HEART of the matter

Imagine our arteries are road, capillaries are lanes and organs as cities. In healthy arteries, oxygen and nutrients are transported by the highways to the capillaries where water, glucose, oxygen and amino acids are extracted to feed our organs. Smooth delivery is only possible if the tunnels or inner walls are free of obstruction. A traffic jam truncates supplies and causes disruption, leading to total destruction in a major disaster. Depending on where the ’hot spot’ is, some manifestations include kidney failure, gangrene in the fingers and toes, and impaired vision.

Heart attack and heart failure

Leading to the heart, it gives rise to critical blood-clot illness like heart attack and heart failure.

Heart attack occurs when the heart is not receiving enough blood and oxygen to function efficiently. Blood returning to the heart through the veins tends to back up, causing congestion in the outlying tissue. The result is edema, with fluids found mainly in the legs and ankles. When accumulates in the abdominal and chest cavities, it can block passage to the lungs and may interfere with breathing and cause shortness of breath.

Heart failure occurs when the heart's ability to pump blood throughout the body has been weakened. The resultant poor blood circulation leads to less than optimal health. The cause can be due to a severe heart attack, effects of disease (eg bacterial infection, rheumatic fever), high blood pressure or congenital heart defects. It can affect the kidneys' ability to dispose of sodium and water. Excessive retention adds to edema problem.

Blockage
Nitric oxide is a molecule made by the blood vessels’ lining, or endothelium which is exquisitely sensitive to the physical and chemical conditions inside our blood vessels. Under healthy conditions, such as physical activity and low cholesterol, it releases more nitric oxide for expanding the blood vessels, increasing blood flow and decreasing plaque growth and blood clotting.


Conversely, when the endothelium senses high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, or emotional distress, it releases less nitric oxide, and heart disease accelerates. This is characterised by disorder that causes the narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries which supply blood to the heart and affects its ability to function normally. With age and certain illnesses erupting, the inner walls of the arteries start to corrode. When abnormal amount of fibrous tissue developed with resultant leakage of fats, cholesterol, calcium and waste products from the cells, plaque forms. In arteriosclerosis, the deposits are composed largely of calcium (term calcification) and in atherosclerosis, the deposits consist of fatty substances.

The build-up estimate to thicken 10% every decade narrows the passageway and forms blockage.  Blood pressure that is already high, gets even higher as the heart pumps harder to push through the choked artery. This prevents blood, oxygen and nutrients from reaching this section of the organ. The rude shock that follows is an immediate symptom of a heart attack to take place.

If the closed section’s tissue begins to soften and rupture under the stress of heart action, our body responds by rushing blood platelets to patch up the break, clumping together to form a clot. A large clot can prevent blood flowing to the artery (called heart attack if to the heart) and causes premature death can occur within few days.

Replacing the dead tissue with scar tissue is possible but may not work as well as before anymore. There are instances where strenuous exercise can jolt and drop the clot in another artery or a smaller artery (called stroke if to the brain). This explains why some sportsmen and fit military servicemen collapsed in a major physical exercise though they are medically fit to undergo the rigorous test. This abrupt loss of heart function is a condition medically termed as SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH - usually due to fast and chaotic heart rhythm. It is worrying as there are no warning signs - a silent killer, unlike a heart attack which has symptoms such as chest pain and breathlessness.

Causes

It is important to protect your heart and keep it healthy. Every risk factor counts!

For most cardiac sufferers, heart problems are usually attributed to 4 major risk factors:

1. An increase in cholesterol levels;

2. Uncontrolled blood pressure leading to hypertension;

3. Cigarette smoking.


4. Stress
To enable one to be alert and act rapidly, the body raises the heart rate, breathing rate and blood pressure. This boost of energy is derived from glucose stored in our fat cells and more hormones released into the bloodstream. However, rapid and long term responses is detrimental to the health, which can trigger off a heart attack or sudden death.

Secondary factors include: Lack of sufficient physical exercise, glucose intolerance, obesity and hereditary.

Warning signs?

The signs of a heart attack are easily identifiable but would it better if earlier signs to alert troubling time ahead on possible heart disorder problem? Though one-third of all heart attacks occur without warning, the remainder are preceded by months or even years of symptoms. That explains why by the time that heart problems are detected, the underlying cause is usually quite advanced.

