Heart disease frequently is caused by atherosclerosis, or decreased blood flow due to artery constrictions.  What causes the arteries to constrict?  The answer is plaque build up in arteries that reduces lumen size,  increases blood pressure and reduces blood flow.

Statistics from good studies on atherosclerosis reveal that not only is blood pressure increased but also increased clotting due to the arterial plaque.  This causes heart attacks and strokes.

Why is ED significant?  ED results from a lack of blood flow to the penis.  There can be other causes for ED; but certainly restricted blood flow, due atherosclerotic plaque, can be a prime cause.

Cardiologist and nutritionist Stephen Sinatra reports in his May 2010 newsletter, Heart Health & Nutrition, on a recent study that is relevant.

This study was extensive, involving 13 different countries and over 1,500 men.  It examined men who have both ED and heart disease.   The study found the combination of both ED and heart disease resulted in twice the deaths from all causes, as compared to heart disease alone.

The chief causes of death were, of course, related to cardiovascular disease.  A 1.6 increase of death was from heart attack, stroke and heart failure. Perhaps this was due to the severity of arterial constriction and thick plaque lining the arteries.

Dr. Michael Bohm (M.D.), from the German University at Saarland was the lead author of the study. He said this:  “If a man has erectile dysfunction, then he needs to ask his physician to check for other risk factors of cardiovascular disease.” Cardiologist Stephen Sinatra fully agreed…Denis Van Loan D.D.S.

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Technorati Tags: atherosclerosis, erectile dysfunction, heart attack, heart disease, stroke

Dr. Thomas Levy cites a study done by Hume and Weyers (1993) that demonstrated acutely lowered levels of vitamin C after only 2 days of a cold. The study observed a 50% decrease of vitamin C in white blood cells after 2 days.  Another study, also cited by Dr. Levy recorded  38% of those suffering heart attack had herpes simplex viral DNA present.

Unstable angina (chest pains) that frequently is a precursor to a heart attack was found to also be associated with low blood levels of vitamin C. This reduced level of vitamin C due to viruses could explain the 3 fold increase of heart attack found after infections…Denis Van Loan D.D.S.

Technorati Tags: cardiologist Thomas Levy, coronary heart disease, heart attack, Thomas Levy, vitamin C

Far fetched as it may seem, high blood pressure and blood clotting can be related to going barefoot. In what way, you ask?

Electrical engineers tell us the earth’s surface pulsates with negatively charged, free electrons.  When a person goes barefoot or sleeps on a grounded mattress, the needed electrons can flow into the circuitry of your body.

You see, free radicals are positively charged compounds that are in need of negatively charged electrons to balance their deficiency. Free radicals are unstable and they steal electrons from weaker (but normal) compounds of your body.  Free radicals produce inflammation, the mother of all degenerative disease.  The result of inflammation in the blood  greatly increases cardiovascular disease. This  increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

When you ground the body by skin contact with the earth’s surface or by conduit from earth to body (a grounded mattress), needed electrons can flow into your body.  Why is this significant?

Studies involving Dr. Sinatra have revealed why grounding your body can be beneficial. In a small study, virtually all but one (who regularly grounded himself), it was demonstrated changes in blood viscosity (a cause of hypertension) due to the sticking and clumping of red blood cells was significant.

Blood samples were taken before and after a 40 minute grounding of the subject’s feet.  Examination of the before and after grounding with microscopic slides clearly showed less stickiness and clumping of blood cells. When there is increased viscosity blood pressure rises; when there is stickiness of red blood cells this correlates to increased heart attack and stroke.

Exactly why increasing the electron availability and less clumping can be explained by the zeta (electrical charge on red blood cells). In one of the studies that Dr. Sinatra participated in found that the zeta became more favorable, apparently due to the surface charge on the red blood cells.  The microscopic examination revealed that the red blood cells did not stick together and flowed more easily, reducing hypertension and clotting tendency.

