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Recognizing the role of Inflammation in arteriosclerosis represents a far bigger
paradigm shift than Helicobacter Pylori was for ulcers. You cannot see the Vulnerable
Plaque that leads to the death of 85% of Heart attack and stroke patients on
arteriograms, so the time has come to treat the bloodstream and stop attacking
the blood vessel! The American college of Cardiology, The American College of
Physician's and The American Heart Associations' new guidelines (Circulation
5-1-99) for chronic chest pain are desperately attempting to maintain status
quo, entirely ignoring the now proven involvement of inflammation in heart attacks
and strokes. They not only ignored the New England Journal of medicine review
article volume 340 1999 on Inflammation and Arteriosclerosis, but they also
ignored the just released American Heart Associations' own monograph series
Edited by their President, Valentin Fuster MD, PhD Cardiologist at Mount Sinai
in New York City. Anyone reading this 429 page book, "The Vulnerable Atherosclerotic
Plaque:" will readily conclude that meaningful prevention of heart attacks and
strokes requires medical control of the inflammation and infection aspects now
being entirely ignored in the rush to operate on the patient! Medical control
of these newly recognized risk factors will without question do far more than
any surgical procedure to prevent heart attacks and strokes!
Why Is Vulnerable Plaque So Significant?
The science behind these new parameters is an astonishing breakthrough: vulnerable
plaque. Research indicates that this unstable plaque can not be identified on
an arteriogram! Therefore, what the doctor does NOT see is the very thing that
leads to the blood clot that leads to the heart attack or stroke. It is now
well documented that all obstructing plaque that can be seen, can be reversed
with diet, exercise, and meditation programs such as Dr Ornish has developed.
Now we learn that these visible lesions that have caused doctors to recommend
so many needless bypass and other invasive surgical procedures for heart disease
are not the ones that are involved in 85% of all heart attacks! That explains
why we have not found a really significant reduction in heart attacks or deaths
in surgically operated patients. It is clear that we have been operating needlessly
on the wrong plaque!
We Need to Treat the Blood, Not Cut Out the Artery
More importantly the new understanding about the role of infection and inflammation
in cases of sudden death from heart attacks suggests that all current surgically
based approaches to heart disease are as misguided as removing your lung if
you have pneumonia! We need to focus on the blood and not the blood vessel!
Most doctors are not yet aware of some of the important developments that have
surfaced so rapidly in the past several years. These include efforts to see
the dangerous Vulnerable Plaque noninvasively with a high speed MRI and other
diagnostic techniques that are now being developed. These instruments are not
yet found in local hospitals, but may help to end the current excessive reliance
on surgical treatment of vascular disease in the future. Although the popular
high speed CAT scan provides useful information regarding the calcium content
of the artery, it is not capable of measuring the really dangerous vulnerable
plaque. Therefore, let these tests motivate patients to address their risk factors,
such as antibodies to oxidized cholesterol, C-reactive protein levels etc.,
so that they medically treat the problem - regularly, ideally for
the rest of their life! A bad score on this test should motivate you to carefully
follow the advice contained in this article and follow up later with a retest.
Heart Disease Appears to Be Closely Linked to Inflammation
The inflammation/infection aspect of heart disease has gained added validation
by:
The recognition of a new measurement of Interleukin 1, an inflammatory marker
published in Circulation, Vol. 5-99, 1999, and
In a review article published in NEJM (New England Journal of Medicine), Vol.
340, 1999. Further validation was added by the recent report published in JAMA
showing that up to 55% of heart attacks appear to be prevented by treatment
with proper antibiotics. In addition, evidence published in Science, February
1999, implicates an infectious bacteria known as chlamydia, while CMV and Herpes
(common retroviruses) have also been shown to be closely connected with heart
attacks. Chlamydia is a disease to which up to 95% of us is exposed during our
lives and once it enters our body, it finds some devitalized tissue (plaque)
and never leaves!
It's Extremely Difficult to Stop Inflammation with a Knife!
