(NaturalHealth365)  For decades, patients walked out of cardiology appointments clutching statin prescriptions, convinced their cholesterol numbers held the key to preventing heart attacks.  Doctors measured LDL obsessively, adjusted medications endlessly, and assured patients that lowering cholesterol would help to save their lives.  Meanwhile, a more dangerous threat silently damaged arteries in plain sight.

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) just released a scientific statement that fundamentally challenges this cholesterol-centered paradigm.  Published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the 2025 guidelines represent the first time a major cardiology organization has officially recommended universal inflammation screening for cardiovascular disease prevention, making chronic inflammation a primary treatment target.

Decades of research reveal what conventional cardiology missed

The new ACC guidelines synthesize compelling evidence from multiple landmark trials showing that chronic, low-grade inflammation drives atherosclerotic plaque formation, rupture, and the blood clots that trigger heart attacks and strokes.  Researchers tracked 27,939 initially healthy women for 30 years, comparing the predictive power of different biomarkers.  High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), which measures inflammation, proved a stronger predictor of cardiovascular events than LDL cholesterol across the entire follow-up period.

Even more striking: among 31,245 patients already taking statins in three major trials, elevated hsCRP predicted heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular death better than LDL cholesterol levels.  Patients with hsCRP above 2 mg/L faced dramatically higher risks of recurrent events despite having LDL cholesterol below 70 mg/dL – the target conventional cardiology considers ideal.

In a Swedish registry of 84,399 patients with atherosclerosis receiving aggressive modern treatment, 60% still had hsCRP levels above 2 mg/L and continued experiencing poor outcomes.  These individuals were suffering from an untreated residual inflammatory risk that standard protocols ignored entirely.

Why inflammation matters more than cholesterol for most patients

The truth is, inflammation doesn’t just predict cardiovascular events, but causes them.  Chronic low-grade inflammation damages arterial walls, promotes plaque instability, triggers rupture, and initiates the clotting cascade that blocks blood flow to the heart or brain.

Cholesterol accumulation happens downstream of this inflammatory damage, essentially as the body’s attempt to patch injured arterial walls.

Natural approaches that address root inflammatory causes

Conventional cardiology profits from lifelong statin prescriptions, yet the ACC guidelines acknowledge that lifestyle interventions powerfully reduce inflammation markers.

Anti-inflammatory eating patterns: The PREDIMED trial demonstrated that adherence to the Mediterranean diet reduced inflammation and major cardiovascular events by 30% compared with low-fat diets.  Focus on wild-caught fatty fish rich in omega-3s (EPA and DHA), organic vegetables and berries packed with polyphenols, extra virgin olive oil, and nuts.  Each 1-gram daily increase in EPA+DHA corresponds to a 9% lower risk of heart attack and a 7% lower risk of coronary heart disease.

Strategic supplementation: Omega-3 fatty acids generate specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) that actively resolve chronic inflammation and promote arterial healing.  Studies show plasma EPA and DHA levels predict 27% lower total mortality over 16 years.  In addition, CoQ10 supports mitochondrial energy production, critical for heart function, while curcumin and boswellia provide additional anti-inflammatory benefits.

Movement and stress management: Regular physical activity reduces resting C-reactive protein levels through multiple mechanisms, including decreased cytokine production and improved endothelial function.  The guidelines recommend 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise per week.

Discover comprehensive cardiovascular solutions that holistic experts recommend

The ACC’s inflammation revolution validates what functional medicine practitioners have advocated for years: optimal heart health requires addressing root inflammatory causes, not just managing cholesterol numbers.

Jonathan Landsman’s Cardiovascular Docu-Class brings together 22 holistic cardiovascular experts, revealing evidence-based approaches that mainstream cardiology overlooks.

Discover functional lab tests that predict heart attacks years early, natural protocols for reversing arterial inflammation, why standard cholesterol testing misleads, and the truth about drug-induced nutritional deficiencies that increase heart failure risk.

Sources for this article include:

Jacc.org
Academic.oup.com
Nejm.org