Cardiac Rehab and the Prevention of Hearth Disease - February 2012

A Comprehensive Program - Part One

By Dr. Tamara Browne, Penticton, BC

What is heart disease?: 

Coronary heart disease or coronary artery atherosclerosis is the number one cause of death both in women and men. This disease consists of the development of plaquing or sclerosing inside arteries which supply blood flow to the heart. In turn, this reduces blood flow and the delivery of oxygen to the heart cells which rely heavily on oxygen to create energy and keep the heart beating. Eventually this may cause a Myocardial Infarction or heart attack which is the damage that occurs to heart tissue when blood flow is cut off completely. How does atherosclerosis develop in the first place? This disease begins when damage to the internal lining of arteries occurs. This damage is like a wound inside the artery. In its wisdom the body tries to repair this wound, but in so doing a plaque develops over the area similar to the way scar tissue develops on the skin. With ongoing damage eventually a thickening and hardening of the arterial walls and a narrowing of the internal diameter of the artery occurs, thus, reducing the amount of space for blood flow.

Theories have been elucidated to describe the events which lead to internal arterial damage. The first is that low antioxidant levels combined with high oxidative stress leads to excess oxidation of cholesterol which lines the arterial walls. Oxidation damages cells and causes them to become sticky leading to a build up of repair tissue at the site which then thickens the inner arterial wall. Vitamin C is an example of an antioxidant that prevents this damage if consumed in adequate dosages regularly. Oxidative overload can be caused, for example, by inadequate nutrition, smoking, air pollution, excess alcohol consumption, toxic heavy metal burden or the accumulation of toxic chemicals. Another theory is that low B6, B12, and folic acid vitamin status leads to high levels of a toxin called homocysteine which similarly damages arterial walls. In essence then, heart disease is a deficiency or toxicity syndrome. Neither of these events is addressed by conventional medical approaches to heart disease. Both are addressed in Naturopathy and both are largely related to diet and lifestyle.

Two other factors contribute to the development of heart disease. First, with aging comes hardening of the arteries. This involves the deposition of calcium into the arterial walls making them more rigid and less pliable. The second factor is thickening of the blood which can lead to clotting. Maintaining thinner blood is one of the best ways in which heart disease and stroke can be avoided. Blood viscosity is mainly a factor of diet and lifestyle.

As a Naturopath I feel that it is vital to prevent these damaging events from occurring in the first place. This disease affects men in the prime of their lives; on average the first myocardial infarction occurs in the mid fifties (about 10 years later in women). Further, coronary heart disease is the cause of 1/3 to ½ of all deaths. It is no longer appropriate to sit back and wait to treat this disease after the fact (since you may not even have that chance). Prevention must become an ongoing lifelong process which no one can afford to ignore. The damage begins many years before any signs or symptoms of heart disease develop.

Known risk factors in heart disease:

The Primary risk factors for heart disease are: ( major causes of heart disease)

Smoking

High blood cholesterol/lipid levels

High blood pressure

Obesity

The Secondary risk factors for heart disease are: (contributing but less major factors)

Increasing age

Stress (leading to anger and anxiety)

Sedentary lifestyle

High fat diet; low antioxidant diet (low fruit and vegetable intake)

Diabetes

Past history or family history of heart disease

Next month, I will look at our Current medical approach and how our Naturopathic approach can work together to Cardic Health.
Good Health to all,
Tamara Browne, Naturopathic Physician

Dr. Tamara's Bio: Dr. Tamara Browne - Naturopathic Doctor. Dr. Browne graduated from Bastyr University of Naturopathic Medicine, Seattle, Wa., in 1996 and has had an active general family Naturopathic practice in the South Okanagan area ever since. Her current practice is called The Okanagan Chelation Center, and is located at 101-1040 Main Street Okanagan Falls BC, V0H 1R4. She specializes in heart disease prevention & treatment, Chelation & metal detoxification, vitamin & mineral injections, lab testing, pain management techniques, chronic disease management, prevention, nutrition, herbal medicine, constitutional homeopathy, weight loss, & women's health. To contact Dr. Browne - Ph. 250-497-6681. Dr. Browne has a column called ' Naturopathic Corner ' and has written for OK In Health since June 2009. - Dr. Tamara Browne Website - Email