By Dr. Shannon O'Keefe, DC, DCBCN – Expert in Functional Medicine & Internal Diagnosis
O’Keefe Matz Functional Health Clinic
Are you concerned about your heart health—but tired of hearing the same generic advice about cholesterol and statins? At O’Keefe Matz Functional Health Clinic, we specialize in uncovering the root causes of cardiovascular disease using a Functional Medicine model.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD), including heart attacks, stroke, and atherosclerosis, is the leading cause of death in the United States—but it’s also highly preventable and reversible when we stop relying on outdated testing and treatment protocols.
That’s why I use the Three-Legged Stool model to evaluate and treat CVD at its core. This model allows us to assess cardiovascular risk from three interconnected angles—not just cholesterol.
What Is the Three-Legged Stool of Cardiovascular Disease?
Cardiovascular disease is not caused by one factor alone. It is a multifactorial condition with three primary root causes:
Leg 1: Lipid Dysregulation
Abnormal lipid levels—such as high LDL cholesterol, low HDL, and high triglycerides—are commonly targeted in conventional medicine. But standard lipid panels are incomplete.
In our clinic, we go beyond the basics with advanced lipid testing, evaluating:
- Lipoprotein(a)
- ApoB
- LDL particle size and number
- Oxidized LDL
These markers provide a more accurate picture of your cardiovascular risk—and help us guide natural and clinical interventions that go beyond statins.
Leg 2: Endothelial Dysfunction & Vascular Inflammation
The endothelium is the inner lining of your blood vessels—and when it’s inflamed or damaged, your arteries can’t dilate properly. This dysfunction often precedes plaque buildup and is a major risk factor for stroke and heart attack.
At O’Keefe Matz, we test for key vascular inflammation markers, including:
- hs-CRP
- Myeloperoxidase (MPO)
- ADMA
- F2-Isoprostanes
Inflammation is a silent driver of cardiovascular disease, and identifying it early allows us to apply targeted, anti-inflammatory therapies rooted in lifestyle, nutrition, and nutraceutical support.
Leg 3: Insulin Resistance
This is the most overlooked contributor to heart disease. Insulin resistance affects how your body manages blood sugar—and it’s linked to increased inflammation, poor lipid profiles, and endothelial dysfunction.
Early signs of insulin resistance often go undetected unless proper testing is done. In our practice, we assess:
- Fasting insulin
- Hemoglobin A1c
- Post-meal glucose responses
- HOMA-IR scores
By identifying and reversing insulin resistance, we can prevent or manage conditions like metabolic syndrome, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes—before they damage your cardiovascular system.
Why Standard Heart Tests Are Not Enough
Most conventional providers rely solely on a basic cholesterol panel, often resulting in unnecessary or ineffective prescriptions. The reality? Cholesterol is only one piece of the puzzle.
To accurately assess cardiovascular risk, we must examine all three legs of the stool:
- Lipid dysregulation
- Endothelial dysfunction
- Insulin resistance
Neglecting any one of these leads to incomplete treatment—and missed opportunities for healing.
Advanced Cardiovascular Testing at O’Keefe Matz Functional Health Clinic
At our clinic, we use cutting-edge diagnostic tools and labs to evaluate cardiovascular health at a cellular and metabolic level. This empowers us to design personalized heart health plans that combine:
- Functional nutrition
- Lifestyle and stress management
- Targeted supplementation
- Root-cause metabolic support
- When appropriate, integrative pharmaceutical interventions
Ready to Take Charge of Your Heart Health?
If you've been told your labs are “normal” but you still feel off… or if you have a family history of heart disease and want real prevention, it’s time for a deeper evaluation.
Schedule your Functional Cardiovascular Risk Assessment with Dr. Shannon O’Keefe today and discover what your heart has been trying to tell you.
