Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Are doctors focusing too much on cholesterol numbers and not enough on the arteries themselves? In this video, Dr. Eric Westman reacts to cardiologist Dr. Michael Twyman’s argument that the most important question is not simply what your LDL or ApoB number is, but whether plaque is actually building up inside your arteries.
The discussion focuses on the coronary artery calcium score, carotid scans, ApoB, Lp(a), triglycerides, HDL, insulin resistance and inflammation. Dr. Westman explains why cholesterol is a marker rather than the disease itself, and why directly assessing atherosclerosis may give a clearer picture of cardiovascular risk than relying on a standard cholesterol panel alone.
00:00 What heart disease signs should you take seriously?
00:29 High-fat diets, cholesterol and heart disease
00:58 High cholesterol but no panic
01:39 Why cholesterol alone can miss heart disease
01:56 The heart test less than 1% of people get
02:34 Why doctors should look at the arteries first
02:43 Coronary calcium score explained
03:07 Why Dr. Westman recommends artery imaging
03:34 What a calcium score of zero means
03:58 Cholesterol is a marker, not the disease
05:01 High ApoB despite “healthy” lifestyle changes
06:01 Why LDL is only part of the picture
06:43 Metabolic syndrome and residual risk
07:29 Genetics and ApoB
07:57 Why cholesterol is essential
09:24 Why standard cholesterol ranges can mislead
09:54 Long-term risk and repeat imaging
10:45 Why some cardiologists still skip calcium scoring
11:47 What is a healthy ApoB level?
12:18 Lipoprotein(a) and genetic risk
13:10 Can Lp(a) change with diet?
15:03 Other heart-risk markers doctors may miss
16:24 Is inflammation driving atherosclerosis?
17:44 Silent heart attacks and hidden symptoms
18:32 When a calcium score becomes high risk
19:23 Dr. Westman’s final thoughts
21:18 Why artery imaging may be the future
#HeartTest #HeartDisease #CalciumScore #Cholesterol #DrEricWestman #LDL #ApoB #Atherosclerosis #HeartHealth #Cardiology
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amazon.com/Your-Carb-Confusion-Eric-Westman
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🟣Dr. Eric Westman, Associate Professor of Medicine at Duke. He is Board Certified in Obesity Medicine & Internal Medicine, & founded the Duke Keto Medicine Clinic. He is a Fellow in The Obesity Society. He is the author of The New Atkins for a New You, Cholesterol Clarity, and Keto Clarity, and End Your Carb Confusion & co-founder of Adapt Your Life.
Disclaimer: Nothing on our channel is medical advice.
Dr. Westman and the Adapt Your Life team do not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical conditions online. We provide education to help people better understand their own health and support their well-being. Make sure you are working with YOUR licensed provider to monitor your health and medications. These posts and videos are not designed to and do not provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment, or services to you or to any other individual. We do not promote or endorse affiliate links and/or products unless they are our own.
Are doctors focusing too much on cholesterol numbers and not enough on the arteries themselves? In this video, Dr. Eric Westman reacts to cardiologist Dr. Michael Twyman’s argument that the most important question is not simply what your LDL or ApoB number is, but whether plaque is actually building up inside your arteries.
The discussion focuses on the coronary artery calcium score, carotid scans, ApoB, Lp(a), triglycerides, HDL, insulin resistance and inflammation. Dr. Westman explains why cholesterol is a marker rather than the disease itself, and why directly assessing atherosclerosis may give a clearer picture of cardiovascular risk than relying on a standard cholesterol panel alone.
00:00 What heart disease signs should you take seriously?
00:29 High-fat diets, cholesterol and heart disease
00:58 High cholesterol but no panic
01:39 Why cholesterol alone can miss heart disease
01:56 The heart test less than 1% of people get
02:34 Why doctors should look at the arteries first
02:43 Coronary calcium score explained
03:07 Why Dr. Westman recommends artery imaging
03:34 What a calcium score of zero means
03:58 Cholesterol is a marker, not the disease
05:01 High ApoB despite “healthy” lifestyle changes
06:01 Why LDL is only part of the picture
06:43 Metabolic syndrome and residual risk
07:29 Genetics and ApoB
07:57 Why cholesterol is essential
09:24 Why standard cholesterol ranges can mislead
09:54 Long-term risk and repeat imaging
10:45 Why some cardiologists still skip calcium scoring
11:47 What is a healthy ApoB level?
12:18 Lipoprotein(a) and genetic risk
13:10 Can Lp(a) change with diet?
15:03 Other heart-risk markers doctors may miss
16:24 Is inflammation driving atherosclerosis?
17:44 Silent heart attacks and hidden symptoms
18:32 When a calcium score becomes high risk
19:23 Dr. Westman’s final thoughts
21:18 Why artery imaging may be the future
#HeartTest #HeartDisease #CalciumScore #Cholesterol #DrEricWestman #LDL #ApoB #Atherosclerosis #HeartHealth #Cardiology
👁️ Seen a video you'd like me to react to? Leave a comment below or join the YouTube membership for priority comments where your video recommendation will be seen first and any questions you may have will be answered 🎬
For more Reacts Videos Click Here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL55Chm2jfDSpOrkAYNuux9Pri4k5QmrZu
🟣 If you enjoy my channel and would like to support what I do there are a few different ways you can show your support listed below:
🟣BECOME A CHANNEL MEMBER ON YOUTUBE
Receive priority comments, early access to new videos and join livestreams twice a month to ask me anything live!
🟣Support the channel via PayPal if you don't want anyone taking a chunk of what you send me and you can set up a recurring payment paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=ZDZK4SN7DJYXC
🟣Start Keto Right: A doctor-led keto course for beginners. Start simply, without tracking, guesswork, or overwhelm. adaptyourlifeacademy.com/start-keto-right
🟣Vist Adapt Your Life Academy
adaptyourlifeacademy.com
🟣Bestselling Book – END YOUR CARB CONFUSION:
amazon.com/Your-Carb-Confusion-Eric-Westman
🟣END YOUR CARB CONFUSION COOKBOOK:
amazon.com/End-Your-Carb-Confusion
🟣Free Guide: Dr. Westman's Carnivore Guide: adaptyourlifeacademy.com/carnivore-diet-explained-bonus
========================================================================
🟣MY SOCIAL MEDIA
🟣Like my Facebook Page ➡️ facebook.com/AdaptYourLifeAcademy
🟣Follow me on Instagram ➡️ instagram.com/adaptyourlifeacademy
🟣Follow me on X ➡️ https://x.com/drericwestman
========================================================================
🟣Dr. Eric Westman, Associate Professor of Medicine at Duke. He is Board Certified in Obesity Medicine & Internal Medicine, & founded the Duke Keto Medicine Clinic. He is a Fellow in The Obesity Society. He is the author of The New Atkins for a New You, Cholesterol Clarity, and Keto Clarity, and End Your Carb Confusion & co-founder of Adapt Your Life.
Disclaimer: Nothing on our channel is medical advice.
Dr. Westman and the Adapt Your Life team do not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical conditions online. We provide education to help people better understand their own health and support their well-being. Make sure you are working with YOUR licensed provider to monitor your health and medications. These posts and videos are not designed to and do not provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment, or services to you or to any other individual. We do not promote or endorse affiliate links and/or products unless they are our own.
