{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The Curious Cardiologist","title":"Beyond Blood Pressure Medication: A Functional Approach to Cardiovascular Health","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":4032,"description":"High blood pressure is one of the most common cardiovascular problems in the world—but what if the number on the blood pressure cuff is only part of the story?\nIn this episode of The Curious Cardiologist, Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj sits down with Mark Young, a functional medicine practitioner, entrepreneur, and CEO of Zona Health, to explore a different way of thinking about cardiovascular wellness.\nMark shares his journey from academia and health marketing into functional medicine and explains why he became interested in the relationship between endothelial function, circulation, nitric oxide, and blood pressure.\nThe conversation dives into the concept of isometric exercise—static muscle contractions such as planks, wall sits, and grip exercises—and how Zona Health has developed a guided hand-grip device around this type of exercise.\nDr. Sanjay and Mark also discuss the importance of lifestyle interventions, patient ownership, cardiovascular conditioning, medication conversations, and the challenge of separating evidence-based health information from online wellness noise.\nThe episode ultimately asks listeners to remain curious, question assumptions, and understand cardiovascular health as a system rather than simply a number on a blood pressure monitor.\nThe conversation explores:\nWhy blood pressure may be viewed as part of a larger cardiovascular picture\nWhat the endothelium is and why it matters\nThe relationship between vascular function and blood pressure\nHow nitric oxide contributes to vasodilation\nWhat isometric exercise actually does\nHow grip-based isometric training works\nWhy Zona Health developed a guided isometric device\nCardiovascular conditioning and lifestyle interventions\nThe importance of patient education and health ownership\nHow to evaluate health information online\nWhy Mark believes people need to remain curious rather than blindly accepting health claims\n TIMESTAMPS \n00:00 — Meet Mark Young: Functional Medicine & Cardiovascular Health\n07:37 — Taking...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/ERjY_X6E6gwO4KLOBaOc5CRJbj_3VbOWBJACPcpnyaQ/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8wZDcw/ODk2MmZhYmViMGVl/ODE2ZGVhMDgwYzJl/NTUyZS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}