This explains why regular grounding of your body can be beneficial to cardiovascular health. It suggests grounding can reduce hypertension and heart attack and stroke because it furnishes available electrons that were previously only thought to come from antioxidant compounds found in your diet…Denis Van Loan D.D.S.

The

Technorati Tags: grounding, heart attack, hypertension, red blood cells, stroke, zeta

Rush described the chest pain as severe and extreme.  He thought it was a heart attack but it was never confirmed as such by numerous test for enzyme levels and other indicators of heart attack. What was not denied was the severe chest pain he experienced.

What was the explanation? The classic symptoms for angina attack  fit the symptoms he was experiencing.  What is angina pain?  It is a lack of oxygen supply to heart tissue.  It is caused by constricted circulation to coronary arteries that supply the heart…or can be caused by stopped blood flow (a clot) that blocks the oxygen rich blood from reaching cardiac tissue.  This would indicate a heart attack.

Rush’s testimony of the experience indicated that nitroglycerin sprayed under his tongue relieved the pain. (This would not relieve the heart attack symptoms.)  This medication dilates (opens up) the lumen of the coronary arteries for better blood flow and oxygenation of heart tissue.

After examination and evaluation of tests, the doctors were “amazed” that he did not have the accompanying high levels of LDL cholesterol and other indicators, that accompany atherosclerosis. What is atherosclerosis?

Atherosclerosis is the accumulation of plaque, consisting of high levels of LDL cholesterol and calcium, that shrink the lumen size of coronary arteries. Of course this restricts the blood flow and oxygen to the heart as well as raising blood pressure. (No report of high blood pressure was given either.) The pain relief given by nitroglycerin is because its action dilates the coronary vessels and increases blood flow, oxygenating heart tissue.

What puzzled the doctors was, in the absence of typical accompanying symptoms, why the apparent heart pain?

I do not have a plausible explanation for the pain episode.  As a Christian I do not rule out the power of prayer and supernatural intervention. Rush is loved and respected by thousands of Christians who regularly listen to his popular talk show on radio.  I’m sure thousands (if not millions) of Christians started praying for him when the news of his hospitalization came over the airwaves…Denis Van Loan D.D.S.

P.S. If  a friend is not familiar with this blog site, you can copy and paste this or just give them the link which is: http://naturalhealthsecrets.ws

Technorati Tags: atherosclerosis, heart attack, Rush Limbaugh

Stress tends to be minimized or denied, both by the victim and his/her physician.  Yet an estimated 75% to 90% of visits to primary care physicians are because of stress related problems.

What are the negative aspects of stress?  The following are 7 major ones.

1. Stress promotes chronic, silent inflammation.  This greatly contributes to coronary artery disease.  Inflammation is the mother of all heart disease. It attracts dangerous plaque deposits of LDL cholesterol, increasing the risk of blood clots or coronary artery obstructions.  Inflammation can also be a cause of arrhythmias.
2. Stress weakens the immune system.  Colds, flu and sickness in general are facilitated and accelerated when levels of stress are higher. Toxic by-products interfere with “normal” biochemistry.  The immune system is heavily taxed to handle increased inflammation.
3. Increased clotting of blood can occur due to increased blood pressure and circulation of inflammatory by-products.
4. Blood pressure increases due to anxiety and tension.
5. Insulin resistance increases, impairing the needed uptake of insulin into cells.  Some estimate 1 in 6 people now suffer from diabetes 2.  Diabetes 2 is definitely a risk factor in heart disease.  The American Diabetes Association says more than 65% of people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke.
6. Heart rhythm disturbances occur when your biochemistry is flooded with inflammatory or toxic chemicals. Stress produces free radicals that are oxidative and destructive to homeostasis (body harmony and balance).  “Bad chemicals” of stress must be handled and eliminated.
7. Stress is known to cause heart attacks when there is no evidence of coronary artery blockage or disease. Disruption of heart rhythm is a sudden and fatal cause of these heart attacks.  The heart fails to beat and death occurs.
8. Depression is really a form of stress. It changes the body chemistry adversely.  It affects metabolism and normal body chemistry.  The perceived heaviness is real to your body.  Chemical changes occur that are destructive to your body.

