How Can We Help Understand and Reduce Heart Disease of Our Rochester  and area Patients?

Heart disease currently affects 26.8 million Americans.  We think of heart disease as having a “heart attack”, meaning loss of blood supply to an area of the heart muscle which then causes those muscle fibers to die.

 Our goal is to prevent heart disease from ever getting to that point.  When we look at what really causes “heart disease”, it gets down to inflammation of the blood vessels causing damage to the cells that line our blood vessels, or the “endothelium”. 

When we have an area of inflammation in our endothelium, the body tries to repair the damage by laying down cholesterol, thus starting a cholesterol streak or plaque.  This plaque continues to grow until part of it shears off and becomes a “clot”, traveling downstream until it lodges in an artery causing blockage and cell death.  Thus, we have a heart attack.

Inflammation and Heart Disease

The biggest way to prevent heart disease is to lower inflammation.  A reminder of the things that cause inflammation – cortisol being too high or too low, sex hormones being low or for women out of balance, genetics, low vitamin D, environmental toxins and food allergens.

 Lp(a) a Genetic Risk Factor

I would like to discuss one of the hidden risk factors for heart disease, Lipoprotein little (a), or Lp(a).  For some of us Lp(a) is a hidden genetic risk factor for heart disease, for others it is a protein that carries cholesterol throughout the body that increases during times of stress.  However, it acts as a clotting protein, so when our levels are high we are at increased risk for heart attacks and strokes.  There is a reason why Lp(a) came on the scene.

 Here’s the story:

          A very long time ago (as in, millions of years), human beings lost their ability to make vitamin C from sugar molecules.  Not just humans, but the great apes, hedgehogs and guinea pigs also lost this ability.   Not having the ability to make vitamin C means that we must take it in through our diet.  One of the important roles vitamin C has in the body is to maintain the integrity of the endothelium. The ice age brought long stretches of time when fruits and vegetables were not readily available.  During these long stressful months, the arteries of our forefathers would start to crack and leak, and people would die of internal hemorrhage.

 Along came Lp(a) to the rescue!  Lp(a) would act to plug up the cracks so the people who had the Lp(a) genetic mutation survived the long cold winter better.  Once fruits and vegetables were available again, vitamin C would take over and the Lp(a) level would go down.

It takes a special cholesterol test called a VAP (vertical auto profile) test to find out if you have high amounts of Lp(a) or not.  Most traditional doctors are not using VAP testing, even though it has been around for over 20 years.  I find people fall into two categories: those that truly have the genetic risk for Lp(a) with very high levels, and the rest of us whose Lp(a) goes up during stress and back down when our stress is reduced. 

For both groups we can lower Lp(a) levels by using buffered vitamin C in doses of 2000-4000mg/day.  People with the genetic risk factor may need to add Lysine and L-Proline.  An interesting note is that statins (your current typical cholesterol medication) can actually increase Lp(a) in some people.

If you have a family history of heart disease and your cholesterol is slightly elevated, you should obtain a VAP test.  It’s just another way you can achieve your optimal health!

ASK THE DOCTOR – DIABESITY

THE GROWING EPIDEMIC OF DIABETES AND OBESITY IN AMERICA

Are you concerned about being overweight?  Does diabetes run in your family?  Do you have a lot of stress?  Do you Crave sugar and carbs?  Can’t seem to loose weight despite exercise?  You could be headed toward diabetes!

WHAT IS DIABETES?

Diabetes is a disease in which the sugar level in blood is chronically high.  Because sugar molecules stick to everything, the elevated levels of sugar in the blood stream means more sugar molecules are going to stick to the blood vessel walls, nerves and muscle fibers, which causes damage.  This damage leads to everything from heart disease to Alzheimer!

WHAT CAUSES INCREASED BLOOD SUGAR?

Several things cause an increase in blood sugar.  We all know about diet, and that eating concentrated sweets too often leads to a problem controlling blood levels of sugars.  Insulin rises in an effort to get more of the sugar out of the bloodstream and into the cells where it can be used for energy.  High insulin over time, however, also damages blood vessels and increases inflammation, which we all know from our previous newsletter, is the root of all evil.  Inflammation is pretty much at the beginning of all of our modern day diseases.

