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When we were kids, we all learned common sayings such as “barking up the wrong tree,” “beating a dead horse,” and “just banging your head against a wall.” The basic truth behind these sayings is that when something isn’t working, it’s wise to stop, re-evaluate, and choose a smarter course of action. Unfortunately, when it comes to
heart disease
, the medical community has been unwilling to heed this simple advice. A decade ago, the treatment of hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol) and hypertension was expected to eliminate coronary artery disease and heart attacks by the end of the 20th century. The pharmaceutical industry introduced the potent cholesterol lowering statin drugs (such as Zocor, Lipitor, and Crestor) and proclaimed them to be the cure-all for heart disease. What has been the result of these cholesterol lowering efforts? Cardiovascular disease still causes 38% of the deaths in North America and is expected to be the leading cause of death globally within the next 15 years.
The pharmaceutical industry and some of their friends in the medical community have decided that we have not lowered cholesterol levels enough. Even though we’ve dropped the levelssignificantly, we have not lowered deaths due to heart disease. So what do they want to do? A panel of cardiologists now recommend that we need to lower LDL cholesterol levels below 70.According to these new recommendations, over 98% of the adult population in the US should be taking a statin drug to reducecholesterol. (Is it a coincidence that 11 of the 12 cardiologists on this panel were receiving substantial money from pharmaceutical companies?!)
In spite of the significant and occasionally fatal side effects of these drugs, most physicians have jumped on the band wagon. Many are doing everything they can to convince their patients that taking more cholesterol reducing drugs is the answer to decreasing their risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Friends, it’s time to stop “banging our heads against a brick wall” and look at the facts. For starters, there is overwhelming evidence that heart disease is NOT a disease of cholesterol.In fact, over half of the people who have a heart attack actually have normal cholesterol levels (or what was previously felt to be normal levels). Research has conclusively proven that the majority of heart disease is the result of low-grade
inflammation
in the fine lining of our arteries. For example, Goran K. Hansson, M.D. recently published a review article in the New England Journal of Medicine titled, “Inflammation,Atherosclerosis, and Coronary Artery Disease”. (This appeared in the April 21, 2005 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.) He lays out a very solid case that heart disease is not a disease of cholesterol, but instead is the result ofinflammation.
Causes of Inflammation
Oxidized LDL CholesterolNative LDL cholesterol (the cholesterol that the body naturally produces) does not increase the risk of heart disease. In fact, native cholesterol is necessary for life itself. It transportscholesterol in the blood stream and deposits it at the docks or LDL receptor sites and unloads its cargo to be used by the cell. Cholesterol is an important nutrient for the development of many of our hormones and cell membranes. However, when LDL cholesterol is attacked by excessive free radicals it may become modified or “oxidized,” significantly changing its healthycharacteristics.
Oxidized LDL cholesterol is truly the “bad” cholesterol because it can irritate the fine lining of the artery and stimulate significant inflammation. So it iscritical to realize that it is not native LDL cholesterol that is a concern; it is oxidized cholesterol that is the problem.
High-Fatty Meal
Clinical studies have shown that a meal that is very high in
saturated and trans fats
can cause your arteries to go into spasm for 4 to 5 hours. High saturated fat causes a tremendousrelease in excessive free radicals, which irritate and damage the fine lining of our arteries. Clinical trials have shown that the antioxidants like
vitamin C
vitamin E taken in supplementation with this fatty meal can reduce the duration of arterial spasms to only 4 to 5 minutes.
High-Glycemic Meal
Most of us are intelligent enough to avoid high-fatty meals. But what do we do instead? Many of us head over to the bagel shop for a bagel, orange juice, and coffee. Studies now show thathigh-glycemic meals (such as instant oatmeal, cold cereal, toast, bagels, etc.) also cause the arteries to spasm for 4 to 5 hours. (Foods that are “high-glycemic” rapidly digest and are quickly converted into blood sugar.) Rapidly rising and falling blood sugar produces excessive free radicals which damage the lining of the arteries, leading to the inflammatory reaction.(Again, we know this because if vitamin E and vitamin C are taken in supplementation with a high-glycemic meal, our arteries only go into spasm for a few minutes.)
Antioxidants
have aprotective quality that is capable of neutralizing excessive free radicals so that there is no damage to the arteries in the first place.
Elevated Homocysteine Levels
Homocysteine is a by-product of natural protein metabolism (methionine). High homocysteine levels can irritate the fine lining of the arteries, causing damage and the inflammatoryresponse. Normally, the body breaks homocysteine down into safe end products. The problem is that many people have a vitamin Bdeficiency (especially vitamin B12, B6, and folic acid). This deficiency leads to elevated levels of homocysteine.
Most people do not have their homocysteine levels checked; however, it has been known for years that approximately 15% of all heart attacks and stokes in this country are the specific result of elevated homocysteine levels.