What are 7 things you can do to reduce stress?

1. Stop over commitment to demands of time and work.
2. Take time for recreation and vacations.
3. Relax…take time to “notice and smell the flowers”.
4. Build family relationships by spending time with family members.
5. Get regular exercise…statistics clearly show you will live longer.
6. Be in right relationship with your Creator.
7. Employ the golden rule:  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Whatever you sow that will you also reap!…Denis Van Loan D.D.S.

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Technorati Tags: arrhythmias, coronary heart disease, heart attack, inflammation, LDL cholesterol, stress, stroke

The Journal of Health reports in vol.3 issue 7 some well researched comprehensive benefits to your health. Modern research validates turmeric’s effectiveness, especially in the past 15 years.  Numerous studies and the experience of populations like India that have high dietary intake confirm its benefits.  East Indians have decreased Alzheimer’s, arthritis, and cardiovascular diseases. Here are most of the validated health benefits:

• Anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative
• Helps blood pressure and cardiovascular health
• An excellent pain killer
• Resists DNA mutation due to oxidative damage
• Fights bacteria, viruses and fungi
• Helps balance cholesterol
• Fights Alzheimer’s disease
• Chelates copper and iron
• Aids in digestion

The overarching benefit is arguably that of reducing inflammation and free radical damage.  The significance of this is that virtually all diseases have the issue of inflammation…it is central to disease.

The unseen damage of inflammation occurs at the cellular level in the form of free radical damage.  Classic inflammation is experienced as swelling and pain in the body.

What is free radical damage?  It is the oxidative effect that damages the cellular DNA and ultimately the genetic code of the cell. Damaged cells produce disease when they multiply.  They make the cells sick so that they cannot function efficiently.  When the genetic code is damaged the rogue offspring of this cell is what defines cancer.

Virtually everyone has cancer cells in their body, but truly healthy people are able to rid their bodies of these cancer cells. A cancer needs hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of cancer cells together to form a tumor and be diagnosed as such.

To quote researcher Dr. Badmaev:  “The anti-carcinogenic activity of turmeric extract and curcuminoids may be in part explained by their well researched ability to prevent genetic mutation or mutagenesis”

How about cholesterol balance? First of all it is a well researched and proven fact that cholesterol is necessary and important for health. It is needed for proper lipid balance and for the many cortical steroid hormones as well as vitamin D. It is the core molecule for them all.

Studies show that the HDL (high density lipid) cholesterol is very good and should be in high ratio to the LDL (low density lipids).  Curcuminoids do this.

The International Journal of Vitamin Nutritional Research reports this in a small study of 10 people:  A daily dose of 500 mg of curcumin was given and it produced a 29% increase of the good HDL and significantly reduced the level of LDL. LDL’s are associated with inflammation and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.  While it is not the LDL itself that causes cardiovascular disease, it is the inflammation in the blood vessels that collects the LDL and that causes the disease.

It is the inflamed blood vessels that attract the LDL which co-relates to increased heart attack and stroke. The LDL acts like a rough bandage that can cause a clot or chip off and cause a blockage in a coronary or cerebral blood vessel.

Aside from helping cardiovascular health by keeping cholesterol healthy, curcumins lower blood pressure.  They function by inhibiting PAF (platelet activating factor).  The PAF reduces clotting tendencies. This decreases the incidence of heart attack and stroke.

The anti-inflammatory power of curcumins is believed to work in two ways. It is a free radical scavenger that is an anti-oxidant…directly reducing inflammation.  Secondly, it triggers the release of natural cortisone…probably the most powerful anti-inflammatory agent known.