Clues

Swelling of the ankles may be the earliest symptom, long before other symptoms appear. Five surprising clues are worthy of closer observation. With any two or more happening at the same time warrants immediate attention from your medical specialist, according to some cardiologists.

1. Neck pain

A tight pull of muscle in the left side of your neck (blood from heart leaves the aorta) that becomes a nagging problem is often mistaken for a muscle strain. People tend not to take this symptom seriously because they expect the more dramatic acute pain and numbness in the chest, shoulder and arm to be associated with heart problem. Women in particular are less likely to experience heart pain that way, and more likely to get the sensation of pain and tightness running down the neck into the left shoulder and arm.

Note the pain inflicted due to heart attack usually lasts longer than angina pectoris - effect of gradual reduction of blood flow forcing the heart to beat faster and more forcefully eg. running to catch a bus.

Cause & effect

+ Nerves from damaged heart tissue send pain signals up and down the spinal cord to junctures with nerves that extend out into the neck and shoulder.

+ The pain feels like it is radiating out in a line, rather than located in one very specific spot, and applying ice, heat or muscle massage does not work.

2. Sexual problems

Having trouble achieving or keeping erections is common in men with coronary artery disease, but this symptom is usually ignored. A survey done in Europe found that two out of three with erectile dysfunction had heart trouble before. This correlation convinced doctors to do a full cardiovascular checkup when a man comes in with erectile dysfunction problem.

Cause & Effect

Arteries around the male genitals are smaller and damage can be caused sooner -- as much as three to four years before the disease would otherwise be detected. As there is no clear clue, couple should take note of this problem of getting or maintaining an erection.

3. Dizziness, faintness, shortness of breath, bad vision

More than 40% of women in one study published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, reported having experienced shortness of breath in the days before a heart attack. You might feel like you cannot breathe, or you might feel dizzy or faint, as you would at high altitude. If you cannot catch your breath while walking upstairs, vacuuming, weeding the garden, or doing other activities that previously caused you no trouble, this is a reason to be on the alert. Some people see blackout vision as well. The longer the spell lasts, the worst the condition be. Any occurrence lasting more than half an hour is critical.

Cause & Effect

When insufficient blood reaches the heart due to the blockage of hardened plaque, oxygen is also being deprived considerably. The heart muscle pain of angina may also make it hurt to draw a deep breath. This sudden exertion can be the first sign of angina - a type of heart muscle pain. As it can disappear in a resting mode, this symptom is frequently ignored. The instant feeling is different from shortness of breath caused by lung disease due to smoking or environmental factors, which usually comes on gradually.

4. Indigestion, nausea or heartburn

Most heart patients experience intense chest pain and do not realise that the abdomen can display signs of trouble like heartburn or a sensation of bloating and choking. A bout of severe indigestion, vomiting and nausea can be an early sign of heart attack, especially amongst women several months leading up to a heart attack. A middle-aged person who has never had stomach trouble should be careful if indigestion or similar symptoms persists.

Hence closely observed when there is dull pain and soreness at the spot of liver or heart, heart palpitation, with fullness of the chest and a dry cough.

Cause & Effect

An artery choked with fatty deposits can reduce or cut off the blood supply to the heart, causing sensation like constriction, squeezing or pain and may spill over to the abdomen. When a heart attack is triggered, it can give rise to nausea, fainting spell and bad perspiration. By then, his skin may be moist and cold and may appear pale or dusky. If blood flow is not restored within minutes, portion of the heart muscle begin to die, resulting in permanent damage.

5. Jaw and ear pain

60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. It may simply get to the ear. Nagging pain is worthy of a cardiac checkup.

Cause & Effect

Damaged heart tissue sends pain signals up and down the spinal cord to junctures with nerves that radiate from the cervical vertebrae out along the jaw and up to the ear.

Unlike the jaw pain caused by tooth pain or ear infection, the pain here is not isolated in a single spot but radiating outward in a line and may extend down to the left shoulder and arm, and applying massage, ice and heat do not help in this situation.

Other pointers to note

+  Studies have found that hairs protruding out of the ear-tube and crease on the ear lobe have significant correlation with higher incidence of coronary risk.

+  Women are prone to have clots in their legs due to fatty deposits and lack of blood circulation for reasons like in a standing position for too long, wearing high heels, lack of walking exercise.

