Dr. Ajay Joseph answers real questions from our community about testing, prevention, and what actually moves the needle for your heart health. If you’re under 40 and think heart disease is a “later” problem, this one is for you.
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More about this episode
Dr. Ajay Joseph is an interventional cardiologist deeply passionate about Lifestyle Medicine, who transitioned from solely treating advanced disease to building systems that prevent it as well. At Saint Francis Health System, he builds and now leads Oklahoma’s first and only comprehensive physician-led Lifestyle Medicine program. In parallel, he serves as Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation, overseeing program development, quality improvement, and integration of preventive cardiology into rehabilitation services. He is focused on moving from treating late-stage disease to building systems that sustainably improve lifestyle behaviors at scale.
Resources mentioned ↯
What labs should you be asking your doctor for? Here are the labs Dr. Joseph would order for his patients:
Use this list as a starting point for conversations with your primary care physician or cardiologist. This is not medical advice and is not a complete list for every person or situation.
Standard lipid panel (total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides)
Advanced lipid measures (e.g., non‑HDL cholesterol, ApoB, LDL particle‑related measures where appropriate)
Fasting glucose and HbA1c for blood sugar and diabetes risk
High‑sensitivity C‑reactive protein (hs‑CRP) for inflammation and cardiovascular risk
Blood pressure measurements (including home or ambulatory readings where needed)
Additional tests that may be considered based on individual risk (e.g., coronary artery calcium scoring)