Lead and Your Heart: Why “Normal” Isn’t Optimal

Let’s talk about Lead….everyone knows it damages children’s brains but what about adults?

In 2018 Bruce Lanphear’s group followed over 14 thousand Americans for 19 years and found those with high concentrations had 70 percent higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and about twice the risk of dying from ischemic heart disease compared to those with the lowest. The crazy thing is ….ALL of those levels would be “normal.” The authors estimated lead contributes to roughly 256,000 cardiovascular deaths a year in the US. This highlights a MAJOR difference between conventional medicine and the Wellness industry. In Wellness, we don’t look at NORMAL values, we aim for OPTIMAL…and often there is a huge difference.

Lead isn’t the only heavy metal to be concerned about. In 2023 the American Heart Association classified lead, cadmium and arsenic as cardiovascular risk factors. We routinely test for all of these as part of our Root Cause investigations.

When was the last time a doctor asked what’s in your water?

Sources

• Lanphear BP et al. Low-level lead exposure and mortality in US adults: a population-based cohort study. Lancet Public Health 2018;3(4):e177-e184. NHANES III, 14,289 adults, median follow-up 19.3 years. Blood lead 1.0 → 6.7 µg/dL (10th → 90th percentile): all-cause mortality HR 1.37, cardiovascular HR 1.70, ischemic heart disease HR 2.08. Attributable: ~412,000 deaths/yr all-cause, ~256,000 cardiovascular. Blood lead was measured in 1988–1994, when levels were higher than today’s.
• Lamas GA et al. Contaminant Metals as Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. J Am Heart Assoc 2023;12:e029852.

Andrew Rudin, MD is a cardiologist and board-certified cardiac electrophysiologist who takes a natural, root-cause approach to heart health. He sees telehealth patients nationally and internationally through Natural Heart Doctor, and is licensed in Tennessee. He has been quoted as an expert source by Medscape and Men’s Journal, and was profiled in The Village Voice. More at andrewrudinmd.com.

This article is for general education and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for care from your own physician, and nothing here should be used to start, stop, or change treatment on your own.