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Integrating Hope
Advanced Cardiology of South Jersey

by Iris Taylor West

ACCORDING TO DR. VIC BAHAL, triple board-certified cardiologist and owner of Advanced Cardiology of South Jersey, cardiac disease remains the leading cause of death among men and women nationwide. Despite the plethora of advanced technological resources at the pharmaceutical industry’s disposal, conventional cardiology practices aren’t alluding to a cure any time soon.

Thus, enter integrative cardiology—a methodology unique to the daily operations of Advanced Cardiology and to Dr. Bahal himself. Dr. Bahal best describes it as none other than a harmonious blend between conventional cardiology practices and nutraceuticals—such as CoQ10, omega 3s and magnesium, among others, and hormone balancing.

“Over the past decades, cardiology has seen a lot of changes,” he notes, discussing the mixed reviews behind statins, which primarily serve to lower cholesterol levels in the blood stream. “This advent of statins has proven to be beneficial, but people hear negative things about them as well. There’s other things we can do to modify cardiovascular risk to treat patients, and that’s where the nutraceuticals come into play.”

One nutraceutical Dr. Bahal specifically mentions is the practice’s frequent utilization of CoQ10 and nitric oxide supplements, implemented for lowering heightened blood pressure levels and helping those suffering from congestive heart failure. He reiterates the practice’s commitment to using these supplements in conjunction with traditional cardiology practices—not in place of.

“We add the CoQ10 as an adjunct to other conventional medications and cardiology practices,” he states. “Sometimes we have been able to substitute more holistic and natural supplements for pharmaceutical medicine—and in many of those cases, we’ve had better outcomes with fewer side effects.”

Dr. Bahal mentions red rice yeast as another aid in lowering cholesterol, along with magnesium—which he says is vital to all patients, regardless of health conditions. While these undoubtedly serve their purposes among the human body, Dr. Bahal notes nitric oxide as one of the most critical supplements patients should take in order to sustain heart—and lung—health.

“The nitric oxide serves as a dilator, meaning it will deliver more blood flow to all of your organs,” he explains. “By delivering more blood flow and nourishing the organs with nutrients, your body and organs will function better, you will have more energy, and in turn, will have more motivation to exercise and lose weight, and ultimately reduce your risk of heart disease.”

Weekly, consistent exercise is a significant facet of integrative cardiology that should not be overlooked—that is, if you’re physically able. For those with other medical conditions prohibiting a regular exercise regimen, Dr. Bahal suggests cortisolreducing supplements to ultimately eliminate unwanted body fat which accumulates over time.

Just as important as the nitric oxide supplement—among several others—hormone balancing is yet another influential factor in reducing cardiovascular risk, according to Dr. Bahal.

“In male patients, testosterone surprisingly helps with heart disease, and although there was quite a bit of controversy on that subject, medical analyses are stating that testosterone actually works in their favor and fights heart disease,” Dr. Bahal notes. “Because it reduces blood pressure, improves blood sugar, increases dopamine and endurance, people are able to do things at a later age they were only able to do at a younger age.”

Dr. Bahal adds: “The endothelium is the layer that lines all of our arteries and when it becomes damaged it leads to heart and vascular disease (blockages in arteries). I focus on strengthening the endothelium by utilizing several supplements. For example, replacing the stress hormone DHEA is of paramount importance in reducing cardiovascular risk and strengthening the endothelium.” Dr. Bahal also notes that hormone balancing should only be done by trained professionals.

Endothelium care is not treated lightly at Advanced Cardiology—in fact, Dr. Bahal is only one of three centers in the state of New Jersey that offers endothelial function testing. Through a 15-minute, non-invasive test which identifies the risk of heart attack nearly seven years out, patients could possibly allot themselves an additional 50 years of health.

“We are the only practice in South Jersey who has this test,” Dr. Bahal adds. “If you have any plaque deposition, the endothelium goes bad, and what we can do is detect this through the EndoPAT machine.”

Although we are surrounded by medical practices aplenty in South Jersey, this caliber of expertise and technology possessed by Dr. Bahal is what coins him as not only a trustworthy medical professional, but as one of the best in his industry— unquestionably differentiating him among the numbers.

“We have an excellent continuity of care,” Dr. Bahal states. “Because I’m the only cardiologist and physician at the practice, I know everything about the patient … I’m giving more of a personalized approach to cardiac care, encompassing traditional and holistic techniques. Prevention is key to everything.”

Advanced Cardiology of South Jersey
4 Burton Lane, Suite 100 | Mullica Hill
(856) 241-3838
AdvancedCardiologySJ.com