+  An enlarged neck is another warning sign as the vessels are stretched up.

+  Diabetic patients have poor blood flow to the legs and made worst with lesser walking exercise.  Wound on their feet and lower legs may not heal, and may develop gangrene.

+  Those at risks include patients with high blood pressure and cholesterol, overweight, smoke, perform little exercise and frequently overindulge in high saturated fat food.

+  The closer the problem lies to the abdominal aorta – the central artery that branches into the legs – the more tissue affected and the more dangerous the condition. Monitor the blood pressure on both legs as well.

Action plan

According to the American Heart Association, reducing LDL by 10% can see a significant reduction of this disease by 31%, heart attack by 34% and heart surgery by 37%.

+ Lowering of LDL cholesterol by reducing saturated fat intake.

+ Lowering of Triglyceride levels by reducing consumption of sugary and processed foods.

+ Reduction of Homocysteine levels by reducing animal and seafood proteins.

+ Increased antioxidant activity by higher consumption of fruits and vegetables.

+ Lowering of fibrinogen and hormonal growth factors by cutting back on foods such as red meat, dairy products, poultry and eggs.

+ Increasing HDL cholesterol through exercising and a healthy diet.

Natural remedies  

Supplementing your heart with the right nutrients is essential to keep it going or improve an underlying heart problem.

+  Unlike many other chronic medical conditions, Cardiovascular disease is treatable and reversible, even after a long history of disease. The heart's workload must be reduced as much as possible while the damaged portion of the muscle is healing.

+  Natural treatment to consider should primarily be focused on a bland diet with low calorie count to be raised gradually. Do include nutrients for improved heart function like -

1. Omega 3 and Garlic - Combination of deep-sea fish and garlic are well-documented to promote better heart function by improving blood lipid profile, strengthening blood antioxidant potential and causing significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressures.

The two types of omega3 unsaturated fatty acids, namely EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are capable of inhibiting liver enzymes to synthesize triglycerides, and reduce the amount in the blood flow.  Another important function is to prevent thrombus (a blood clot formed inside an intact blood vessel) and thus reduce the viscosity of blood, relax blood vessels and prevent inflammatory responses. A clinical trial found daily 1g doses of highly concentrated omega 3 within three months of a heart attack cut the risk of a patient later dying suddenly by 45%.

Garlic extract is known to contain an abundance of potent components that help to keep our blood in a healthy state.  It has the effect of preventing the formation of blood clot by inhibiting the abnormal aggregation of platelets and regulates the proper activity of fibrin in the blood.  It also functions to regulate rapid palpitation of the heart or quivering of the cardiac muscle caused by over-excitement of the nerves.  Its active ingredient, Allicin prevents cardiovascular disease by reducing the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood.

2. Antioxidant – Antioxidant vitamins and minerals prevent oxidative damage caused by free radicals which promote oxidation of LDL leading to cardiovascular disease. This is especially vital in preventing plaque formation from being oxidised and harder to remove.

3. B-complex - Vitamin B6 and B12, helps to reduce concentration of homocysteine - known to promote the oxidation of LDL and thus cardiovascular disease. Also, vitamin B6 assists magnesium to reduce and dissolve calcium kidney stones.

4. Calcium and Magnesium - Besides being important constituents in bone and teeth, they are also responsible for regulating muscle contraction and maintaining the elasticity of blood vessels - thus promoting a regular heartbeat.

Magnesium assists in calcium and potassium uptake. Excessive calcium lingering in the blood can cause calcification, whereas magnesium prevents this occurrence as this essential material protects the arterial linings from stress caused by sudden surge in blood pressure.

5. Coenzyme10 - It increases the generation of energy and oxygen uptake, vital for the heart deprived of oxygen at this state. Study done found that taking a single dose of 50 mg can mildly affect systolic blood pressure in young people. Consistent intake for heart patients enhances 70% chance of survival.


6. According to one research team, the oat compounds called avenanthramides can significantly suppressed plaques built up otherwise narrowing the passageways through which blood flows. Its fiber content eliminates cholesterol from the digestive system from releasing into the bloodstream.

Other comments

+  Heart attack usually occurs in the morning when just out of the bed. This is because in a resting mode, the blood pressure rises and blood tends to cluster. Hence, a good prevention is to take your necessary medications and calcium-magnesium supplement before bedtime. Flossing your teeth also helps as bacteria gets to reproduce during the inactive hours and can reach out to the heart through the blood system.

