Healthspan MD

For too long, patients have been told they have to pick a side: conventional medicine or natural medicine, as if healing has to be an either/or proposition.

In this episode of the HealthspanMD podcast, Dr. Robert Todd Hurst, MD, FACC, FASE sits down with naturopathic physician Dr. Lise Alschuler to tear down that false choice.

Together they dig into why cancer patients often need both tumor-destroying conventional treatment and immune-supporting natural therapies, why a rushed insurance-driven visit can never get to the real root cause of high blood pressure, and how members of a corporate, profit-driven healthcare system are left choosing between camps instead of getting care built around them.

Dr. Hurst and Dr. Alschuler also share a practical framework listeners can use to cut through influencer-driven supplement hype and evaluate what is actually worth taking.

Dr. Lise Alschuler is President and CEO of Sonoran University of Health Sciences and a board-certified naturopathic oncologist with more than 30 years of clinical experience. A leader in integrative medicine, educator, researcher, and author, she has spent her career finding common ground between conventional and naturopathic medicine so patients are not forced to choose between the two. Her own experience as a breast cancer survivor informs the patient-centered, evidence-informed approach she brings to this conversation.

Watch the full episode on our YouTube channel or by going to HealthspanMD.com/podcast

Healthcare is failing, and most of us can agree on that. But throwing more money at the problem is not the solution.

It fails patients for three reasons. It is reactive, waiting for problems to occur instead of preventing them. It is one-size-fits-all instead of personalized. And it is disease-focused, built around two tools, prescriptions and procedures, without looking beyond them.

This is why patients can spend enormous amounts of money and still not get the results they expect.

Real change requires a different approach, one that is proactive, personalized, and focused on root causes instead of just managing symptoms.

HealthspanMD is the only premier medical practice focused on reversing heart disease and preventing heart attacks.

Founded by a former Mayo Clinic Physician and board-certified preventive cardiologist Robert Todd Hurst, MD, FACC, FASE

If you are ready to take a proactive approach to your heart health, we invite you to speak with our team at HealthspanMD.

Learn more about becoming a member and schedule a call here: https://join.healthspanmd.com/

Heart disease doesn’t show up the same way in everyone.

While men more often experience heart attacks, women are more likely to develop artery disease that presents differently, sometimes increasing the risk of stroke or dementia instead. In many cases, plaque may appear in the carotid arteries even when the heart arteries look clear.

This is why a one-size-fits-all approach to prevention and screening falls short. Understanding these differences is key to catching risk early and creating a more personalized plan for long-term health.

Your heart health deserves a tailored approach.

HealthspanMD is the only premier medical practice focused on reversing heart disease and preventing heart attacks.

Our mission is simple: That no one should die of a heart attack, ever.

Founded by a former Mayo Clinic Physician and board-certified preventive cardiologist Robert Todd Hurst, MD, FACC, FASE

If you are ready to take a proactive approach to your heart health, we invite you to speak with our team at HealthspanMD.

Learn more about becoming a member and schedule a call here: https://join.healthspanmd.com/

There is a strange kind of fear that comes with a family history of heart disease. Part of you wants to know exactly where you stand. Another part is terrified of the answer.

That tension is real, and it stops a lot of people from ever picking up the phone.

But here is the thing about the traditional healthcare model. It waits. It treats symptoms after they show up instead of uncovering what is happening underneath, long before a crisis forces the issue.

Members who join HealthspanMD do not wait for a diagnosis to force their hand. They get answers early, while there is still time to change the outcome.

Knowing is not the scary part. Not knowing is.

HealthspanMD is the only premier medical practice focused on reversing heart disease and preventing heart attacks.

Founded by a former Mayo Clinic Physician and board-certified preventive cardiologist Robert Todd Hurst, MD, FACC, FASE

If you are ready to take a proactive approach to your heart health, we invite you to speak with our team at HealthspanMD.

Learn more about becoming a member and schedule a call here: https://join.healthspanmd.com/

I am not giving medical advice, but if a stent is being recommended and you are not entirely clear on why- meaning you are not in the emergency room in the middle of a major heart attack - take the time to fully understand the risks and benefits first.

