Episode 54 of The Health Exchange Podcast features interventional cardiologist Priya Rao Kothapalli in a wide‑ranging conversation about what really determines heart health — from emergency procedures that save lives in minutes to the invisible forces that shape disease over decades. Dr. Rutland and Dr. Rao explore how heart attacks happen, how blocked arteries and faulty valves are treated in the cath lab, and why technologies like transcatheter valve replacement and intravascular imaging have transformed modern cardiology. They also dive into the concept of “vulnerable plaque,” showing why heart attacks often come from hidden inflammation rather than obvious blockages, and how new blood markers and cardiac imaging can identify risk long before symptoms appear. Beyond procedures and lab values, the episode emphasizes prevention, stress, genetics ...