The Highs and Lows of Blood Pressure, with Dr. Robert Ostfeld

For Hypertension Awareness Month, we are fortunate to have Dr. Robert Ostfeld, a cardiologist at Montefiore Medical Center, join us to talk about lifestyle approaches for treating – and preventing – high blood pressure. In this episode, Dr. Ostfeld explains the numbers, the symptoms – or lack of symptoms – and the associated risks. A self-confessed “reformed cardiologist,” he talks about how he saw his patients who adopted a plant-based diet significantly lower their blood pressure. Not ready to go totally plant-based? Dr. Ostfeld says simply adding more fruits, vegetables and whole grains to your diet can help lower not only your blood pressure but also your risk for heart disease, stroke and dozens of other conditions.

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Robert Ostfeld, MD, MSc, FACC, is the Director of Preventive Cardiology at Montefiore Health System and a Professor of Medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Ostfeld treats patients with adult cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and erectile dysfunction with a focus on prevention and treatment through lifestyle change. He works closely with his patients to help them adopt a plant-based diet.

Dr. Ostfeld received his Bachelor of Arts in the Biologic Basis of Behavior from the University of Pennsylvania, graduating Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa and his Doctor of Medicine from Yale University School of Medicine. He then did his medical internship and residency at the Massachusetts General Hospital and his Cardiology Fellowship and Research Fellowship in Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, both teaching hospitals of Harvard Medical School. During his Cardiology Fellowship, he earned a Master’s of Science in Epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health.

Dr. Ostfeld’s research focus is on cardiovascular disease prevention and reversal through lifestyle modification. Ongoing topics he investigates include the impact of plant-based nutrition on erectile function, coronary artery disease, angina and heart failure. His work has been published in peer-reviewed journals, books, articles, and clinical statements and has been presented nationally.

Dr. Ostfeld is board certified in Cardiovascular Disease and Echocardiography, and he is a member of numerous professional societies, including the Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine and the American College of Cardiology.