More than one study has shown its anti-inflammatory benefits to arthritis sufferers. In a double blind, placebo controlled study, patients were given 300 mg of curcumin per day.  The joint swelling, stiffness and pain were all reduced.

Inflammation is a major cause of pain.  Pain is the by product of Cox 2 enzymes that produce post glandins.  Curcuminoids were studied at the famous Sloan-Kettering Cancer Research Center. Their research revealed that indeed that Cox 2 was effectively reduced by curcumins.  Inflammation as well as pain was reduced.

Hundreds of studies clearly demonstrate that inflammation is at the core of cardiovascular disease. Inflammation causes high blood pressure, cholesterol plaque formation and  increased heart attack and stroke.  Anything that can safely reduce inflammation is your best friend for health against migraine headaches, cardiovascular as well as other degenerative diseases...Denis Van Loan D.D.S.

Technorati Tags: cardiovascular disease, cholesterol, cumin, degenerative disease, HDL, heart attack, LDL, migraine headaches, pain reliever, stroke, turmeric

Dr. Julian Whitaker reports in his February 2009 newsletter that: prescription “Drugs are Bankrupting the Country”.  Medicare prescription drug benefits represent a $17,000,000,000,000 (17 trillion) in unfunded liability. That would amount to more than one third of the social security’s unfunded liability.

New York’s Commonwealth Fund has reported that 72 million adults under age 65 had a problem paying medical bills or were paying off medical debt in 2007 (it was far worse in 2008). In 2005 it was only 58 million.  It is not hard to  see that runaway costs now impacts us far worse in the economic downturn of 2009… where money is precious and more scarce.

The Washington Post reported a patient, Ron Eaker, who had filed for bankruptcy 3 years earlier, was now refused medical services. He had had 2 heart attacks but had $30,000 more unpaid medical debt since his bankruptcy had liquidated $104,000 of this debt caused by himself and his wife.

Other sources say that the U.S. residents consume 50% of the world’s prescription drugs but are only 5% of the world’s population.

The analysis cited by Dr. Whitaker was from IMS Health.  The total prescriptions written have increased by 72% in the last 10 years. Hard to believe, but that would now mean 12.6 prescriptions per person in this country.

Cost is a huge problem but patient health is arguably more important.  The paradox is that the more drugs  prescribed, the more unhealthy the population becomes! The U.S. census says we are 42nd in longevity in the world!

The FDA (Federal Drug Administration) who is the “watch dog” for U.S. citizens is receiving record numbers of serious, adverse drug reports. Over 100,000 people are killed each year from properly prescribed drugs…according to the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Julian Whitaker, M.D.,  in his February 2009 newsletter provides a chart of 16 drug classes that are problematic.

I would like to focus on just one of these classes, that of blood thinning. Blood thinners are often prescribed for high blood pressure, or because of dangerous blood clots.  Thick blood causes high blood pressure and inflammation in the cardiovascular system.

In the case of “thick blood”, due to excess fibrin, doctors usually recommended drugs. Increased fibrin, causing increased blood clotting and increased blood pressure, prompts doctors to prescribe the popular blood thinning drug, Coumadin.

As you may know Coumadin was originally used (and still is) as a rat and mouse killer. It works by causing bleeding that results in unstoppable hemorrhage until death.  Of course carefully controlled doses are given to humans, but bleeding also does become more of a health hazard for the human patient. You can bleed to death with an accident.

A number of diseases warrant thinning the blood to reduce lethal blood clots. Diabetes,  cardiovascular (heart & stroke),  kidney disease, Crohn’s  disease, obesity, arthritis, lung disease are common ones.  These diseases tend to increase PAT-1 which reduces the enzyme plasminogin that naturally counteracts the excess fibrin. The body is designed to balance itself but with age the fibrin outpaces the plasminogin.

Clotting tendency from too much fibrin, increases blood pressure, produces inflammation and increases the threat of clots in vital organ such as heart, brain, lungs, and kidneys.

