A Florida Doctor Says Blood Sugar May Be a Hidden Driver Behind Heart Attacks

For years, we've been told to watch our cholesterol to protect our hearts. But now doctors warn that cholesterol levels aren't the whole story. They say there's something else patients should monitor: their blood sugar.

Sugar: The Hidden Heart Risk

According to a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, people who got 25 percent or more of their daily calories from added sugar had a nearly threefold higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease than those who consumed less than 10 percent of their calories from added sugar.

The research suggests that diets high in sugar may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Dr. Mary Van, a clinical director at ThriveX in Fort Lauderdale, says patients should pay close attention to their blood sugar, even if their cholesterol levels appear normal.

"We've been arguing the importance of cholesterol for literally decades ..." Dr. Van, PharmD, recently told South Florida news station WPLG. "But studies have shown that many patients admitted for a heart attack actually had normal cholesterol levels."

Dr. Van says blood sugar deserves just as much attention as cholesterol.

Heart Health with Dr. Mary Van

In the WPLG Healthcast segment, Dr. Van explains that elevated blood sugar may quietly damage blood vessels long before symptoms appear. Over time, excess blood sugar can harden arteries and increase the risk of heart attack.

Van also warns that many ultra-processed foods contain ingredients that can contribute to insulin spikes, weight gain, and other cardiovascular risks.

What You Should Ask Your Doctor

So what should patients ask about at their next doctor's visit?

Dr. Van recommends talking with a healthcare provider about advanced heart screenings

"You need to be checking your soft plaque markers. That includes sticky cholesterol, Lp(a). And to determine how much time do you have to improve your diet as well as your overall health, get a cardiac CT scan because that's going to tell us when we can estimate when you're going to be at the highest risk for an actual cardiovascular event."

Dr. Mary Van

The advice is especially important for people with a family history of heart disease or diabetes. Because, according to Dr. Van, patients with diabetes face a significantly higher risk of heart attacks than the general population.

"The goal isn't to ignore cholesterol," Dr. Van explains. "It's to look at the whole picture of heart health before it's too late."