The Naked Heart
About
The Naked Heart is a weekly series of blogs and social media publications from English cardiologist Dr Edward Leatham. His brief is to apply 50 years of breathing and practicing medicine to the series as part of a move from cardiologist and physician to educator. The podcast publications that accompany each blog are AI constructs designed to broaden my audience and make quite complicated yet important knowledge more accessible. The blog articles release each week provide additional information for readers https://www.scvc.co.uk/category/naked-heart/ Podcasts until Jan 2026 are located at https://Nakedheart.podbean.com Podcasts after Jan 2026 are located at https://feeds.transistor.fm/the-naked-heart
Episodes
- The Handgrip That Predicts Your Patient's Cardiac Future
This episode explores how grip strength measurement can predict cardiovascular risk. It discusses the connection between declining muscle strength and coronary disease through inflammatory pathways, and the protective benefits of resistanc…
- When Your Blood Can’t Breathe: Iron, Anaemia, and the Breathless Heart
This episode explores how iron deficiency anaemia can lead to breathlessness and impact heart function. It discusses how reduced oxygen delivery forces the heart into a hyperdynamic state and can produce a murmur.
- The Heart: The Ultimate Fuel Omnivore
The heart functions like a hybrid engine, utilizing fatty acids, glucose, and ketones for fuel. Metabolic diseases can impair this flexibility, contributing to cardiovascular risk.
- Could Reducing Belly Fat Improve Erectile Function?
This episode discusses the idea that erectile dysfunction in some men might be related to metabolic issues caused by belly fat, rather than permanent arterial problems. It suggests tracking waist reduction and symptoms to see if better met…
- Can we use AI to predict cardiovascular death?
Research from Oxford University explores using AI to detect and quantify coronary inflammation, which is otherwise invisible on conventional CT images. This groundbreaking work may lead to new ways to predict cardiovascular death.
- Your Roadmap to CHD Prevention: A 4-Step Guide
This episode outlines a 4-step approach to coronary heart disease prevention. It covers identifying individual risk, detecting underlying coronary inflammation and plaque, and implementing structured preventive strategies.
- N-of-1: When You Become the Study
This episode discusses N-of-1 medicine, which focuses on personal biology to understand individual health. It explores how individuals can conduct self-experiments to test health hypotheses and track outcomes for improving their own health…
- Why HIIT Gets Rid of Visceral Fat — The Science Behind Anaerobic Exercise
This episode discusses how HIIT affects visceral fat by improving insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake in muscles. A single HIIT session can activate GLUT-4 transporters for up to 48 hours, reducing glucose storage in the liver and visce…
- Mitochondria: The Tiny Engines Managing Your Energy — Until They Are Overloaded
This episode discusses how mitochondria, the power stations within cells, convert food into energy. It explains how modern life can overload mitochondria, leading to oxidative stress, inflammation, and early aging, and explores how lifesty…
- Troponin-Negative Chest Pain: A Dangerous Illusion
The episode discusses the dangers of troponin-negative chest pain presentations and the importance of timely work-ups and imaging tests. It emphasizes prioritizing resources for accurate diagnosis to avoid critical delays.
- Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO): A Hidden Link in Stroke, TIA, Migraine and More — When to Close the Hole in the Heart
The foramen ovale is a fetal opening that typically closes after birth. A Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) occurs when this flap does not fully seal, which can be a cause of cryptogenic stroke. Diagnosis involves a bubble contrast study, and tre…
- “Why Am I Out of Breath?” — The Hidden Link Between Belly Fat and Breathlessness
This episode explores the connection between visceral fat, belly fat stored around organs, and breathlessness. It discusses how this type of fat can cause shortness of breath even when lung and heart tests are normal, and what actions can…
- Cardiologists and a New Enemy: Evolving Tools of the Trade
This episode of The Naked Heart discusses the evolving tools and understanding within cardiology. It covers the historical focus on coronary artery disease and the recent paradigm shift in diagnostic approaches.