There is also good argument to avoid blood thinning drugs like Coumadin. Drugs are foreign substances that tax the body in some way. They are expensive. Hemorrhaging is a risk.  Of course this should be discussed with your medical doctor who is best able to assess the actual risk  hazard risk of thick blood and what the best treatment would be.

Alternative doctors argue there are  better natural substitutes to reduce symptoms of stroke, heart attack. These are the proteolytic enzymes that break down proteins. Some foods that contain these are: nattokinase (fermented soy) bromolain (pineapple) and papin (papaya)

You can actually buy enzyme supplements that have a variety of enzymes contained in them. They usually have digestive as well as the proteolytic enzymes mentioned already.  You really need to be monitored by a doctor when it comes to thinning your blood or adding any blood thinner.

Thinners should not be added to your diet if you are already on a blood thinning drug.  They can greatly increase  bleeding.

The proteolytic enzymes attack protein… and the 2^nd largest selling, over the counter drug, in Germany, for pain relief, is Wobezyme. (Pain is often caused by an inflammatory proteins that are reduced by Wobezyme.)

Most health food stores sell multiple enzyme formulations such as Flavenzyme  or Wobezyme, or you can find it online... Denis Van Loan D.D.S.

Technorati Tags: cardiovascular, Flavenzyme, heart attack, proteolytic enzymes, stroke, symptoms of stroke heart attack, Wobezyme

More than 1000 studies do not demonstrate an association of low fat diet with prevention or reduction of coronary heart disease. Indeed a study of 832 men, over a 20 year period, demonstrated that a low fat diet increased stroke by 50% and certainly was not beneficial for heart disease reduction.

You may be wondering why higher cholesterol (a fat) and triglycerides (fats also) would not cause heart disease and precipitate a heart attack.

Omega 3 fats, found in deep sea fish, are shown in thousands of studies to reduce fatal heart attack by 50%, if fish is eaten one time a week…according to Bottom Line Health Books.  Multiple servings per week can reduce the risk by as much as 70%.

Why are good fats like those in fish, olive oil and flax oil so good for the heart? Your body need fats for energy production.  A normal body gets 75% of its energy from fats.  Omega 3 and omega 6  fatty acids and triglycerides are good primary sources.

Too many triglycerides as well as too many omega 6 fatty acids are inflammatory, if excessive. Inflammation attracts atherosclerosis build up in the artery linings.  It is dangerous in heart disease, increasing not only heart attack but also stroke.

The essential fatty acid omega 3’s are shown to be beneficial in study after study.  Here is why.

• Omega 3’s balance the typically excessive amounts of omega 6’s essential fatty acids  (Typically the ratio of omega 3 to omega 6 is excessive.  The ratio of 3’s to 6’s is 1:20 to 40 and it should be 1:4…according to Dr. Robert DeMaria a respected authority on trans fats and omega fatty acids.  Too much omega 6 is inflammatory.
• Omega 3’s reduce the bad LDL cholesterol and raise the good HDL cholesterol
• Omega 3’s keep walls and linings of arteries elastic
• Omega 3’s reduce dangerous atherosclerotic plaque build up in the arteries
• Omega 3’s help stabilize heart rhythm, reducing dangerous arrhythmias

The bottom line is good levels of omega 3’s, in numerous studies, are shown to reduce fatal heart attack by over 50%.

Good sources of omega 3’s are deep sea fish (especially salmon), nuts and flax seed oil and hemp oil. Generally any proven supplement does not work best alone because of catalysts, co-enzymes, phytonutrients and many unknowns in a good diet.  A diet rich in nuts, olive oil, grains has merit in providing a heart healthy diet.  A low fat diet does not reduce heart disease risk. The Mediterranean diet, rich in olive oil, nuts, whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables has one of the best records for reduced cardiovascular disease…Denis Van Loan D.D.S.