Stress is another important issue for elevated blood sugar.  When we are stressed our bodies actually release more sugar into the bloodstream so our muscles have lots of fuel to “fight the tiger” as I like to say.  Evolutionarily our predominant stressor is danger, so more sugar in the blood stream meant we would have more energy for our muscles to run from or fight the tiger.  Being stressed however leads to an increase in blood sugar, and again, this leads to diabetes.  It also leads to obesity.  In the 21^st century, our stressors are not tigers, but time, toxins, relationships, work, family matters,etc.  Since we are not running from tigers and burning all that increased blood sugar, we end up storing it as belly fat.

Belly fat, or adipose, as it is called, also increases inflammation.  Inflammation itself leads to increased blood sugar and insulin.  We now know that adipose is a gland that produces hormones that affect the body.  A few of these hormones increase inflammation.  One of the hormones actually prevents you from feeling full – so the more adipose you have the hungrier you are!  It gets to be a vicious cycle!

HOW DO WE BREAK THE CYCLE?

First of all is diet.  Eliminate concentrated sugars and as many starchy carbohydrates as you can.  This means breads, pastas, crackers, cereals, etc., as well as pies, cakes, and candy.   Look at the stressors in your life.  Are you getting enough sleep and exercise?  B vitamins are essential for stress, as is replacing your electrolytes.

Important nutrients to decrease blood sugars include vitamin D3 at roughly 5000 IU per day. Every cell has vitamin D receptors, even the cells that produce insulin.  So they don’t function well without enough vitamin D.  High doses of chromium picolinate are very helpful to transport sugar out of the blood stream and into cells, and it helps cut down sugar cravings.   Vanadium helps decrease insulin resistance and lower sugars.  L-Tyrosine helps with carb cravings and emotional eating.

We can help inflammation with herbal remedies such as turmeric, curcumin, boswelia and wobenzyme.  

DIABESITY is a multi-faceted problem and requires a multi-faceted approach. If you or someone you know Is suffering in this direction, let us help you avoid the repercussions of this growing epidemic!

Living with inflammation is otherwise known to some as challenging.  The inability to do the things you have always done in the way you use to do them.   The flexibility of your joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments develop a mind of their own.   You can’t function any longer with ease.  I’ll bet you have chalked it up to age.  I do not believe that we should accept that as normal.

How can you take back control of your life?  Start by taking full responsibility for where your life is at this moment.  Somehow you have arrived at this point of stiffness and inflexibility through your daily choices.  The food choices, lack of physical exercise, mental attitudes and even unforeseen accidents all seem to play a major role in the outcome you currently are in. 

Take a moment to access yourself and decide to take control of your life and its outcome. 

Start looking at your foods.  If your weight is more than it should be adjust the amounts and types of food you consume.  You don’t need a program.  You could do something as simple as the grocery list for your particular blood type and cutting your consumption in half or use a smaller plate when eating meals.  Cutting down calories will produce weight loss.  Don’t forget to cut down the salt (sodium) consumption as well.  Water retention and High Blood Pressure result from too high of an intake of sodium foods and raise acidity level.

How often do you exercise?  You don’t need to join a gym if that is uncomfortable.  You do need to move.  I chose to get an at home WII fit.  I work out every day with my little puffed up MII.  We do Yoga, Kung fu, Balance, Step and mind games to keep me at more desirable cyber age.  It also acknowledges every level I achieve.  You can walk outdoors or jump rope, ride a bike or get out your skates and hula-hoops.  Some form of movement and exercise to stretch those tight muscles helps on a daily basis.  Thirty minutes can burn over 100 calories.

Become your own best friend.  Get tapes and books that boost positive feelings and motivation.  Learn to be good to yourself.  Treat that reflection in the mirror the same way you support your family and friends.  You need to see the best in yourself.  When you see it, so do others. 