+  Relaxation is important to allow the heart to recover from damage faster. Check your heartbeat to see if the organ really relax. Within a normal range, the slower the heartbeat with longer periods of time between beats, the more quickly the heart repairs itself.

+  The most common way to increase nitric oxide is through exercise. When you run or lift weights, your muscles need more oxygen which is supplied by the blood. As the heart pumps with more pressure to supply the muscles with blood, the lining in your arteries releases nitric oxide into the blood, which relaxes and widens the vessel wall, allowing for more blood to pass though. As we age, our blood vessels and nitric oxide system become less efficient due to free radical damage, inactivity, and poor diet, causing our veins and arteries to deteriorate. Another way to increase nitric oxide is through diet, most notably by consuming the amino acids L-arginine and L-citrulline. Arginine can be found in nuts, fruits, meats and dairy to creates nitric oxide and citrulline inside the cell. As nitric oxide only lasts a few seconds in the body, the more antioxidant protection we provide, the more stable it will be and the longer it will last.

+  Besides promoting habits like regular workouts, eating a balanced diet with more fresh fruits and vegetables are equally important. To abstain from smoking and drinking alcohol are hard to practise in real life for most people. That is why cardiovascular disease is prevalent nowadays and will continue to be…….
Conclusion

Statistics showed about 25% of first heart attack patients never make it, another 10% die within the next four weeks and the remaining 65% is aware of the prospect for another attack because the fundamental condition of arteriosclerosis still exists, and other parts of the coronary artery system may yet become obstructed.

Have a heart for your beloved heart!

VIVA corner

Lipoguard is a unique revolutionary nutraceutical product developed exclusively by VIVA Life Science. Invited participants had gone through a rigorous clinical trial led by Dr. N.C. Marcos, an authority in the field of cardiovascular research at the Department of Medicine, University of Irvine, USA. Results obtained have been published in the Journal of the National Medical Association in 1997.  The study showed after a month's intake of this product containing 1.8 gms of EPA and 1.2 gms of DHA (10 capsules daily) it reduced total cholesterol by 11%, LDL by 10% and triglycerides by 34%. Even subsequent reviews showed all participants to have normal functions of kidney and liver. At the same time, an FDA report reviewing studies on the effect of 24 fish oil products to reduce cardiovascular disease found only this product effectively tackles this problem.

Lipoguard receives 2000 Nutritional Biotechnology & Medical Health Quality Award in Taiwan. Its unique proprietary formulation of concentrated Omega3 fatty acids, garlic and other potent ingredients has been patented too.

+  Fish oil - high concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acid (30% EPA and 20% DHA) makes its efficacy more powerful than other fish oil products in the market in lowering stickiness of blood.
+  Garlic extract - concentrated under low temperature processing method, containing highly bio-availability Allicin reduces cholesterol production and inflammation.  VIVA Life Science has utilised a unique manufacturing procedure using high-speed centrifugation at a low temperature to process the raw materials to maintain the bioactivity of Allicin.
+  Lecithin – helps to prevent arteriosclerosis by reducing fat plaque in arteries and veins. Choline in it helps to transport cholesterol in the body.
+  Vitamin E – helps to emulsify fats and prevent lipid peroxidation.
+  Phytochemicals - rutins, capsaicins and bioflavonoids acting as antioxidants to protect cell integrity.

Who can use it?

+  Anyone. Unlike other cholesterol-reducing drugs like statins, this product has no usual accompanying side effects.
+  Anyone with a history record of heart disease, or high cholesterol with or without medication can put it to good use.
+  For those without cardiovascular risk, it can be used randomly as a nutritional supplement benefit for maintaining the blood vessels in good condition.  Also, it can increase the body’s resistance to disease, help to combat cancer, alleviate joint pain and swelling, as well as assisting in development of the brain and vision.

In the body, the amino acid arginine changes into nitric oxide - a powerful neurotransmitter that helps blood vessels relax and also improves circulation. Some evidence shows that arginine may help improve blood flow in the arteries of the heart, thus improve symptoms of clogged arteries, chest pain or angina, and coronary artery disease. As nitric oxide diminishes in minutes, antioxidants can help to improve its stability and thus prolong the duration.