Plaque

by imavexadmin | Feb 4, 2019 | Today's Information

What is it? Can we measure it?

CORONARY ARTERY CALCIFICATION SCORE – A VALUABLE GUIDE FOR THOSE OF US AT RISK

A simple X-Ray exam that should cost less than $90 is a very accurate measure of the amount of blockage which has developed in our heart arteries. Knowing that number can be an effective motivator for employing an even more effective prevention and reversal program in our lives.

As plaque forms in our arteries, it also becomes calcified, providing a marker that is easily measured by X-Ray. The more calcification, the more plaque, and generally the more serious we must become about managing this health hazard which can result in serious disability or death. 

A score of zero is is normal

1 to 99 indicates mild disease

100 to 399 indicates moderate disease

Over 400 indicates severe disease

Extensive guidelines on the use of this test are available from several sources. 

The score is not perfect. Plaque can occur without calcification, especially in younger individuals.

The test takes about 15 minutes and no dye is used. The radiation exposure is generally minimal, about equivalent to what we get from our surroundings in one year.  The scanners vary widely in the radiation dose, so we pick a good one. Pregnant women or those who may become pregnant should avoid the test. Under age 40, it may not be worth having.

An amazingly comprehensive review of this is contained in the Jan 2018 issue of JACC.

1.Coronary Artery Calcification and its Progression   What Does it Really Mean? Hiroyoshi Mori, Sho Torii, Matthew Kutyna, Atsushi Sakamoto, Aloke V. Finn, Renu Virmani

Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Imaging Jan 2018, 11 (1) 127-142; DOI:10.1016/j.jcmg.2017.10.012

1. Coronary Calcium Score and the New Guidelines Javier Sanz

Journal of the American College of Cardiology Oct 2015, 66 (15) 1669-1671; DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2015.08.041

Pomegranate

by imavexadmin | Feb 4, 2019 | Today's Information

Can pomegranate improve heart health?

Pomegranate is an excellent way to increase nitric oxide. It has other beneficial effects on heart health as well. Pomegranate juice consumption for 3 years by patients with carotid artery stenosis reduces common carotid intimamedia thickness, blood pressure and LDL oxidation.

https://lnkd.in/e2AazQ3

Very High Cholesterol

by imavexadmin | Dec 26, 2018 | Today's Information

VERY HIGH CHOLESTEROL

FAMILIAL HYPERLIPIDEMIA – A JOKER IN THE DECK

We are not all biologically alike. The majority of what we hear today unfortunately assumes that we are.

One in very roughly 300 of us in the states have a gene that results in heart disease at a rapid rate. Early disability and death are common if this is the case. The good news is recently there is a valid treatment for this otherwise devastating disorder.

Really, there is nothing fair about it. But then, those with this disorder almost certainly have other genes and characteristics that are entirely fortunate.  

We enjoy a card game and don’t intend to be flippant about this problem, but clearly if one is dealt this card, action is needed. It would be a great card to pass to the player on our left, but then again that is not an option here.

Familial hyperlipidemia (FH), a problem with chromosome 19, results in persistent major increase in bad cholesterol (LDL.) Like many biological situations, it gets very complex and wide ranges of values are confusing. However, if cholesterol is over 280 or LDL over 190, FH may be present. Checking this out is a great choice.   

Presently, 90% of individuals with FH have not been diagnosed.  

We truly enjoy the humor and c’est la vie attitudes we have noted in some with this disorder. Our other thought, however, is that avoiding that Egyptian river known as denial and taking a few serious moments in pursuing this are more than worth it.

Many treatments can help. A new class of medications, PCSK9 inhibitors, are an option and should be carefully considered.

Contact the FH website to get informed. Start to fight this killer with the counsel of your health care professional.

Thefhfoundation.org

Wald, David S.; Bestwick, Jonathan P.; Morris, Joan K.; Whyte, Ken; Jenkins, Lucy; Wald, Nicholas J. (2016). “Child–Parent Familial Hypercholesterolemia Screening in Primary Care”. New England Journal of Medicine. 375 (17): 1628–1637. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa160277

Microgreens

by imavexadmin | Dec 26, 2018 | Today's Information

Microgreens are collections of especially nutritious vegetables that are harvested when only 1 to 3 inches tall. At this early stage, they contain high concentrations of many heart healthy nutrients compared to their fully grown plant counterparts. Thus, beet, chard, and spinach microgreens among others pack just as much if not more of the antioxidant and other nutrients as the mature vegetable.

We find this to be especially useful scientifically based information and consider inclusion of microgreens in heart healthy nutrition as an easy yet excellent choice. They taste good and can be easily used as additions to soups, and salads or as a garnish on any other food.

Visit Roka Farms https://lnkd.in/efWHSg8

Further Reading:

1. Lester, G. E.; Hallman, G. J.; Perez, J. A. γ-Irradiation Dose: Effects on Baby-Leaf Spinach Ascorbic Acid, Carotenoids, Folate, α- Tocopherol, and Phylloquinone Concentrations. J. Agric. Food. Chem. 2010, 58, 4901−4906.

2. Xiao,Z; Lester,G.; Luo,Y.; Wang,Q. Assessment of Vitamin and Carotenoid Concentrations of Emerging Food Products: Edible Microgreens. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 2012,60,7644-7651