SMARTS Wellness Resources
Stroke Video Shorts
Wellness Series Articles by Dr. C
Understanding Blood Pressure
Uncover why blood pressure management is a vital piece of the puzzle for maintaining peak brain and heart health, in the prime of your youth.
Sleep and Longevity
Explore the profound impact of sleep on your brain and heart health. Uncover the smart secrets of how a good night's rest can be your heart's best friend.
Revolutionising Cardiovascular Medicine
Step into the future of brain and heart health with advanced wearables! In a world where high blood pressure stands as the biggest healthcare threat,
Heart and Brain
Discover the Connection Between Your Heart and Brain! In the quest for longevity and wellness, the heart and brain emerge as a dynamic duo, each playing a pivotal role in sustaining our health.
Discover Easy Ways to Boost Your Heart and Brain Health
Maintaining optimal heart and brain health is essential for overall well-being and longevity. Simple lifestyle changes can have a profound impact on keeping both your mind and body strong.
Dairy Dilemmas and Gut Health
Hello, I’m Dr. C, and today we’re exploring the complex relationship between dairy products, gut health, and their broader impacts on inflammation and heart health.
Plant-Powered Protection
Hello, I'm Dr. Charles. Today, we're diving into the powerful world of plant-based diets and their remarkable impact on cardiovascular health, oxidative stress, and chronic diseases.
Poisoning in Plain Sight
Hello, I'm Dr. Charles. Today, we're delving into the hidden dangers of highly processed carbohydrates, often lurking in our favorite snacks and convenience foods. Understanding what processed carbs are, the risks they pose, and how to avoid them is crucial for maintaining good health.
The Science of Fasting
I am Dr. Charles, and today I am thrilled to share with you the fascinating science behind intermittent fasting and its profound impact on our health.
Unlocking the Benefits of Intermittent Fasting
Hello, I'm Dr. Charles. Today, I want to introduce you to the concept of intermittent fasting (IF), a dietary approach that cycles between periods of eating and fasting.
Blog
Live with a purpose, die by an illness
ave you ever found yourself wondering about your purpose in life? I have, too. As a husband, father of two, and a stroke neurologist, I’ve come to understand my professional purpose: to help you live a long, healthy life so your purpose doesn’t get derailed by something preventable, like a stroke or heart attack.
You may not think of stroke as something that happens to people in their 40s, but I see it all too often—young adults who were healthy one day, then suddenly faced with life-altering symptoms like sudden weakness on one side of their body. Every one of the thousands of stroke survivors I’ve treated would have done anything to prevent it.
Stroke is the second leading cause of death globally and the number one cause of disability, leaving many dependent on family for physical and financial support. While stroke can be devastating, the good news is that it’s often preventable.
Think of it like this: Imagine you’ve bought a brand-new car. At 10,000 miles, it’s due for routine maintenance, but work, life, and other priorities keep getting in the way. At 15,000 miles, you know you should take it in, but you still push it off. Then, at 18,000 miles, your car breaks down because of a preventable issue. Most of us wouldn’t let that happen to our car—so why do we neglect routine maintenance on our most important asset: our health?
A simple, yearly blood pressure check is one of the easiest and most powerful investments you can make in your health—and in your life’s purpose.
- Dr. Charles
Actively choose life
There’s a story in the Bible where people are told: “I have set before you life and death. Choose life.”
No matter your faith or background, that choice is still before us every day—hidden beneath countless small decisions.
As a busy physician, husband, and father of two, I know how easy it is to choose what feels good now: the endless scrolling, the late-night emails, the extra slice of pizza. I want balance and wellness, yet I too fall into the trap of quick fixes that slowly chip away at my health.
This is exactly what huge parts of the food and entertainment industries count on: our endless appetite for distraction and instant gratification.
The result? We’re exhausted but can’t rest. We “catch up” on our phones but drift further from real connection. This passive drift is its own quiet choice—one that can lead to stress, high blood pressure, and, too often, a stroke or heart attack.
