The Dylan Gemelli Podcast

Episode #72 Featuring Dr. Stephen Hussey:
Surviving a heart attack at age 34, Reversing heart disease, How plaque REALLY forms, Conventional vs. Unconventional Treatments and More!
Release Date: December 11, 2025
Host: Dylan Gemelli
Guest: Dr. Stephen Hussey

Overview

This engaging episode centers around Dr. Stephen Hussey, a chiropractor and functional medicine practitioner who survived a heart attack at age 34, and his mission to understand, reverse, and educate others on heart disease. Dylan and Dr. Hussey dive deeply into personal journeys, critically examine mainstream and functional approaches to cardiac health, and lay out unconventional, actionable strategies for preventing and reversing vascular plaque. Together, they challenge common wisdom on cholesterol, bloodwork, statins, light exposure, hydration, root causes of disease, and much more, offering listeners an in-depth toolkit for informed, self-directed health.

Guest Background & Motivation

[03:00–06:24]

• Dr. Hussey shares his history: chronic inflammation, asthma, allergies, IBS, Type 1 diabetes diagnosed at age 9.
• Grew up immersed in Western medicine but noticed no focus on “why” chronic conditions persisted.
• Discovered through self-experimentation that lifestyle changes could reverse many issues (except for lasting Type 1 diabetes complications).
• Initially wanted to be a pediatric endocrinologist, but soured on the prevailing medical models and chose chiropractic and later functional medicine.
• Life-long curiosity about true causes of disease, especially after his own heart attack experience:
  “I’ve just always been very curious and trying to figure things out. That’s what’s led me to where I am today…” (06:05)

The True Value of Chiropractic

[06:24–09:39]

• Dr. Hussey redefines chiropractic as more than pain treatment: it creates “coherence” in the body and optimizes the nervous system.
• Describes the effects as biophysical and energetic (e.g., stimulating “piezoelectric effects,” electromagnetic fields).
• Chiropractic and similar bodywork increases heart rate variability (HRV), a key measure of the body’s adaptability and nervous system balance.

“What the real effect is is keeping you well and keeping your body coherent and communicating by treating you in a specific way.” — Dr. Hussey (09:15)

Understanding Heart Rate Variability (HRV)

[09:39–15:48]

• HRV is the variation between heartbeats; higher HRV indicates more adaptability and resilience.
• Health is capacity to adapt and return to homeostasis, not simply static “good” numbers.
• HRV spikes during restorative sleep signal beneficial healing states.
• After exercise, HR and HRV should return to baseline within ~10 minutes for someone in good health.

“The heart rate variability is the best measure that I know of, of balance in our autonomic nervous system…[which] is really the true measure of health.” — Dr. Hussey (11:25)

Dr. Hussey’s Heart Attack at Age 34

[16:32–24:53]

• Despite disciplined lifestyle (nutrition, exercise, blood sugar control), suffered a “widowmaker” heart attack following extreme emotional, mental, and physical stress and dehydration.
• Hospital experience: Medical staff focused solely on cholesterol; little room for discussion or consideration of alternative hypotheses.
• Frustrated by hospital’s dietary advice (“processed food diet” post-heart attack), prescribed 8–11 medications (“told me I’d be on 5 for the rest of my life”).
• Chose not to follow conventional pharmaceutical protocol (except temporary blood thinner due to stent).
• Follow-up: Reversed heart damage and arterial plaque within a year (against standard medical expectations), while maintaining “sky-high” LDL cholesterol from a low-carb diet.

“They told me it was impossible to reverse plaque like that, and did it…No curiosity from the vascular surgeon…So I reverse plaque, and I have no plaque in the arteries of my heart with LDL levels that high…” — Dr. Hussey (24:23)

The Clearly Scan & The True Creation of Plaque

[27:15–32:09]

• Clearly scan: an AI-driven analysis of cardiac CT angiograms, offering detailed imaging of artery walls and plaque.
• Major insight: Plaque does not form as “goop” on the inside of arteries, but within the artery wall itself, mostly as clotting tissue, not cholesterol (citing Vladimir Subbotin’s work).
• Proliferation of endothelial cells in the artery wall, requiring new blood vessels, leads to vessel leakage and clotting — not just cholesterol accumulation.

“It’s clotting tissue… the plaque starts in the artery wall… So the question then becomes, how do we prevent the proliferation of the growing of the endothelial cells in the middle of the artery? And that is the answer to preventing plaque.” — Dr. Hussey (29:33)

Why Zero Calcium Score Doesn’t Guarantee Safety

[32:09–36:39]

• A zero CAC (calcium) score may give false security: can still have acute, blockage-forming “soft” plaque, or experience heart attacks via nervous system/metabolism mechanisms.
• Conventional risk scoring doesn’t capture all threats; “life isn’t a snapshot.”
• Two possible mechanisms: acute occlusive clot with no calcium, or pre-existing asymptomatic blockage with heart attack triggered via other mechanisms (including nervous system imbalance).

Dehydration & Structured Water: The #1 Modern Heart Disease Factor

[36:39–47:50]

• Vascular and lymphatic systems are hydraulic and require robust hydration.
• Key: Water in the body exists in a “fourth phase” (structured/exclusion zone water) — a negatively-charged, gel-like layer lining arteries, protecting them and facilitating frictionless blood flow.
• This layer depends on:
  • Hydration (clean, mineral-rich, “coherent” water)
  • Sunlight/infrared exposure (most crucial stimulus for structured water)
  • Proper electrolyte/mineral intake

“If we want to protect the lining of the artery, keep blood moving and keep elements of blood separated and not sticking together, we need enough water, and we need that water to be structured water.” — Dr. Hussey (40:11)

• Discovery: Heart disease rates exploded with the shift to indoor living, artificial light (loss of infrared), and increased processed food/toxin exposure (since 1940s/’50s).
• Modern heart disease recipe: lack of sunlight/infrared, high toxin load, loss of metabolic healing via circadian disruption.

