Finally in the Spotlight: Your Immune System, Inflammation, and Heart Health

This morning—before throwing on my Eagles jersey and cheering for the Birds 🦅—I had the pleasure of reviewing the brand-new 2025 American College of Cardiology Scientific Statement on Inflammation and Cardiovascular Disease. And I’ll be honest, I’m thrilled.

For years, we’ve known cholesterol and blood pressure drive heart risk. But we’ve also seen patients who look “perfect” on paper—normal cholesterol, no diabetes—yet still suffer heart attacks. The missing piece? Inflammation.

The new statement makes it crystal clear:

• Inflammation is measurable. A simple blood test, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), shows whether your body is carrying an inflammatory burden.

• Inflammation is treatable. Lifestyle shifts like diet, exercise, weight management, and quitting smoking lower inflammation—alongside certain medications when appropriate.

• Inflammation is personal. Not every body reacts the same way. What spikes one person’s blood sugar or triglycerides may barely affect another. That’s why personalization is the future of prevention.

  
  

This resonates deeply with my practice—and if you’re one of my patients, you’ve probably heard me bring up inflammation more than once during our visits. I believe in moving beyond “one-size-fits-all” advice. Instead of simply saying “follow a Mediterranean diet” or “do moderate-intensity exercise,” we can actually measure your inflammation, see how your body responds, and then design a plan that’s tailored to you. That’s precision prevention—and it’s empowering.

My patients are people ❤️ —individuals with unique genetics, environmental exposures, and physiology. No two are exactly alike. While I’ve been practicing this personalized approach for years, I’m hopeful that more of my colleagues will embrace it too as the emerging data continues to highlight just how important personalization is in heart health.

✨ What excites me most: The ACC now puts inflammation right alongside cholesterol as a cornerstone of prevention. Checking your inflammation score (hsCRP) is no longer “experimental”—it’s evidence-based, actionable, and ready for everyday care.

So, what does this mean for you?

• Even if your cholesterol is fine, inflammation can quietly affect your heart, hormones, metabolism, and sleep.

• If you’re motivated to personalize your nutrition and lifestyle, tracking inflammation gives us a measurable target to calm down together.

• And if you simply love the idea of medicine becoming more individualized—this is the future, arriving now.

  
  

  Helping you live Heart Strong, Life Long means staying at the forefront of science and prevention—and I’m dedicated to being with you every step of the way.

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  Stay tuned for upcoming posts where I’ll share practical ways to lower inflammation through food, movement, and lifestyle—along with updates on promising new therapies.

  With you in your heart health journey,

  Dr. Jen Cruz