07/12/2026
Interesting study just came out and proved something very important in military health.
You can make weight, pass tape, and max every PFT.
But that doesn’t mean your heart is in the clear.
Being PHYSICALLY strong ≠ PHYSIOLOGICALLY strong.
Military life isn’t the easiest life, And the exposures that come along with service aren’t the greatest.
Military life isn't easy, and the exposures that come with service aren't either. The things we breathe: heavy metal particulates in shoot houses, burn pits, sandstorms, exhaust fumes, etc. and the things we ingest, like PFAS-contaminated water on base, can silently raise cholesterol and clog arteries in soldiers who look perfectly fit.
The biggest concern is what stays hidden: sudden cardiac death (SCD).
SCD is the leading medical cause of duty-related death. In active-duty service members 35 and older, SCD rates more than triple and 73% of those deaths come from obstructive coronary artery disease.
In a study of 2,000 asymptomatic soldiers (average age 43), 1 in 5 men already had coronary calcium buildup. Those men carried nearly a 12-fold higher risk of heart disease... no symptoms required.
A few proactive ways to protect your heart health:
→ Get your blood pressure checked.
→ Manage stress effectively (poorly managed stress = increased fat storage)
→ Rule out sleep apnea & prioritize 8 hours of regenerative sleep.
→ Get a cholesterol panel (HDL, LDL, TG, Lp(a), CRP, and ApoB, too).
→ 40+ or a family history / risk factors? Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scan.
→ Baseline ECG & Stress testing if needed
So whether you're active, reserve, or a veteran: don't wait for the annual PFT to "clear" you physically, and DO NOT WAIT FOR SYMPTOMS TO SHOW UP.