Focus on Health…
- Is it really type II diabetes or drug-induced hyperglycemia?
- Several studies prove statin drugs can raise blood sugar levels;
- Statin drugs send messages to your liver to STOP making any more cholesterol—so… the liver sends the sugar back OUT to your bloodstream and now you get diagnosed with type II diabetes.
AGE and a Healthy Heart
Written by Carmia Borek, PhD
Cardiovascular disease is a complex ailment, characterized
by a wide variety of factors, including high LDL cholesterol
(the bad cholesterol) elevated levels of triglycerides,
hypertension, calcification of arteries, increased platelet
aggregation, and low levels of the protective high density
cholesterol (HDL).
Garlic has been used for centuries as a traditional medicine, in many cultures. Modern science has confirmed its role in reducing cardiovascular risk factors, by normalizing plasma lipids and inhibiting platelet aggregation; yet some contradictory results have arisen, due to shortcomings in study methodology and inadequate standardization of the garlic preparations used in many studies.
Hypertension and WISE Therapy
Written by Elson M Haas, MD
Hypertension, or High Blood Pressure (HBP), is a
common disease in modern cultures, more common
in men than women, and in African Americans
over Caucasians. Hypertension means “too
much tension,” and of course, stress plays a role
in HBP which, when untreated, can cause many other problems
in the cardiovascular systems as well as in the kidneys
and brain. It is also called the “silent killer” because typically
people are not aware they have high blood pressure unless they
have it checked. So, check yours out at the local pharmacy, your
doctor’s office, or from a company nurse, or friend who has a
blood pressure cuff. Check it both when you are relaxed and
also when you are under stress, as in just out of heavy traffic or
right after work. The normal numbers should be below 130/80,
and ideally between 110/70 and 120/80. The old level for labeling
HBP was 140/90 as borderline, yet that is now considered
hypertension because even those numbers have been shown to
be problematic over the long-term.
Gum Disease and Heart Disease
Written by Flora Stay, DDS
There is growing concern over the connection of gum disease
and heart disease. Unfortunately, most people think
teeth have no connection to the rest of the body. There are
many connections, including the fact that every tooth and its
supporting structures contain arteries that travel to the heart.
It’s very important to keep the tissues surrounding your
teeth healthy. Studies have confirmed gum disease has a
connection with increased risk of:
Firefighters with Moderate Risk for Plaque Build-up Benefit from Taking a Combination of Garlic and Coenzyme Q10
New Orleans, LA. Firefighters have a two- to four-fold higher risk of having a cardiac event—such as a heart attack or sudden death—on the job compared to the general population.
RESEARCH on the incredible health benefits of the omega-3s is published almost on a daily basis. The marine omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA play a crucial role in the development of the brain, nervous system and the eye. Even the medical community has been caught up in the excitement. In 2002, the American Heart Association issued a scientific statement on the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on heart health. The statement endorsed raising our levels of DHA and EPA either by eating fish or by taking a daily fish oil supplement. The American Heart Association statement reviews omega-3s support of healthy heart rhythm, cardiac strength and the health of blood vessels.
A study published in Panminerva
Medica reveals that a Pycnogenol and Coenzyme
Q10 (CoQ10) combination (PycnoQ10
®) taken by stable heart failure patients
as an adjunct to medical treatment
naturally strengthens the heart, increasing
the blood volume ejected with each
beat. As a consequence, the oxygen-rich
blood supply to the organs improves, and
patients become more physically energetic.
Furthermore, blood pressure, heart
rate and respiratory rates were improved
among patients. Pycnogenol (pic-noj-enall)
is an antioxidant plant extract from
the bark of the French maritime pine tree
and has been clinically proven to improve
endothelial function and blood flow. As
evidenced by this study, Pycnogenol, in
combination with CoQ10, offers a potent
contribution to heart health management.
Garlic ranks highest in popularity and efficacy among health promoting herbs. A staple remedy in traditional medicine for thousands of years, garlic’s ability to prevent a wide range of age-related diseases has been confirmed by modern science. Studies show that garlic, rich in organosulfur compounds and high in antioxidant activity, lowers cholesterol, helps protect against cardiovascular disease and inflammation, and has potential to lower the risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.
Red Yeast Rice (rice fermented with Monascus purpureus) is no stranger to the dietary supplements marketplace. For quite some time, it has been viewed as a better “natural alternative” to statin drugs by many individuals who visit health food stores as well as numerous health care practitioners. Recently a large university study of statin-intolerant individuals has provided evidence in support of this position. However, is Red Yeast Rice merely an alternative to statins for some individuals or is it something more?
The leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women is coronary disease, which most often
takes the form of a heart attack.
The heart is one of the most important organs in the human body. It is a pump composed of muscle, which circulates blood throughout the body, carrying all the vital materials that help our bodies function removing unnecessary waste products. The entire body is governed by the heart. If one’s ankle hurts, it “throbs” with pain as the heartbeat is experienced there. The heartbeat is felt even in one’s fingers and toes, which are farthest from the heart. Without an abundant and continuous blood supply, circulated by the heart in proper rhythm, the body weakens and dies.
Cardiovascular Health