Health Articles

Heart disease is our nation’s number one killer!

The gradual clogging, hardening and damage done to the interior walls of our blood vessels is the primary cause of heart attacks and strokes. This process of atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, results in poor circulation to the extremities, the brain and other organs. The accumulation of fatty plaque on the inner walls of our blood vessels begins early in childhood and progresses gradually throughout life due to modern day dietary practices.

There is irrefutable scientific evidence that high cholesterol levels are associated with increased risk of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). It has become increasingly evident that the direct relationship of cholesterol level to risk of heart attack exists at all but the very lowest cholesterol levels. The new recommendations of medical authorities are to maintain your LDL cholesterol below 100. Less than 10% of the adult population in America actually has the cholesterol levels that meet these newest recommendations.

When it comes to combating heart disease, most information sources promote drugs and surgery as the only viable lines of defense. As a result, the demand for high-tech, expensive and largely ineffective medical care is overwhelming, causing medical costs and insurance rates to skyrocket. This chase for “cures” is both financially devastating and futile. Morbidity and premature mortality from heart disease continue to rise with no sign of abating. Interventional cardiology offers only partial benefits, since these procedures do not remove the causes of the problem.

We need to keep in mind that angioplasty and bypass surgery have some significant adverse outcomes, including heart attacks, stroke and death. These invasive procedures only attempt to treat a small segment of the diseased heart, usually with only temporary benefit. Patients treated with angioplasty and bypass surgery continue to experience progressive disability, and most still die prematurely as a result of their heart disease.

Making significant dietary changes allows people who suffer with coronary heart disease, high cholesterol, overweight or obesity and/or high blood pressure to reduce and to eliminate their dependence on medications, avoiding major surgeries.

Almost everyone can achieve protection against heart disease by reaching the following goals: *Achieve an LDL cholesterol of 100 or lower.
* Achieve a homocysteine level below 10.
* Achieve healthful weight and blood pressure.