- Implantable Loop Recorders (ILRs) in the Investigation of Syncope, Cryptogenic Stroke, TIA, and Transient Global Amnesia
Implantable Loop Recorders (ILRs) are matchstick-sized devices that are implanted to continuously monitor the heart's electrical activity. They are used in the investigation of syncope, cryptogenic stroke, TIA, and transient global amnesia…
- From Genes to Greens: How DNA Shapes Your Nutritional Needs
This episode discusses how individual DNA, lifestyle, and environment create a unique biological blueprint that determines responses to food, exercise, and medications. The hosts explain how sophisticated tools can uncover this blueprint t…
- Dietary Fats: From Villain to Vital Nutrient – Rethinking Fat in a Heart-Healthy Diet
This episode discusses dietary fats and their role in a heart-healthy diet. It covers the benefits of fats for energy metabolism, hormonal health, brain and heart function, and weight control, emphasizing a nuanced approach to dietary fat…
- The 8-Month Metabolic Reset: A New Approach to Reversing Visceral Fat, Improving Blood Pressure and Blood Glucose
This episode of The Naked Heart discusses the 8-month metabolic reset. It explores how this approach can help reverse visceral fat, improve blood pressure, and blood glucose, addressing issues like metabolic disarray and insulin resistance.
- Protein, Sarcopenia, and the Pursuit of Healthspan
This episode explores the topic of protein intake, sarcopenia, and healthspan. It discusses strategies to maintain skeletal muscle mass to improve metabolic health and reduce the risk of sarcopenia.
- Why Cardiovascular Prevention Matters Before 30
This episode discusses how lifetime exposure to LDL cholesterol and high glucose variability predict cardiovascular risk. It explores early prevention strategies, including lifestyle changes and statin therapy, for individuals in their 20s…
- Cardiovascular Health Under 20: A Guide for Young People and Their Families
This episode discusses the importance of cardiovascular health for young people, highlighting how early habits and risk factors can impact heart health, especially in families with a history of heart disease.
- Cardiovascular Prevention: Why Waiting Until 60 Is Too Late
This episode discusses the importance of early cardiovascular disease prevention, particularly LDL cholesterol control, noting that symptoms often appear decades after the disease begins. It highlights the critical age range of 40-60 years…
- The Rise of Online Home Blood Testing: A Paradigm Shift in Preventative Healthcare
This episode discusses the growing trend of online home blood testing, highlighting its role in preventative healthcare due to increased public awareness, reduced access to primary care, and testing convenience.
- The Cardiometabolic Clinic
The SCVC cardiometabolic clinic focuses on preventative cardiology. This involves real-time metabolic assessments, lipid profiling, and targeted pharmacotherapy to manage cardiovascular risk.
- How does stress affect your heart?
This episode explores the impact of stress on the human cardiovascular system. It discusses clinical insights, scientific knowledge, and practical strategies for managing stress to improve heart health.
- Home Monitoring in Cardiology: A New Era of Patient Care
This episode discusses the evolution of home monitoring in cardiology, highlighting how technology has enabled remote patient care. It covers the benefits of this approach, such as minimizing travel, ensuring timely interventions, and empo…
- 10 Things Everyone Who Has Had a Coronary Stent or Bypass Operation Should Know
This episode discusses 10 key things individuals should know after a coronary stent or bypass operation. It emphasizes managing cardiovascular health through medications, lifestyle changes, rehabilitation, and vigilant follow-up.
- Beta blockers
This episode explores the function of beta-blockers in managing the body's "fight or flight" response. They help to regulate heart rate and blood pressure, reducing overstimulation caused by stress, anxiety, or medical conditions. The disc…
- How to take a 'Statin Holiday' in your own N-of-1 trial
This episode explores the concept of a 'statin holiday,' which involves temporarily discontinuing statin medication to evaluate its impact on symptoms. It also covers using a visual diary for an N-of-1 trial, emphasizing the importance of…
- Aspirin: the cheap wonder drug.
This episode of The Naked Heart discusses aspirin's historical use, its effectiveness in preventing platelet aggregation, and its role in arterial thrombosis. It also covers the mechanisms of aspirin's protective effects and clinical consi…
- When do we intervene in aortic stenosis?
This episode discusses the critical timing of intervention in aortic stenosis, examining the balance between delaying and early treatment. It highlights the benefits of timely intervention for fit individuals aged 75-85.