A stent is not without its own risks.

- It is a foreign object placed in the body
- It typically requires at least two blood thinners for six to twelve months, depending on the recommendation.
- What happens if a bleeding problem develops during that time?
- What happens if surgery becomes necessary while on those medications?

These are not minor details.

They are part of a much bigger conversation that often gets skipped when a procedure is presented as the obvious next step.

Understanding your full picture, not just one data point, is what allows you to make a truly informed decision about your own care.

HealthspanMD is the only premier medical practice focused on reversing heart disease and preventing heart attacks.

Founded by a former Mayo Clinic Physician and board-certified preventive cardiologist Robert Todd Hurst, MD, FACC, FASE

If you are ready to take a proactive approach to your heart health, we invite you to speak with our team at HealthspanMD.

Learn more about becoming a member and schedule a call here: https://join.healthspanmd.com/

High HDL isn’t always protective, and in some cases, it can be misleading.

Patients with very high “good cholesterol” are often told they’re safe from heart disease, but imaging tells a different story. Even with HDL over 90 or 100, underlying artery disease can still be present.

The takeaway: numbers alone don’t tell the full story. Advanced testing like carotid ultrasound or a coronary calcium scan can reveal what standard labs may miss. Don’t assume you’re in the clear; verify your cardiovascular health with the right tools.

HealthspanMD is the only premier medical practice focused on reversing heart disease and preventing heart attacks.

Our mission is simple: That no one should die of a heart attack, ever.

Founded by a former Mayo Clinic Physician and board-certified preventive cardiologist Robert Todd Hurst, MD, FACC, FASE

If you are ready to take a proactive approach to your heart health, we invite you to speak with our team at HealthspanMD.

Learn more about becoming a member and schedule a call here: https://join.healthspanmd.com/

His calcium score was 5. That should have meant he was safe.

He was 50, incredibly fit, and had a family history of heart disease. A calcium score of 5 put him in the 20th percentile. His doctors told him he was on the right path.

But that test only measures hard plaque. It cannot see soft plaque, the unstable kind that actually causes heart attacks.

A deeper scan told a different story. His hard plaque volume was 8 cubic millimeters. His soft plaque volume was 150 cubic millimeters. Ninety five percent of his plaque was invisible on the test everyone trusted.

A low number does not always mean a low risk. Sometimes it just means you asked the wrong question.

A few things I adjusted for these platforms specifically:

The first line is now the hook on its own, since TikTok and Shorts truncate captions almost immediately and the algorithm rewards a strong opening line that stops the scroll.

The paragraphs are shorter and choppier to match how people read while a video is also playing, rather than the longer, magazine-style flow that works on a Meta feed post.

The ending is a punchy takeaway line instead of a soft brand statement, since short-form audiences respond better to a memorable closing thought than a segue into who HealthspanMD is.

HealthspanMD is the only premier medical practice focused on reversing heart disease and preventing heart attacks.

Founded by former Mayo Clinic Physician and board-certified preventive cardiologist Robert Todd Hurst, MD, FACC, FASE.

Learn more about becoming a member and schedule a call here: https://join.healthspanmd.com

Most people think normal blood sugar means everything is fine.

But what if the real problem is hiding underneath?

This patient had “perfect” labs, normal A1C, normal fasting glucose, yet she was struggling with severe weight issues. When we looked deeper and tested insulin levels, the truth came out: her body was producing extremely high insulin.

That changed everything.

Once she understood the root cause, she focused on the right things. Sleep, movement, and metabolic health, and lost over 100 pounds.

Sometimes the answers aren’t in the standard tests. Sometimes you have to dig deeper to find what’s really driving the problem.

HealthspanMD is the only premier medical practice focused on reversing heart disease and preventing heart attacks.

Our mission is simple: That no one should die of a heart attack, ever.

Founded by former Mayo Clinic Physician and board-certified preventive cardiologist Robert Todd Hurst, MD, FACC, FASE

If you are ready to take a proactive approach to your heart health, we invite you to speak with our team at HealthspanMD.

Learn more about becoming a member and schedule a call here: https://join.healthspanmd.com/