Atherosclerosis - Dr. Michael Murray

[Guest guest]

Atherosclerosis

http://www.doctormurray.com/conditions/Atherosclerosis.asp

 

What is Atherosclerosis?

 

Atherosclerosis is the process of the hardening of an artery due to

the build-up of cholesterol-containing plaque. Atherosclerosis is

responsible for coronary artery disease - the leading cause of death

in America - and many cases of stroke. All together, atherosclerosis

is responsible for at least forty-three percent of all deaths in the

United States.

 

What are the signs and symptoms of atherosclerosis?

 

Atherosclerosis is often referred to as the " silent killer " because

the first symptom or sign in many cases is a fatal heart attack or

stroke. Most people with significant atherosclerosis have a history

of elevated cholesterol levels and may also experience angina.

 

What causes atherosclerosis?

 

The initial step in the development of atherosclerosis is damage to

the lining of an artery. This damage is usually the result of free

radicals (highly reactive toxic chemicals) and/or inflammation. Once

the artery lining has been damaged, the site of injury attracts

monocytes (large white blood cells) and platelets (small blood cells

involved in the formation of blood clots) adhere to the damaged

area, where they release growth factors that stimulate plaque

formation and the accumulation of fat and cholesterol deposits.

Reducing the risk of heart disease and strokes involves reducing-and

when possible eliminating-various risk factors associated with

premature death due to these conditions. The major risk factors are

 

Smoking

Elevated blood cholesterol levels

High blood pressure

Diabetes

Physical inactivity

Obesity

If two or more of these major factors apply to you, your risk

increases significantly (see Table 1). For example, if you smoke,

have high cholesterol, and have high blood pressure, you are more

than 700 times likelier to have heart disease - and you will

probably die twenty to thirty years sooner - than someone without

any of these factors.

 

Table - The More Major Risk Factors Present the Greater the Risk

 

Condition Increased Risk of Heart Disease

Presence of 1 major risk factor 30%

High cholesterol + high blood pressure 300%

High cholesterol + smoking 350%

High blood pressure + smoking 350%

Smoking + high blood pressure + high cholesterol 720%

 

In addition there are several other risk factors that have been

shown in some studies to be even more important than to the so-

called major risk factors. So, in other words the following factors

are either major risk factors or perhaps even more important than

the recognized major risk factors.

 

Elevations of markers of silent inflammation like C-reactive protein

and fibrinogen.

Low levels of omega-3 fatty acids

Low dietary antioxidant status

Low levels of magnesium and potassium

Low levels of folic acid leading to elevations in homocysteine

What dietary factors are important in atherosclerosis?

 

Dietary recommendations to reduce the risk for atherosclerosis:

 

It centers on an abundance of plant food, including fruit,

vegetables, breads, pasta, potatoes, beans, nuts, and seeds.

Foods are minimally processed and there is a focus on seasonally

fresh and locally grown foods.

Fresh fruit is the typical daily dessert, with sweets containing

concentrated sugars or honey consumed a few times per week at the

most.

Dairy products, principally cheese and yogurt, are consumed daily in

low to moderate amounts and in low fat varieties

Fish is a consumed on a regular basis.

Poultry and eggs are consumed in moderate amounts, about 1-to-4

times weekly, or not at all.

Red meat is consumed in small, infrequent amounts.

Olive oil is the principal source of fat.

Wine is consumed in low to moderate amounts, normally with meals.

The two components of the Mediterranean diet that have received a

lot of attention is red wine and olive oil. Red wine is thought to

be responsible for the " French paradox " a term used to explain why

the French consume more saturated fat than Americans, yet have a

lower incidence of heart disease. The protective effect is the

result of the flavonoids in red wine, which protect against

oxidative damage to the arteries from LDL cholesterol.

 

In addition to the heart protective monounsaturated fatty acid,

oleic acid, olive oil also contains several antioxidant agents that

prevent circulating LDL-cholesterol from becoming damaged and then

subsequently damaging the arteries. Olive oil lowers the harmful LDL-

cholesterol and increases the level of protective HDL-cholesterol.

It has also been proven to lower elevated blood triglycerides though

it is not as effective as fish oils in this application.

 

What nutritional supplements should I take for atherosclerosis?

 

Foundation Supplements. There are three products from Natural

Factors that I think are critical in supporting good health:

 

MultiStart (age and gender specific multiple vitamin and mineral

formulas). Follow label instructions.

Enriching Greens - a great tasting " greens drink " containing highly

concentrated " greens " like chlorella, spirulina, wheat grass juice,

barley grass juice, etc., and herbal extracts. Take one serving (one

tablespoon) in 8 ounces of water daily.

RxOmega-3 Factors - A true pharmaceutical grade fish oil supplement.

Take two capsules daily to provide 800 mg of EPA and 400 mg DHA for

a combined total of 1,200 mg.

Grape seed or pine bark extract contain flavonoids known as

procyanidolic oligomers (PCOs) that exert exceptional antioxidant

and free radical scavenging activity. Take 300 mg of PCOs daily.

Note: Green tea extract can be substituted for PCOs, take 300 mg of

green tea catechins (polyphenols) daily.

 

Of all the available nutritional supplements to prevent heart

disease, the most important without question is a pharmaceutical

grade fish oil. It is now estimated that individuals whose diets

include a higher intake of fish oils, reduce their risk of heart

disease and strokes by roughly 47% compared to those individuals who

do not eat fish or take fish oil supplements. In fact, the level of

omega-3 fatty acids in the body (the Omega-3 Index) has been shown

to be the most accurate predictor of heart disease risk. It is a

more sensitive indicator than other well-recognized markers

including cholesterol, LDL, HDL, CRP, or homocysteine levels. A

combined 1,000 mg of EPA and DHA daily is required to achieve the

Omega-3 Index shown to be protective.

 

Comment:

 

In my clinical experience as well as based upon an enormous body of

scientific evidence, atherosclerosis can be stopped and even

reversed through dietary, supplementation, and lifestyle measures.

Treatment and prevention includes reducing all known risk factors.

For specific recommendations for dealing with the major risk

factors, please see the appropriate selection: CHOLESTEROL,

DIABETES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, and DIABETES.

_________________

JoAnn Guest

mrsjoguest

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets