by Dr. Fred Harvey 

As we enter February, also known as American Heart Month, it’s the ideal time to share an important message: cardiovascular disease can be reversed. In this country, the prevailing approach in healthcare often focuses on chronic illness management, but what if we could do more than manage? What if we could eliminate these conditions altogether? This is where the journey to redefine cardiovascular health begins. 

Some people might not know about Chelation Therapy, a treatment for coronary artery disease that has been around since the early 1970s. Chelation involves binding and removing toxic metals like lead, mercury, cadmium from the body—metals which significantly impact our vascular systems and immune function, leading to autoimmune reactions and vascular damage. These metals, along with various chemicals, “burn” our blood vessels, raising cholesterol levels as the body attempts to repair this damage.  

Unfortunately, continuous exposure to these toxins only worsens the situation, increasing cholesterol levels and plaque production. Chelation therapy, however, addresses this by removing toxins and providing nutrients that help repair and restore artery health. The Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy (TACT), published in 2013, presented some remarkable findings.  

Patients who had previously suffered a heart attack saw a 20 percent reduction in mortality, recurring heart attacks, and the need for stents or bypass surgery. The results were even more impressive for diabetic patients with a history of heart attack, showing a 50 percent reduction in those same complications. These benefits both persisted and improved over five years—a result that statins alone have not been able to achieve. 

But there is more to this story. Dr. Dean Ornish’s groundbreaking work in his 1997 book Reversing Heart Disease demonstrated how a vegetarian diet, exercise, and meditation or stress reduction could reverse coronary disease. He showed that these lifestyle changes could reduce plaque in heart arteries. Fast forward to the twenty-first century, and we now have technology to assess plaque burden and its functional impact on the heart through non-invasive CT scans. This offers detailed insights without the need for invasive procedures. 

In our approach, we probe beyond the initial diagnosis to sustainable healing. We employ the latest laboratory analyses, like those from Boston Heart and Cleveland Heart Labs, to understand the metabolic impacts of cholesterol, inflammation, and toxicity on arteries. Our comprehensive program includes Chelation Therapy, along with dietary changes, mindfulness, practices, regular exercise, and nutritional supplementation to foster lasting health.  

This journey takes commitment—often up to a year—but consider that cardiovascular disease also takes several decades to take root. The rewards, however, are immeasurable: A significantly lower risk of heart attack, enhanced brain function, and vibrant physical energy. It’s an investment in your future, so this American Heart Month, embrace the possibility of not just living with heart disease—but reversing the risk factors entirely.  

Experience the transformational difference that functional medicine can make in your life by discovering the root cause of your health issues. To schedule an appointment, call Dr. Harvey’s office, Functional Medicine Florida, at (941) 929-9355. Dr. Fred Harvey is the Medical Director of Functional Medicine Florida. He is quadruple board-certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, Functional Medicine, and Holistic-Integrative Medicine. Dr. Harvey also specializes in chronic illness recovery, prevention, and defiant aging. For more information, visit https://functionalmedicineflorida.com/ To shop for doctor-recommended supplements, visit https://www.healthystepsstore.com/