesterol
• Particle size and number
• Genetics
• Insulin resistance
• Blood vessel damage

If you only test one piece of the puzzle, you’re guessing.

That’s why I put together my Advanced Heart Health Panel.

This panel evaluates things most doctors never check, including:

✔ Small dense LDL (the dangerous cholesterol particles)
✔ ApoB particle count
✔ Lipoprotein(a) genetic risk
✔ Oxidized LDL
✔ Artery inflammation markers
✔ Homocysteine (vascular damage marker)
✔ Fasting insulin and metabolic risk

This gives us a much clearer picture of your real cardiovascular risk so we can build a personalized plan to protect your heart.

Heart disease is still the #1 cause of death, but the good news is that many of the risk factors are detectable early and highly modifiable.

If you’re interested in getting a much deeper look at your heart health, message me or schedule a consultation.

Your heart deserves more than a basic cholesterol test.

— Dr. Scotty G

03/08/2026

The Most Underrated Heart Test: Fasting Insulin

If I could pick one metabolic test that almost nobody checks but should, it would be fasting insulin.

Insulin’s job is to move glucose out of the bloodstream and into cells where it can be used for energy.

When insulin levels remain elevated, it usually means the body is struggling to manage blood sugar.

Over time, this can lead to:

• insulin resistance
• chronic inflammation
• vascular damage

Optimal fasting insulin should be around: 3

Many people walking around today have insulin levels far above that, and they have no idea.

Long before diabetes ever develops, insulin resistance can quietly damage the arteries.

Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in the United States, yet the way we often evaluate cardiovascular risk is surprisingly…

03/07/2026

LDL Is Not All the Same

Most cholesterol panels measure LDL, but they leave out one of the most important pieces of information:

LDL particle size.

Not all LDL behaves the same way.

There are two primary types:

Small LDL
Large LDL

Small LDL particles are much more likely to become trapped in damaged arterial walls and contribute to plaque formation.

Large LDL particles are far less concerning.

But here’s the problem:

Most standard cholesterol tests never measure this.

So two people can both have the same LDL number, but their cardiovascular risk may be completely different depending on particle size.

This is why advanced lipid testing can completely change how we interpret cholesterol.

Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in the United States, yet the way we often evaluate cardiovascular risk is surprisingly…

03/06/2026

Cholesterol Does NOT Mostly Come From Food

One of the biggest misconceptions in health is that cholesterol in your blood comes directly from the food you eat.

That’s not actually how the body works.

The vast majority of cholesterol in your blood is produced by your liver and other cells in your body.

That means when LDL cholesterol shows up elevated on a blood test, we should be asking a deeper question:

Why is the body choosing to make more cholesterol?

Cholesterol is not just a random molecule floating in your bloodstream.

It plays critical roles in the body including:

• Building cell membranes
• Producing hormones
• Supporting brain function
• Repairing tissue damage

So when LDL increases, sometimes the body is responding to inflammation or vascular injury.

Instead of just asking “How do we lower this number?”, we should be asking:

What is driving the body to produce it in the first place?

Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in the United States, yet the way we often evaluate cardiovascular risk is surprisingly…

03/05/2026

The Biggest Mistake in Heart Disease Prevention

One of the biggest mistakes people make with cardiovascular health is waiting until symptoms appear.

Once someone has already had a heart attack, the situation changes. At that point, you absolutely need a cardiologist managing the case because the body has already experienced damage.

But the real opportunity is before any symptoms ever appear.

Heart disease usually develops slowly over years or decades. During that time, the body is giving clues through bloodwork and metabolic markers.

The problem is most people are only tested with a basic cholesterol panel, which tells us very little about why someone might be at risk.

Prevention isn’t about reacting to a heart attack.

It’s about understanding the warning signs years before one happens.

Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in the United States, yet the way we often evaluate cardiovascular risk is surprisingly…

02/20/2026

Weight Loss as a "Side Effect"
What if weight loss was the easiest part of getting healthy? 🌟

I see it with my patients all the time: 20–30 pound weight losses that happen without "trying."

How? Because we didn't focus on the scale. We focused on:
✅ Regulating insulin
✅ Calming inflammation
✅ Fixing sleep hygiene
✅ Balancing cortisol

When your body feels safe, healthy, and "out of the winter famine," the weight comes off as a natural side effect.

Stop the struggle. Let’s get to the root of your health. Call the office at 507-663-1962 or go to drcramchiro.com to schedule your visit today!