The experts studying vulnerable plaque agree that there's an inflammatory component
to this extremely dangerous plaque, which confirms that surgery is not be the
correct approach to control it. The Vulnerable plaque appears to be as much
as 4-5 Degrees C hotter, thus explaining the success seen with Oxidant therapies
such as Ozone, UVB, or H2O2 IV, and/or antibiotics in treating angina. While
these new parameters are more important by far than current outdated risk factor
information, we still have to improve our diet and life style, exercise, and
maintain a healthy immune system by taking long- term oral Chelating and other
detoxifying supplements, as well as SAFE anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-thrombotic,
lipid-lowering, natural supplement therapies.
A Safe Anti-Inflammatory and Comprehensive Cardio-Vascular Supplement
Exists
At this time, I am happy to report that those of my patients taking the comprehensive
9 pill packets of Beyond Chelation combined with 3 to 5 Wobenzym N twice daily
are conveniently addressing all of the newly recognized molecular mechanisms
of heart disease -- from controlling Homocysteine and elevated cholesterol or
triglycerides, to lowering C-reactive protein, which is clearly becoming one
of the most significant tests in cardiology!
Aspirin Is OK in an Emergency,But We Need Safe, Long Term Help
We have heard that taking an aspirin while having a heart attack can increase
survival. This may be true, but should be a temporary emergency measure only.
We know from statistics, however, that the great majority of us must take some
long-term anti-clotting protection against the massive blood clots that we now
believe are involved in lethal heart attacks. In fact, researchers are finding
that long term use of anti-inflammatory drugs are a major factor in helping
to prevent not just Alzheimer's disease, but heart attacks and strokes as well!
The problem is that although there are now proven benefits from taking a daily
dose of aspirin and/or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs),
we pay dearly for these benefits with over 16 thousand deaths and over 125 thousand
hospitalizations annually, generally related to internal bleeding, although
liver and kidney damage are also a far too common side effect.)
We also can offer our patients a major new nutritionally based therapy that
acts like an oral vaccination, Transfer Factor. This exciting therapy
helps us deal with the infection aspect of vascular disease by helping to control
serious chronic viral and other infections now being implicated in heart attack
and stroke. Transfer Factor may improve resistance to Herpes, CMV, Chlamydia,
and Helicobacter (often coming from chronic dental problems). Until such time
as science identifies the proper vaccination or anti-infective therapies to
cure these infections, it seems advisable for all of us to try a Transfer Factor
type of product and also regularlyconsume a safe affordable anti-inflammatory
like Wobenzym, which is well documented to have no side effects yet have many
far reaching benefits -- benefits such as:
Effectively treating most forms of arthritis better than standard medicines
today,
Helping to control cancer and increasing the life span of all cancer patients
a minimum of 30%,
Offering protection against infections and injuries, and
Fortifying our immune systems every day of our lives. Germany developed Wobenzym:
all-natural combination Enzyme-Bioflavonoid product. (The rutin component appears
to be an ideal Iron Chelator!) With it, we get all the benefits of anti-inflammatory
medication without the high incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding associated
with the use of aspirin and the many other documented side effects known to
develop after the longterm use of NSAIDs and other standard anti-inflammatory
medications.
Over 100 Million People Have Used Wobenzym in a 30-year Period. During åThat
Time, No Detrimental Side Effects Have Been Reported from Its Use.
Manufactured by the Mucos Company in Germany since the 1960's, Wobenzym is now
widely available in the United States at a time when there is a greater need
than ever before to include it in our nutritional defense program. Unlike most
enzymes on the market, this enzyme is specially designed so that it is not used
to digest food but is used internally, inside the bloodstream, beneficially
affecting many of the factors that are now known to lead to the development
of serious diseases. These factors range from:
Lowering Circulating immune complexes (These have been shown to shorten
our lifespan.);
Lowering the elevated levels of fibrinogen that tend to make our blood thicker
as we get older to;
Treating Herpes and other viral and bacterial infections -- either alone or
as part of a total anti-infection program, including Transfer Factor related nutrients and/or antibiotics. (Note: Wobenzym alone has been shown more
effective in treating Herpes than the standard anti-viral drugs now available,
and, when combined with the Transfer Factor related, products, it is even more
effective!);
Lowering elevated C-Reactive proteins to the lowest 50 percentile or the lower
portion of the so-called normal range. (Note: The normal range at the current
time is too wide. For optimum health, we should place our optimal values at
levels far lower than they are at present.) The C-reactive Protein Test identifies
how active the inflammatory process is when the test is taken.