Technorati Tags: heart attack, low fat diet, omega 3's, omega 6's, triglycerides

A large study done at Harvard found that just as many heart attacks occurred in those with normal  (150 to 200) levels of cholesterol. High levels of HDL alone do not co-relate to decreases in heart attack.   What about LDL (low density lipids) cholesterol?

LDL cholesterol is considered the culprit, but is it really?  Recent, dozens, of creditable studies show a high relationship of blood inflammation as the real culprit. HDL or LDL cholesterol is irrelevant. Inflammation in the blood is well measured by  CRP (C-reactive protein) and/ or Interleukin-6. These are markers in the blood that easily measure the levels of inflammation.  They are the most highly co-related factors in heart disease and stroke.

The danger comes because inflammation in the artery linings attracts LDL (especially the small particle size) and it forms nature’s bandage to protect the “wounded” arteries. The problem comes when the cholesterol dominated plaque causes a clot or plaque to breaks off and plug a coronary or cerebral artery. This produces a heart attack or stroke respectively.

Drug companies have convinced medical doctors, legislators and the public that cholesterol is the problem, when it really is not. The revenue generated from cholesterol lowering drugs (statins) is enormous.  The last figures I read were 20 billion dollars for this class of drugs.  Proof of this rip off came home to roost when Pfizer was recently fined 2 billion, 300 million dollars for false and misleading advertising. (They can afford the fine since they generate over 12 billion annually from Lipitor, their flagship cholesterol lowering drug.)

It seems clear to me that the wrong emphasis is placed on reducing cholesterol.  Our emphasis should be focused on lowering inflammation in the blood. This means reduction of obesity and diabetes 2… excessive intake of fats, trans fats, sugar and other harmful dietary consumptions…Denis Van Loan D.D.S.

Technorati Tags: cholesterol, coronary heart disease, HDL, heart attack, inflammation, LDL

Why viscosity is a factor  is because thick blood causes more friction, especially at the junctions of arteries. This causes irritation and inflammation there.  With inflammation LDL cholesterol plaque forms to cover the injured area.  This plaque can chip off or send a blood clot down line.

Heart attacks are obstructions in the coronary arteries caused by this plug of plaque or by a blood clot.  Viscosity is a dangerous and sometimes a silent… but fatal risk factor.

High viscosity means greater resistance to blood flow. It make the heart work harder to circulate the thick blood.  Aside from taxing the heart muscle and pushing up blood pressure, its greatest danger is that of heart attack.

You might ask what causes the increased viscosity.  There are several factors and most have to do with inflammation in the blood.

Smoking produces inflammation.  This tends to thicken the fibrin, which is the matrix for clots.

A second risk factor producing thick blood is old red blood cells. With age, red blood cells tend to become more inflexible and do easily pass through the capillaries.  Diabetes tends to make red blood cells stiff.  With regular transfusion or menstruation the old cells are replaced by fresh new ones.

When old red blood cells are still in circulation they sometimes need to pass through capillaries that are one fourth their diameter. Red blood cells are bi-concave discs that need to flex in order to easily pass through the end capillaries.  Old cells creates more resistance, thicker blood, raising viscosity and risk of heart attack.

A third factor causing viscosity is obesity. The toxins and triglycerides also increase the fibrin, raising resistance and risk of heart attack.

A fourth cause is LDL cholesterol, especially the Lp2 form which is more irritating and inflammatory.

Alternative heart doctors often recommend supplements like Nattokinase. It is a fermented soy product that is a proteolytic enzyme. It breaks down the protein fibrin and reduces LDL cholesterol.  (Other proteolytic enzymes are also helpful)

Nattokinase has proven in some studies to even better the the cholesterol drugs and without the side effect of lowering the necessary CoQ-10.

A little knowledge is dangerous, and you should not risk a heart attack by self therapy.  You should seek out a medical doctor who is knowledgeable of alternatives and is willing to use them...Denis Van Loan D.D.S.

Technorati Tags: blood viscosity, fibrinogin, heart attack, high blood pressure