Infrared Exposure: How Much, When, & How?

[47:50–52:31]

• Any sunlight is beneficial; all sunlight is ~40-50% infrared (morning/evening has higher ratio vs total light).
• Supplement with infrared sauna and red light panels, especially if limited time outside.
• Ancestral norm: Outdoors all day, minimally clothed, in contact with the earth.
• Processed “artificial” light (e.g. LEDs/fluorescent) is as hazardous as processed food.
• Don’t overdo it on red/infrared panels (processed light can become harmful at high doses); moderation is key.

Blood Markers, Testing, & the Flaws of Conventional Risk

[58:58–66:09]

• Standard lipid measures (LDL/HDL) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HS-CRP) are not complete indicators.
• True risk is determined by ongoing lifestyle, environment, and metabolic health (insulin sensitivity, leptin levels, triglyceride:HDL ratio).
• Blood values are just a “snapshot”; change dynamically based on context/environment.
• The body can build collateral arteries if blockages accrue slowly (referencing Dr. Giorgio Baroldi’s overlooked research on natural bypasses).

Challenging the Cholesterol and Statin Narrative

[52:31–58:27]

• Overemphasis on cholesterol as sole “cause” of heart disease is misguided.
• Statins' “success” in increasing calcified plaque (supposedly safer than soft) is dubious and contradicted by increased overall risk in highly calcified arteries.
• Large-scale interventions (bypass, elective stents) do NOT reduce risk of future heart attacks except in specific acute scenarios.

“You create a problem to sell the solution.” — Dylan Gemelli, [52:42]

Diet, Fats, & the Plant vs. Animal Oil Debate

[66:09–74:05]

• Fear of dietary fats/saturated fat (“lipophobia”) is not supported by data or real-world results.
• Dr. Hussey and Dylan both saw transformative health, cognitive, and biomarker benefits from higher-animal-fat, lower-carbohydrate diets.
• Plant fats (phytosterols, especially from vegetable oils) may be problematic; animal fats (with K2) are better suited to human physiology.
• Food matters, but sunlight, toxin exposure, and metabolic health are more crucial root causes.

“If there’s no answer that exists, something must be wrong with the question.” — Dr. Hussey, on the endless cholesterol vs. heart disease debate [73:20]

Teeth, Endotoxemia, and Hidden Heart Disease Causes

[76:00–80:59]

• Major overlooked contributor: “Endotoxemia” — bacterial leakage from leaky gut or dental problems (root canals, gum disease).
• Dead tissue left in root canals can remain infected and leak bacteria, promoting chronic vascular inflammation.
• Recommends working with a “biological dentist,” use of CT scans (not just X-rays), and extraction/cleaning (prefer ceramic for implants, avoid metals).

“It’s like putting out the fires without catching the arsonist. You gotta remove that too.” — Dr. Hussey (79:56)

Actionable Takeaways & Key Advice

[Main themes & tools throughout]

• Hydrate well: Clean, mineral-rich water is crucial.
• Get daily sunlight: Emphasize morning and evening when possible, but all light is beneficial.
• Infrared exposure: Use sauna and red light panels, especially if indoors often. Supplement but do not totally replace natural sunlight.
• Eat whole, animal-based diets: Don’t fear saturated fat. Maintain metabolic health and avoid processed foods/oils.
• Optimize sleep & circadian rhythm: Block blue light at night (e.g. blue-blocker glasses, minimize screens).
• Resolve dental/gut infections: Regularly check for hidden oral sources and support gut health.
• Question conventional cholesterol wisdom: Seek root causes; don’t rely solely on statins or standard markers.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You create a problem to sell the solution.” — Dylan Gemelli [52:42]
• “If you don’t have enough energy, you get disease. Your body doesn’t have enough energy to maintain its physiology against disease.” — Dr. Hussey [56:05]
• “I reverse plaque, and I have no plaque in the arteries of my heart with LDL levels that high.” — Dr. Hussey [24:23]
• “All this stuff—regardless of if the toxins in your teeth are causing your heart disease, you don’t want that in there.” — Dr. Hussey [83:30]

Resources & Contact

• Dr. Hussey’s Website: resourceyourhealth.com
• Instagram/Social: @dr.stephenhussey
• Dr. Hussey is launching a health consulting/coaching program for reversing, preventing, and understanding heart disease.
• Recommended books: “The Big Fat Surprise” by Nina Teicholz; Dr. Hussey’s own resources.

Key Timestamps

• [03:00] Dr. Hussey’s health background & journey
• [09:39] Heart Rate Variability explained
• [16:32] Heart attack at 34: story and hospital experience
• [24:53] Reversing plaque, questioning conventional guidance
• [27:15] Clearly scan, how plaque really forms
• [36:39] Importance of hydration and structured water
• [42:31] Infrared/sunlight, history of heart disease trends
• [58:58] Blood markers that matter, beyond lipids
• [66:09] Diet, animal fats, and debunking saturated fat fears
• [76:00] Oral health/dental bacteria and heart disease link
• [81:43] How to work with Dr. Hussey

Closing Thoughts

This episode stands out as a comprehensive, evidence-based, and deeply personal exploration of modern heart disease—from misunderstood mechanics and misguided medicines, to radical strategies for health autonomy. Dr. Hussey’s unique lens is grounded in a rare combination of hard science, lived experience, and enthusiasm for helping others sidestep the traps of mainstream dogma. Highly recommended for anyone invested in their long-term health, or seeking to support loved ones on their heart-health journey.