New Tests Have Been Proven Necessary for Accurate Treatment of Individual
Heart Problems
There is a plethora of scientific information regarding the many new tests that
are finally beginning to be accepted as significant in determining and controlling
all of the newer recognized cardiovascular risk factors. If your doctor could
keep up with current published literature, some of the tests he would prescribe
for you would not be just cholesterol even with its subsets of HDL, LDL, but
the newer LPA and the latest oxidized cholesterol antibody test. Furthermore,
adhesion molecules such as VCAM and ICAM that measure how sticky things are
can now be measured at the molecular level. These are vascular and intercellular
adhesion molecules that have been implicated in the impaired circulation of
the tiny vessels (capillaries) that eventually lead to heart attacks, strokes
and loss of vision with such common conditions as macular degeneration and glaucoma.
The physician should also test platelet aggregation, fibrinogen, lipid peroxides,
and other markers of free radical damage. Furthermore, he can monitor the level
of activity (antibodies) to the various infectious agents now implicated in
arteriosclerosis, such as chlamydia, CMV (Cytomegalovirus), Herpes, etc. Since
virtually all of us test positive for these infectious agents, I routinely now
recommend the use of Immune enhancing nutrients including Transfer Factor related compounds, Aloe Vera, Beta Glucan, etc. however I also refer some seriously
ill and/or immune compromised patients for oxidative therapies such as IV Hydrogen
Peroxide (H2O2) and/or the use of antibiotics.
Platelet aggregation tests show how sticky platelets become when challenged.
Note: This leads to the bloodclots that we now recognize as the immediate cause
of death in many heart attacks and strokes! Homocysteine (Note: This test may
not be accurate if done using a serum separator tube. It also is more sensitive
if a load such as 1.5 gm of methionine is taken orally 4 hours before in order
to help identify the approximately 30% of us who are found to have this dangerous
and (now) common but still generally unrecognized problem.
Serum ferritin levels are done because most of us have dangerously elevated
levels of iron because so many of us have mistakenly been taking vitamin and
mineral supplements containing iron. Having elevated iron levels is as dangerous
as having elevated lead. This iron overload is contributing to our already heavy
metal poisoned bodies.
Fasting insulin levels, triglycerides/HDL ratio, Redox, pH, Resistance, APO
E-2, 3, or 4, blood type testing, food allergy tests, these and many other tests
are all useful in helping optimize our lifestyle and dietary program. Fatty
acid analysis (on red blood cell membranes) and amino acid testing on urine
or blood are all part of the extremely useful battery of tests that assists
the properly trained health professional to individualize the optimal nutritional
and life extension support programs for patients.
Generally the more of these tests that we do, the more things you will find
are sub-optimal. Fortunately, most of the abnormalities that we uncover can
be greatly helped with the cardiovascular nutritional support products BC (Beyond
Chelation) Wobenzym and nutritionally based immune enhancing supplements. Note:
Everything works better when taken along with appropriate diet and life style
changes! Note: Many of these tests are available through specially licensed
laboratories in the United States such as Immunosciences, Beverly Hills CA,
Great Smokies Diagnostic Lab Asheville NC., and Antibody Assay Laboratories,
Santa Ana, CA. or Doctors Data, West Chicago, Illinois.
If These Tests Are Difficult to Obtain Cost-Wise and Within a Reasonable Time,You
Can Still Address Your Risk Factors with a Nutritionally-Based Product.
With 50% of Our Population (Over the Age of 40) Dying Prematurely from
Heart Disease, It's Time for a New Multi-Vitamin: A Cardio-Support Multi-Vitamin.