I see it every day as a stroke doctor: people just like you and me—working hard, raising families—struck down by preventable disease. I have a strong family history of high blood pressure and started checking mine at 25. Over the years, I’ve seen it rise with stress, poor sleep, and unhealthy habits—and fall when I prioritized rest and real balance.
One simple change—better sleep and fewer late-night emails—brought my morning blood pressure surge back to normal. That surge, by the way, is why heart attacks and strokes spike in the early hours.
So I ask you: Are you actively choosing life? Do you know your blood pressure? Did you know that high blood pressure is the world’s leading silent killer—and that nighttime blood pressure may be the strongest predictor of heart disease?
Purpose alone isn’t enough—you must protect it. Start by knowing your numbers and choosing health intentionally, every day.
Live with purpose. Choose life.
- Dr. Charles
Smell your health
Cardiovascular Health Resources
Brain and Heart Health
Cardiovascular disease is defined by dysfunction in the body’s circulation system (blood vessels), leading to severe illnesses like stroke and heart attack. While these events are sudden, the circulation problems that lead to them typically develop over many years from damage caused by high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes (high blood sugar), obesity, tobacco use, poor diet, a sedentary lifestyle, and poor sleep.
What can you do to improve your brain and heart health and decrease your risk of cardiovascular disease?
Sign up for weekly wellness tips from our doctors
Prioritize Brain and Heart Health
To live healthy is to prevent cardiovascular disease.
This requires intentional blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes control.
A healthy diet, regular exercise, restful sleep and mental wellbeing are the essential pillars of wellness medicine.
Know your blood pressure
High blood pressure can damage blood vessels in the brain and heart. Hypertension is the biggest risk factor for stroke and heart attack.
High blood pressure is called the “silent killer” because it often shows no symptoms, highlighting the vital need to check your blood pressure routinely.
Recommendations
Know the importance of a heart-healthy diet
What’s the big deal about cholesterol?
High cholesterol can lead to plaque buildup in the blood vessels that feed your brain with blood. Unhealthy brain blood vessels can cause a sudden blockage causing a stroke.
Recommendations
To maintain healthy cholesterol levels, you should follow a heart-healthy diet, low in saturated and trans fats.
Exercise regularly, at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity exercise.
Ask your healthcare provider when you should have your low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglyceride cholesterol levels checked.
The danger of simple sugars and processed carbohydrates
A diet high in simple sugars and processed carbohydrates can lead to diabetes. Along with hypertension, diabetes damages the blood vessels of the brain and increases the risk of stroke and heart attack.
Recommendations
To lower the risk of diabetes, you should follow a healthy diet that is low in sugar and refined carbohydrates.
Exercise regularly, at least 4 times per week for 30-60 minutes of moderate-intensity
Maintain a healthy weight and lose weight if necessary.
Check with your healthcare provider to see if you should have your hemoglobin A1C level checked. Hemoglobin A1C measures your average blood sugar in the last 3 months and can be used to screen for diabetes.
By managing these risk factors and leading a healthy lifestyle, individuals can reduce their risk of developing cardiovascular disease and live a brain and heart healthier life.
Maintain a physically active lifestyle
Lack of physical activity can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. To maintain a healthy level of physical activity you should exercise regularly, at least 4 times per week of moderate-intensity exercise for 30-60 minutes
Find activities they enjoy, such as walking, swimming, or dancing.
Incorporate physical activity into daily routines, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator.
Join a fitness class or club for added motivation and support.
The dangers of smoking and vaping
The chemicals absorbed into the blood from the lungs when smoking and vaping irritate the blood vessels and significantly increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Recommendations
If you smoke or vape, it’s time to quit. It’s also important to avoid second-hand smoke.
Seek help from a healthcare provider, such as nicotine replacement therapy or counseling.
Avoid triggers that lead to smoking, such as stress or alcohol.
Surround yourself with supportive people.