You want to have a homocysteine level below 7.0 micromols/Liter. Levels higher than this increase your risk for developing a heart attack or a stroke. The level can be lowered by simply taking supplements that contain good levels of vitamin B12, B6, and folic acid. If these vitamins do not bring it down satisfactorily, I would recommend adding Betaine or Trimethylglycine (TMG) from you local health food store. You can take anywhere from 1 to 6 grams daily of TMG to lower your homocysteine level to below 7.0 or at least get it below 9.0.
Infectious Agents
More and more studies show that certain infections can lead to increased inflammation of your arteries. Chlamydia, certain strepinfections, and certain viral infections have all been shown to contribute to heart disease by the inflammatory response they cause. Gum disease also creates a tremendous amount ofinflammation in your arteries. So keep flossing your teeth and consume high quality nutritional supplements, because they have the ability to optimize your body’s natural immune system.
Metabolic Syndrome
One of the greatest causes of inflammation of your arteries is “insulin resistance” and the “metabolic syndrome.” The metabolic syndrome is a constellation of problems that is the result of insulin resistance. The problems include high blood pressure, elevated triglyceride levels, elevated VLDL or very bad cholesterol, low HDL or good cholesterol, central obesity, hyperinsulinemia, and increased clotting. In the majority of patients who have it, the metabolic syndrome eventually leads to diabetes and/or heart disease. This happens because every one of the problems associated with metabolic syndrome increase the amount of inflammation in your arteries:
• High blood pressure causes an excessive release of free radicals that leads to inflammation. VLDL cholesterol can cause significant inflammation when it becomes oxidized.
• High insulin levels themselves are known to cause inflammation of your arteries. This is why hyperinsulinemia or elevated insulin levels are an independent risk factor for heart disease.
• Enlarged abdominal fat cells begin releasing inflammatory products and creating tremendous inflammation in your arteries.
When you become diabetic, this process accelerates even faster. Rising blood sugar causes a tremendous amount of inflammation ofyour arteries. When you realize that 90% of diabetics have underlying insulin resistance, it is easy to understand why 80% of our diabetics will eventually die from a cardiovascular event like a heart attack or stroke.
Therapeutic Opportunities
In light of the evidence proving that heart disease is caused by inflammation and not cholesterol, what is to be done about it? As we have seen, those with a financial interest in pharmaceuticals are suggesting that we use drugs to lower cholesterol further (beating a dead horse.) Others in the medical community will begin to develop newer and more effective drugs to respond to the root problem of inflammation (barking up the wrong tree.) Medicine will always try to approach this problem from the back end. What I mean by that is that they will find ways to reverse this inflammatory response with drugs after it is already a problem (banging their heads against the wall).
Let’s stop, and stand back and see if there isn’t a better way to approach this. Here is an idea: Why not try to prevent the inflammation from occurring in the first place?
Seems too logical doesn’t it! Well, the only way to truly prevent this inflammation is to develop effective, healthy lifestyles. By
eating properly
, exercising modestly, and taking a balance of high-quality nutritional supplements, the vast majority of inflammation can be prevented and reduced. The problem with this approach is that it is too cheap. There is no money in it for the medical and pharmaceutical communities, so don’t expect them to promote it! If you develop a healthy lifestyle, they won’t be able to sell you their wares and all their fancy, new drugs will sit on the shelf.
Healthy For Life Program
Healthy for Life is a 15-month interactive internet program that takes you by the hand and guides you into the healthy lifestyles of healthy eating, exercise, and nutritional supplements. Theprogram has been clinically proven to improve insulin sensitivity and inflammation. It also has a side effect of permanent weight loss. The Healthy for Life Program combines a triad of healthy lifestyles. It starts with a healthy diet thatincludes good, low-glycemic carbohydrates, good fats that actually lower inflammation, and good proteins. A modest, consistent exercise program and “cellular nutrition” round out the triad of healthy lifestyles. These lifestyles effectivelydecrease all the causes of inflammation that lead to heart disease and strokes.
If you want to be proactive rather than reactive with your health, you need to check out the Healthy for Life Program and RESET KIT by going to www.HealthyandLeanforLife.com. Consider teaming up with one of our Certified Team Leaders and you will receive a significant discount on any program you choose. Our leaders also add another level of accountability as they help support you in your journey to developing these new, healthier lifestyles—lifestyles that significantly decrease your risk of developing heart disease and
diabetes
. Don’t bang your head against the wall anymore. Choose instead to be Healthy for Life!
Reprinted with permission by Dr. Strand. Please do not reprint without permission from Dr. Strand.
More articles on this site by Dr. Strand
Ray Strand, M.D.
Quickly becoming one of the world's leading authorities in nutritional medicine, Dr. Ray Strand has been involved in a private family practice for over 30 years. During the past 12 years, he has focused his practice on preventive and nutritional medicine. He has lectured on this subject across the United States, Canada, and Australia. He is the author of Releasing Fat, What Your Doctor Doesn't Know about Nutritional Medicine, and Death by Prescription.
More information on the vitamin brand recommended by Dr. Strand
Dr. Ray Strand's Website
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