Addressing our Nation's Number One Killer - Heart Disease
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) once again made headlines with President Clinton suffering from a major arterial blockage recently. In fact, CVD is quite famous, with the likes of David Letterman, and Larry King joining the zipper club in recent years. This of course is no laughing matter. CVD is responsible for nearly half of the deaths annually; it attacks silently, often resulting in sudden death, with no warning sign. Well, almost no warning signs.
The accurate description is no warning symptom, because there are very obvious signs. Just like diabetes, you can diagnose CVD, and treat it, and even prevent it, if you know how to read the SIGNS. What signs do we use for CVD? Well just like Diabetes, you must measure blood parameters, and measure early. An understanding of the mechanism at action in CVD helps to understand these signs.
How does this mysterious disease, that attacks people without warning actually develop? The mechanism, as best understood, involves damage to the interior of your blood vessels. Damage similar to an abrasion, such as what you get sliding into home plate, resulting in the formation of a “scab” that fat can get stuck to and clog the artery. We know what causes these injuries, and the short list includes 1. Inflammation, most notably homocysteine; 2. High blood pressure; and 3. Carbon monoxide, most notably from smoking. Very different mechanisms of injury, but causing very similar damage to the delicate interior of your vessels.
The significance of this, is that the initiating factors of this deadly disease are all nearly 100% preventable, through proper nutrition and lifestyle management. A balanced diet sufficient in B vitamins eliminates homocysteine, one cause of damage. Adrenal health, exercise, and electrolyte balance nearly remove the possibility of high blood pressure, the second cause. Stop smoking and you remove this last cause of damage. Theoretically, CVD is GONE, no longer a major cause of disease.
Wait, wait, how can I speak of CVD without mentioning cholesterol? I agree that cholesterol must be managed for CVD, as well as for Alzheimers disease and other chronic diseases. But if we STOP the initiating event, which is damage to the artery, caused by the above factors, resulting in a “scab” formation that fat can “stick” to, there is nowhere for fat and cholesterol to get stuck. With that in mind, we do want to obtain optimal cholesterol numbers. That includes cholesterol between 180 and 220, (there are studies showing that cholesterol under 160 is predictive of antisocial behavior), HDLs over 60, and ideally, LDLs and triglycerides under 100.
Lack of exercise and refined carbohydrates will increase your LDLs and triglycerides, and decrease your HDLs. Exercise, vegetables, and whole, unprocessed grains (in moderation) will increase your HDLs and reduce LDLs and triglycerides. YOU have complete control over these risk factors as well!
Total cholesterol can be slightly more challenging. BUT, I would NEVER take a statin drug, personally, because it blocks an enzyme that is needed, REQUIRED, to produce ATP, also known as energy! ATP depletion is in the top 5 causes of cellular DEATH, listed in pathology textbooks. A healthier way to decrease cholesterol is to look at liver function and thyroid function. There are various nutritional strategies for both, which are specific to each individual based on lab testing, so I can’t offer an one size fits all nutritional plan for this. I have seen cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDLs fall significantly, just by working on the liver and/or the thyroid gland.
Also consider soluble fiber, which is found in berries, flax, psyllium, oats, etc. Adding a couple teaspoons of ground flax to your diet daily will lower your LDLs and cholesterol by 15-20%.
Antioxidants are also very important in CVD, as it is OXIDIZED LDLs that tend to stick in the arteries. So, again, eating adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables increases your intake of antioxidants, thereby decreasing your risk of CVD again.
I hope this helps people to understand this disease. It is not so mysterious after all. It can be virtually eliminated by watching your labs closely, and managing lifestyle appropriately. Sometimes it may require the help of a physician qualified to provide nutritional support and advice. It isn’t an entity that “attacks” us mysteriously. It is simply a biochemical imbalance that can be corrected, naturally.
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