Writing & Notes
From the clinic.
Essays, observations, and notes from a cardiology practice in Encinitas — written in plain language, refreshed when the evidence changes.
Do Calcium Supplements Raise Heart Attack Risk? Why I Steer Most Patients Toward Food First
Calcium pills are one of the most common supplements my patients take, yet the heart data give me pause. Dr. Damian Rasch explains why supplemental calcium may raise cardiovascular risk, why dietary calcium does not, and the few times a supplement still makes sense.
Read the essayMedicare Now Covers GLP-1s for Weight Loss: Who Qualifies for the New $50 Bridge Program
Medicare's GLP-1 Bridge started July 1, 2026. Dr. Damian Rasch explains who qualifies for $50-a-month Wegovy, Foundayo, or Zepbound and how to get it.
ReadYour Mammogram May Soon Flag a Heart Warning: What Breast Arterial Calcification Means
Maryland will soon require mammogram reports to tell women about breast arterial calcification (BAC). Dr. Damian Rasch explains what BAC is, why preventive cardiologists watch it, and how it parallels a coronary calcium score.
ReadArchive
2026
- Jun 15 What the 2026 Cholesterol Guidelines Actually Change for Patients The 2026 ACC/AHA Dyslipidemia Guideline replaces the 2018 version with a lifelong-prevention frame, a new PREVENT risk calculator, and universal Lp(a) testing. Dr. Damian Rasch translates what changes for patients.
- Jun 7 The Lp(a) Number Above 175 nmol/L: New NIH Data on Why Standard Treatment May Not Be Enough New SCAI 2026 data pooling 20,070 patients from three NIH trials shows that lipoprotein(a) above 175 nmol/L drives cardiovascular risk that standard treatment doesn't erase. Dr. Damian Rasch explains what to do about it.
- Jun 1 A New Pill for Stubborn High Blood Pressure: What Baxdrostat's FDA Approval Means for Patients The FDA approved baxdrostat (Baxfendy) on May 18, 2026, as the first aldosterone synthase inhibitor for hypertension. Dr. Damian Rasch explains how it works, who it's for, and what patients with resistant high blood pressure should know.
- May 25 Beyond Leqvio: The One-Time Cholesterol Treatment Now Heading to Phase 2 Lilly's VERVE-102 cut LDL cholesterol by 62% with a single dose in Phase 1. Dr. Damian Rasch explains what gene editing means for cholesterol care, how it compares to Leqvio and Repatha, and what patients should actually expect.
- Mar 29 Atrial Fibrillation (AFib): A Cardiologist's Complete Patient Guide Diagnosed with atrial fibrillation? Dr. Damian Rasch explains AFib symptoms, causes, stroke risk, treatment options including ablation, and how to manage AFib long-term.
- Mar 29 Heart Palpitations: A Cardiologist's Guide to Causes, Concerns, and Care Feeling your heart race or flutter? Cardiologist Dr. Damian Rasch explains heart palpitation causes, when they're harmless vs. concerning, and when to see a doctor.
2025
- Oct 29 Protecting Your Heart While Fighting Breast Cancer: What Every Woman Should Know This October Breast cancer treatments can put stress on the heart. Dr. Damian Rasch on cardiotoxicity, GLS imaging, and how to protect both your life and your heart.
- Aug 14 Side Effect Spotlight: Amlodipine and Swollen Ankles The surprising truth about why your heart medication is making your ankles puffy (and what you can do about it). Dr. Damian Rasch explains.
- Aug 6 FDA Breaks New Ground: Leqvio Now Approved as First-Line Cholesterol Treatment FDA approves statin-free, pill-free cholesterol control that simply restores your natural LDL-clearing ability. Dr. Damian Rasch on the Leqvio first-line label update.
2019
- May 28 Do Statins Actually Cause Diabetes? Separating Medical Facts from Internet Fear Worried about statin-induced diabetes? Dr. Damian Rasch explains the real numbers behind statin diabetes risk and why this medication still saves lives.
- May 28 Understanding Your Ejection Fraction: What Those Numbers Really Mean That 55% on your heart test doesn't mean your heart is only half-working. Dr. Damian Rasch explains what ejection fraction really measures.
- May 28 So What's the New Deal with HDL Cholesterol? Doctors used to say high HDL cancels out bad cholesterol. We were wrong. Dr. Damian Rasch on why HDL is no longer a treatment target.