Heart disease remains the number one cause of death among men in the United States. That may not be breaking news—but it should still be a wake-up call. For too many, the first sign that something is wrong is the heart attack itself.
That’s what makes the current model of care so frustrating. Men are taking their medications, showing up for physicals, and trying to eat right. They’re doing what they’re told. And yet, life-threatening events continue to happen—often with little to no warning.
For Corey Feldman, PA-C, a functional medicine provider in Colorado, one story in particular became the turning point.
Doug was 55 years old. A husband. A father of three. He’d just loaded his Costco cart for a family road trip when chest pain stopped him in his tracks. Doug wasn’t careless—far from it. He had a primary care provider. He was on five different heart medications. He followed the rules.
But that day, despite seeking immediate medical care, Doug's condition took a tragic turn-and he didn't make it.
“I’ll never forget the feeling I had and the revelation,” Feldman says. “Three young kids, and their dad never came home. That moment redefined how I approach cardiovascular care.”
For Feldman, and many others in the field of functional and integrative medicine, stories like Doug’s are far too common—and far too preventable. The issue isn’t just that men are at risk. It’s that the tools used to assess that risk are often outdated, incomplete, or overly generalized.
“Most men walk out of a physical with a cholesterol number, maybe some vague advice, and a return visit twelve months later,” Feldman says. “But that’s not enough. It doesn’t give them the full picture.”
That’s why more men are looking beyond the standard playbook. They’re not waiting for red flags—they’re asking better questions, demanding better data, and shifting from reactive care to proactive insight.
And the shift isn’t just about avoiding illness—it’s about living better.
According to Feldman, when men have real clarity about what’s going on inside their bodies, everything changes. They move with purpose. They train smarter. They recover better. They sleep deeper. They show up—not just for their jobs and their workouts, but for the people who count on them.
This isn’t about chasing perfection. It’s about stacking the odds in your favor. About building resilience before something breaks. About trading uncertainty for strategy.
Men’s health is evolving, and providers like Feldman are helping guide that evolution by offering precision, depth, and individualized care where one-size-fits-all medicine falls short.
And for the women reading this—those who so often encourage their partners to take that first step—know that it matters. Feldman sees it all the time: men who walk in reluctantly and leave feeling empowered.
Because when you finally see the full picture, you stop reacting—and start leading.
Unlocking the Metrics That Matter:
1. Blood Work That Actually Tells You Something
Standard cholesterol tests miss a lot. Feldman recommends these advanced markers for a more complete cardiovascular risk profile: Lipoprotein(a), Small-dense LDL, Oxidized LDL, ApoB & ApoA1, Insulin & fasting glucose, CRP, homocysteine, hematocrit.
2. Don’t Sleep on Your Hormones
Hormones aren’t just about sexual health. Testosterone, cortisol, thyroid, and pituitary function all play a role in metabolism, inflammation, and cardiovascular health. Feldman often checks: Total and free testosterone, DHEA, estradiol, progesterone, Thyroid panel (including antibodies and reverse T3), Cortisol (ideally with daily rhythm mapping), LH and FSH “When hormones are off, men feel off—low energy, poor recovery, brain fog, disrupted sleep. Most of them don’t know it’s fixable,” Feldman says.
3. Imaging That Sees What Labs Can’t
Labs show trends. Imaging shows reality. Feldman recommends: CIMT (Carotid Intima-Media Thickness) and Cardiac Calcium Score (CT). “I’ve had super fit 40-something-year-olds come back with a calcium score that raises eyebrows,” he says. “They had no symptoms. Without the scan, we never would’ve known.”
Take the First Step Toward Better Health
If you’re ready to take a deeper look at your heart health and overall wellness, Trivida Functional Medicine is here to help. Reach out to schedule a consultation with Corey Feldman, Functional Medicine Provider. Located at 7200 S. Alton Way, Suite A320 in Centennial, CO — and available virtually throughout all of Colorado.
720-428-8312
trividafunctionalmedicine.com
Because your health deserves more than guesswork — it deserves a plan.
"Most of the men I see have followed the rules—taken the meds, watched their diet—and still end up blindsided. It’s time we stop guessing and start getting a complete picture of their health."