Search out a Board Certified Anti-Aging and Functional Medicine Doctor.  They understand that there are other factors involved with ailments and it is not just how old we are.  It is more the age of our organs and that there are ways to care for them.  Bio-Identical hormone replacement therapy is a fantastic use of medicine.  Helping to prevent the negatives of aging is a phenomenal achievement in Integrative Medicine.  They can request blood work to check inflammation markers and utilize Saliva Testing to determine the adequacy of your hormone levels.  These are areas that are not usually acknowledged by Traditional Doctors.  You are never too old to achieve a better quality of life!

If you live in an area that has any type of Medical Spa Beds, they are wonderful heat and massage providers that usually include aromatherapy and pre-set programs for pain management or stress relief.

Take your important vitamins every day.  Keeping up electrolytes, base minerals, Vit D3, Digestive help and Fish Oils are minimal.  If you have a reliable Nutrition Consultant, they can offer more help for specific situations.

Become pro-active in this very vital long term relationship you have with yourself.   You are important, loving and you have a lot to offer others.  I suggest you start with yourself.  You will never achieve that quality of life just sitting around.

ASK THE DOCTOR 4

Dr. Leila Kirdani: PREVENTING INFLAMMATION

As a society, we are experiencing the first generation which is projected to live shorter lives than their parents.  Why?  The number of people with diseases is increasing.  At the root of all of these diseases is inflammation.

Inflammation is what starts us down the slippery path to any medical ailment, including:

• ·         diabetes
• ·         heart disease
• ·         hypertension
• ·         arthritis
• ·         and even cancer

Inflammation damages arteries and causes problems with our metabolism, creating obesity and increased blood sugar.  Inflammation alters our immune system, making it harder for us to fight off illness and cancer.

Dr. Leila Kirdani Explains: WHERE DOES INFLAMMATION COME FROM?

 There are several things that lead to increased inflammation.  Fortunately, most of them are treatable.

STRESS: 

Whether it be psychological (time, money, relationships), physical (not enough sleep, over-exertion), or environmental (toxins), stress increases inflammation.  Evolutionarily, we were meant to fight tigers, not our continuous, prolonged, ever-constant stress.

VITAMIN D3: 

This most essential vitamin that is made in our skin when we are exposed to sunlight!  We now know that Vitamin D is really a hormone that not only is important for bone health, but also modulates the immune system.  When we are low in Vitamin D, we have more inflammation, muscle tightness and chance of developing Cancer.

SEX-HORMONES:

  Estrogen for women and testosterone for men are our biggest anti-inflammatory.  This of course means our own natural, bio-identical hormones, and excludes traditional hormone replacement therapy.  Traditional HRT consists of estrogen and testosterone molecules that are not the same molecule as our bodies produce and therefore cause very different reactions. 

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS:

On a daily basis we are bombarded with chemicals and toxins that our bodies were not meant to have to deal with and they all create inflammation.  These include additives and preservatives in food, pthalates in plastics and heavy metals found in gasoline fumes, our fish supply, dental amalgams, cigarette smoke, and industrial pollution.    

GENETICS:

Each of us has our own genetic susceptibilities.  Our “weak link” in how our bodies interact with our environment.  Increased inflammation for some of us may lead to thyroid issues and for others heart disease.  The good news is that we can change the environment our genes are in, thereby changing their expression.  We are not doomed to repeat our parents’ diseases.

FOOD ALLERGIES: Last but not least in the inflammation list is food allergies.  The most common food allergens include wheat, corn, shellfish, dairy products and peanuts.

Dr. Leila Kirdani 

Reviews: HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE INFLAMMATION?

In addition to symptoms, there are several tests we can get to determine levels of inflammation.  These include:

• ·         a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein
• ·         homocysteine
• ·         vitamin D – the 25-hydroxycalciferol form
• ·         ferritin
• ·         fibrinogen
• ·         fasting blood sugar and fasting insulin levels

All of these tests can be performed by your doctor if they are willing.  However you may need to work with a Board Certified Anti-Aging/Functional Medicine Doctor to truly bring them down.