My Dad Had “Perfect” Labs—Until He Had a Stroke: Why “Normal” Labs Don’t Mean You’re Safe (and the Tests You Need to Protect Yourself)

When it comes to heart attacks and strokes, most people believe that clean eating, a consistent workout routine, and “normal” lab work mean they’re in the clear.

I used to believe that too—until it hit home.

My dad had a stroke last month.  By all conventional standards, he was the last person you’d expect this to happen to. He had zero known risk factors—zero family history, total cholesterol in the “normal” range, optimal A1c, excellent blood pressure, healthy weight, doesn’t smoke, regular exercise, and zero medications. In fact, my dad had told me that his doctor had said to him that “He was one of his healthiest 78-year-old patients.”

And yet, he ended up in the hospital—reluctantly—after experiencing temporary paralysis in his left arm.

An MRI confirmed the stroke.  Miraculously, the clot was close to the surface of his brain and caused little to no lasting damage. He was remarkably lucky! The second gift was what they discovered next: a coronary calcium scan revealed his left carotid artery was 75% blocked. This was literally a ticking time bomb—a widowmaker in the making—and no routine lab work had caught it. They scheduled him for surgery, a TCAR (Trans Carotid Artery Revascularization),  1 week later.

Ironically, given my experience and expertise, I had encouraged my dad and stepmom—over a year ago—to go to Life Line Screening and get his carotid artery scanned. He reasoned with me, saying, “My doctor says my labs are perfect, and no one in our family has had heart disease. Why should I spend money on it?” Because it wasn’t covered by insurance, he declined.

I’ve seen this in my practice, too. One of my 70-year-old clients, praised by his doctor as a “gold star” patient based on his labs, needed emergency open-heart surgery just one week later. They found three blocked arteries and a failing valve. His routine blood work looked “normal”. Both my dad and this client were the lucky ones.

No high cholesterol. No high blood pressure. No diabetes. Not overweight. Seemingly the picture of health… until they weren’t.

And I keep asking: Why?

How is it that cardiovascular disease is still the #1 cause of death in the U.S. for the past 3–4 decades, despite over 40 million Americans taking statins and cutting back on red meat?

If cholesterol-lowering drugs and red meat were the answers, shouldn’t we be seeing better outcomes?

Could we be looking at the Wrong Markers?

Too often, conventional medicine focuses on total cholesterol and LDL-C. But those numbers don’t tell the whole story. In fact, cholesterol is not the enemy—it’s a messenger. The real issues?

• Chronic inflammation, liver health, and elevated blood sugar. 

• 72.1% had LDL < 130 mg/dL ( normal levels) 
• 50% had LDL < 100 mg/dL (low levels) 
• 17.6% had LDL < 70 mg/dL ( extremely low levels) 
  Source: UCLA Health

Clearly, normal cholesterol levels don’t mean you’re safe.

Can’t get these labs from your MD? You’re not alone.

Advanced lipid panels are often denied if your cholesterol looks “normal”.

Calcium scans are rarely covered by insurance. Check out Life Line to find a location close to you.

The Truth About Cholesterol

• 75% of your cholesterol is made by your liver, not from food.
• Cholesterol is essential for hormone production, brain function, vitamin D, and cell repair.
• Cholesterol only becomes dangerous in the presence of inflammation, oxidative stress, or insulin resistance.

Inflammation: The Hidden Trigger

Cholesterol becomes harmful when trapped by inflammation in arterial walls, leading to plaque, rupture, and deadly clots.

Common sources of inflammation:

• Insulin resistance
• Nutrient deficiencies
• Hidden infections
• Chronic stress
• Poor sleep
• Environmental toxins

 How to Lower Your Risk Naturally

1. Eat Anti-Inflammatory Foods

• Cut processed oils (canola, soybean), sugar, and ultra-processed foods
• Eat wild-caught fish, fiber-rich vegetables, and pasture-raised meats
• Red meat isn’t the problem—commercially raised grain-fed animals are

2. Break Down Plaque naturally by 36 % with Nattokinase!!!!

• A recent exciting study showed nattokinase (10,800 FU/day) reduces plaque by up to 36% in 6–12 months with zero side effects, unlike statin drugs that only decreased plaque by around 12%. Here’s one of my favorites that combines high-dose Nattokinse with Serrapeptase another powerful enzyme. This not only knocks down plaque but has also shown in vitro to lower   dangerous, elevated Spike Protein levels found from  COVID/COVID vaccine.  Elevated Spike protein has found in cerebral Arteries: Implications for hemorrhagic stroke Post-mRNA vaccination. This is something that will bring levels down and imolictaly should reduce risk. 
  
  📚 Read the PubMed Study

3. Lower Homocysteine = Lower Risk

If your homocysteine is over 8, do the following:

• Eat folate-rich foods daily:
  • Spinach, romaine, asparagus, broccoli
  • Avocados, beets, Brussels sprouts
  • Lentils, black-eyed peas, liver
• Supplement with methylated B6, B12, and folate for 90 days. Here’s one called Homocysteine Supreme that I have had a lot of success with.
• Retest Homocysteine levels in 90 days to see if your dosage is correct.

4. Optimize Sleep & Screen for Sleep Apnea

• Poor sleep = high cortisol = high inflammation
• Sleep apnea increases cardiovascular risk—get tested if you snore or wake tired

5. Balance Glucose, Insulin & Thyroid

• Fasting glucose: < 90 mg/dL
• A1c: < 5.5%
• Insulin: < 5 µIU/mL
• Thyroid: low Free T3 or low TSH = higher cholesterol

6. Support Liver Function

Your liver plays a central role in regulating cholesterol levels. If your liver is congested or not functioning optimally, the result can be elevated cholesterol.

If you’ve been diagnosed with NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease)—which affects an estimated 25% of U.S. adults—or if your liver enzymes (ALT or AST) are elevated above 40, your risk increases.

➡️ Optimal ALT/AST levels are 18–26 u/mL. When your liver is inflamed or burdened with excess fat, cholesterol levels often remain stubbornly high—even with medication or dietary changes.

📄 Learn more here: Read My Blog on Liver Health →

Final Thoughts

Don’t wait for a heart attack or stroke to reveal the truth. Routine labs miss far too much.

Empower yourself with:

• Advanced testing
• Health-enhancing protocols
• Integrative, nutrition-forward, and lifestyle-based solutions

🏰 Book Your FREE 20-Minute Consult

 Your heart deserves more than guesswork—it deserves precision, prevention, and power. Let’s explore your risks, review your labs, and create your personalized prevention plan.

Affordable lab options available: Blood draw plus requisition fee $12 

• Advanced Thyroid Panel: $45
• Advanced Lipid Panel: $40
• hs-CRP: $18
• Homocysteine: $18