Two years ago (in 2024), my life changed drastically. I had recently left a highly toxic work environment, and I felt perpetually exhausted. I would wake up tired, not wanting to go to work, and come home exhausted, and have zero motivation or energy to get anything done at home. I was stressed beyond measure; irritable and felt like garbage every day. I was experiencing significant inflammation, joint pain, muscle pain, insomnia, irritability, and extreme fatigue.
After years of focusing on caring for others, putting my patients first, and neglecting my own wellbeing, and with how I was feeling, I knew that it was time that I prioritized myself and started working on myself through a functional medicine lens.
I completed a gamut of laboratory tests to identify the root cause of my symptoms, and let me tell you, there were several! When I had that first set of lab tests conducted in April 2024, I received an age score of 52. The problem was… I was only 39 years old. It is no wonder that I felt so unwell!
Detailed Lab Results
My high sensitivity inflammatory marker (hsCRP), which primarily assesses cardiac inflammation and serves as a comprehensive indicator of overall body inflammation, exceeded 10. This laboratory test only measures up to 10, and my levels surpassed that threshold. My body was signaling to me that I needed to address the underlying persistent inflammation being made by my body, and I needed to do it NOW!
Additionally, my lab worked showed the following:
- Total cholesterol: 393
- LDL: 283 (that is not a typo; that was the real number)!
- HDL: 66
- Triglycerides: 248
- Apoliprotein b: 189
- Lipoprotein (a): 34
Apart from a commendable HDL cholesterol level and normal apolipoprotein A, all my cholesterol markers were considerably off, and I was headed for a probable heart attack going forward.
There are two newer markers that the medical community has started to test, that not everyone really understands what they are. Let’s talk about Apolipoprotein b and lipoprotein (a) and educate you all about them.
Lipoprotein(a), or Lp (a) is a type of cholesterol particle largely determined by an individual’s genetics, and levels above 75 are indicative of an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Lp (a) is made of a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particle and carries an extra protein called apolipoprotein (a) that makes it stickier and more likely to contribute to plaque buildup in your arteries. An elevated level of Lp (a) is an independent risk factor for major adverse cardiovascular events such as heart attacks, ischemic strokes, aortic valve stenosis, cardiovascular mortality, and all-cause mortality.
Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) is a key protein involved in lipid metabolism; it is the primary structural component of LDL and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), which transport cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. Apo B facilitates cholesterol delivery from the liver to other tissues through VLDL. Measuring Apo B is important because it provides a direct count of atherogenic plaque particles, which impact metabolic health, and are essential in calculating cardiac risk. High levels of Apo B correlate with smaller, denser plaque molecules that are associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis, leading to heart attacks and strokes.
My levels of lipoprotein (a) were normal, so the genetic portion of my cholesterol was in check overall, but my Apolipoprotein b levels were very high (under 90 is considered normal) which overall puts me at a higher cardiac risk overall going forward.
Two Years Later and Fifteen Years Younger
After two years of working furiously on lifestyle change, I must admit that I was apprehensive about retesting my labs. When I reflect on this, I think I was just scared that I would not see a lot of improvement in my cholesterol numbers overall. There was also some trauma I had to face head on as my father went through a 5-vessel coronary artery bypass graft in January this year. His labs looked a lot like mine for years before he worked with his Cardiologist. After watching my father go through this huge life changing surgery, I knew that it was time to recheck my labs and start to really focus on my cardiac health going forward, so I could be the one to break the cycle of coronary artery disease in my family. When I finally summoned the courage, made peace with what happened to my dad, I finally rescheduled my labs in May 2026.
Here are some of the results, compared to just two years earlier:
- hsCRP has decreased to 5.2 (still elevated, but significantly improved)
- Total cholesterol decreased to 288
- LDL decreased to 199
- HDL decreased a little, down to 57 (but still in great ranges overall)
- Triglycerides decreased to 152 (150 is normal)
- lipoprotein (a) has increased to 42 (but is still normal)
- apolipoprotein B has decreased to 176
These indicators have shown substantial improvement overall, and my age score decreased from 52 to 37! Despite actually aging two biological years, my blood work showed that I had reversed my ‘age’ by 15 years!
In contrast, is my cholesterol perfectly optimal? No, in fact, it remains significantly elevated in my eyes. Given my predisposition to coronary artery disease, I know that there is much more work to be done going forward. The important thing to remember here is that I am actively working on it and moving in the right direction. It is also important to note that I have also had a CT Coronary Artery Calcium scan done that showed no plaque buildup in my heart in the past, so it is okay for me to keep working on this going forward instead of just throwing in the towel, and seeing a Cardiologist to start a medication such as Repatha, an injectable prescription medicine (a PCSK9 inhibitor) used alongside diet and exercise to lower LDL cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and heart surgeries in adults with high cardiovascular risk or inherited high cholesterol.
It is also crucial to recognize that merely having elevated LDL cholesterol does not necessarily imply the presence of plaque buildup in the heart. Similarly, while high HDL cholesterol was once considered acceptable, it can be problematic in certain cases. To ascertain the presence of plaque buildup and ensure appropriate treatment, it is advisable to undergo a low-dose CT Coronary Artery Calcium scan to see if you have plaque deposited in your coronary arteries of your heart.
All these tests are things that I order for patients at Valeo every day! If you are concerned about your cardiac risk, please come see me!
What I Did to Reverse My Age
My approach involved a combination of dedication, determination, targeted supplements, a balanced diet, and consistent exercise. Additionally, I had to optimize my thyroid levels, support my adrenal glands (my cortisol levels were extremely low), and commence hormone therapy. Gradually, I began to experience a significant improvement in my overall well-being.
Supplements + Diet
Initially, I incorporated Aged Garlic Extract into my regimen, which effectively reduced my LDL cholesterol levels and prevented plaque buildup in my arteries. Concurrently, I began taking Tirzepatide, micro-dosing it to aid in weight loss, alleviate inflammation (tirzepatide does a great job at reducing inflammation throughout the body), and improve my cholesterol levels. Additionally, I adhered to a daily regimen of Omega 3/6 fatty acids (important to always check your omega index, so you are on the right amount and ratio of Omega 3 to 6), adrenal support, T3 and T4 hormone replacement, estrogen, and progesterone.
The supplements and medications above were complemented by a ketogenic-focused hybrid diet, characterized by a high protein, high fat, low carbohydrate, and high fiber composition helped me to drop my cholesterol, inflammation, and age by 15 years! This dietary approach resulted in a significant weight loss of 60 pounds, fat loss, muscle mass gain, and a substantial reduction in cardiac markers. I also started feeling human again, and unending fatigue faded!
Exercise
Women should prioritize lifting weights three to four days per week, ensuring adequate time under tension, with the biggest focus on muscle mass gain and fat mass loss overall. Muscle mass is directly correlated with longevity as we age. The more muscle mass a person has, generally the longer they will live. For women it is especially important to spend enough time under tension, so that we preserve bone mass as well as we age.
Men may tolerate more intense exercise overall, women generally require more time for recovery and cannot tolerate excess exercising as we enter our perimenopause and menopause years, due to the fluctuation and decline in our hormones as we age. This is the secret sauce to aging well overall for women is spending just enough time under tension, being active, getting some cardio in, but NOT overdoing it.
The big takeaway here is that consistent muscle building and fat loss are crucial for overall health and longevity.
Stress Management + Sleep
Another often overlooked aspect is effective stress management and sufficient sleep. It is imperative to recognize that poor stress management can have a detrimental impact on one’s health. I firmly believe that mastering stress management is essential for maintaining optimal well-being.
Even while knowing that stress management is essential, this is an area where I personally face challenges. Learning to establish boundaries, eliminate toxic individuals from one’s life, work in a non-toxic environment, and cultivate mental calmness are all paramount for health. Also, for me, my relationship with God holds a high priority and acts as a grounding force in my life, and mental health overall.
Genetics vs. Lifestyle
It is important to acknowledge that genetics exert a significant influence, and lifestyle modifications through diet and exercise are essential for overcoming this influence. Think of it this way; you may have the genetic predisposition, which pulls the hammer back on the gun. What you do lifestyle wise is what will actually pull that trigger and cause the gun to shoot the bullet. There is no magical solution; consistent effort is required. This process does not occur overnight and necessitates time for healing your body. By focusing on diet and exercise, utilizing evidence-based supplements and medications when needed, such as tirzepatide, I am very optimistic about outpacing my genetic predisposition.
The responsibility for managing these factors lies solely with you. If you are aware of the appropriate strategies and timing of them, you can effectively counteract the effects of your genetics. You can stop the generational disease in its tracks. This is precisely what I am here to assist you with—providing guidance on the necessary steps and timing, so you can live a very long and healthy life!
Book your appointment with Breeanna McCarthy here, or call our office at 952-949-0676.