Considering the need to protect our immune system, the need for essential nutrients,
the need to detoxify our bloodstream and protect our cardiovascular systems,
as well as the well documented need for a long term use of a safe anti-inflammatory,
and the need to reduce heavy metals from our tissues and organs, the time has
arrived for us to broaden our approach to optimal health with more comprehensive
nutritionally balanced supplements. These supplements must not only remove excessive
levels of metallic and other toxins, but simultaneously increase the levels
of the nutrients that we now provably need if we are to win the fight against
the multiple metabolic/environmental/infectious contributory causes of degenerative
diseases, dementia, heart attacks, and strokes and aging. The time is ripe to
introduce my special Beyond Chelation formula to the American people.
Old, Inadequate Theories Must Give Way to New Discoveries
We know that by following the old completely inadequate recommendations made
by the American Heart Association and other health authorities that we have
only made a small dent in the number of deaths from stroke and heart attack.
Their recommendations have lead to entirely unhealthy dietary practices, along
with using the extremely ill advised cholesterol lowering drugs so commonly
prescribed today. Cholesterol, unless it is oxidized, is a valuable nutrient
which your body has to manufacture every day in order to help build the membranes
of the new cells that we must form continually to replace the dead and dying
cells in our body. We find elevated antibodies to so many forms of chronic infection
in virtually all of us today. This strongly suggests that our immune systems
are seriously weakened, partially as a result of the heavy metals and other
toxins we ingest from our polluted environments as well as our stressful and
nutritionally deficient lifestyles.
Backed by Scientifically Formulated Nutritional Supplements, I Haven't Had to
Send One Patient to a Heart Surgeon for the Past 10 Years.
Obviously, even if you fully optimize all these factors, no one can guarantee
each individual will achieve complete success in restoring or maintaining good
health. Nevertheless, based on my 40 years of clinical experience during the
last 10 years of which I did not have to send a single patient for bypass or
angioplasty surgery no matter how advanced their blockages were, I now believe
that most degenerative and cardiovascular diseases can be improved and often
nearly totally reversed with the special supplements described here combined
with the dietary and lifestyle recommendations that I have prescribed for my
patients.
Dr. Dean Ornish has proven that those who are able to follow his more rigid
approach of exercise, meditation, and dietary change have continued to improve
over the years. He has show that all arteriosclerosis is absolutely reversible.
Why take the chance of dying or sustaining serious injury, pain, or brain damage
associated with most vascular surgical procedures today, particularly when more
and more experts are saying that surgery is not dealing with the cause of heart
attacks or strokes. We must focus on the bloodstream and not the blood vessel.
Current official guidelines have not substantially prevented cardiovascular
related deaths from stroke and heart attacks.
Dr. Valentin Fuster, President of the American Heart Association, Is on the
Trail of Vulnerable Plaque
Dr. Valentin Fuster, a cardiologist, MD, Ph.D., at Mount Sinai School of Medicine
in New York and President of the American Heart Association, has stated on November
8th, 1999, that arteries containing (vulnerable) plaque can now be identified
by a high technology, super-fast, entirely painless, safe imaging MRI scanner.
When this fragile clot ruptures, it leads to the formation of massive blood
clots that suddenly cut off the supply of oxygen rich blood to the heart and/or
brain, resulting in heart attack or stroke respectively. Only by our new knowledge
regarding vulnerable plaque can we now comprehend why some people with little
or no apparent blockage can have a heart attack while others with almost completely
blocked arteries may live for decades often without any of the symptoms of cardiovascular
disease.
When arteries close down slowly, the body compensates, often by producing brand
new collateral circulation to go around the blocked area. The person may
not even know that a significant artery in their body gradually closed off,
because it was safely and reliably replaced by tiny new blood vessels, blood
vessels that are not visible on the usual arteriogram studies in hospitals.
These entirely inadequate and grossly misleading x-rays have led to so many
needless bypass and angioplasty procedures. It is, of course, important to stabilize
the fragile vulnerable plaque lesions and experts are hoping that lipid lowering
approaches will show some benefits here, so I have included the powerful proven
lipid lowering and detoxifying power or Red Yeast and Beta-Sitosterol in the
Beyond Chelation Formula.
Ref: By Garry F. Gordon, MD, DO, MD(H), USA
(Explore Issue: Volume 9, Number 4&5)
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