These risk factors are divided into two groups: the non-modifiable and the modifiable factors.

The non-modifiable risk factors: are as the name implies, are those risk that we cannot do anything about. They cannot be altered by our lifestyle changes or medical treatments. And they include:

Age and gender: Coronary heart disease becomes more common with older age and it is the strongest predictor of coronary deaths in women. Two third of women who die from heart diseases are ages between 55 and 65 years old. Below the age of 65, it is much more common disease among men then women. This is because after menopause (a period when women menstruating).

Coronary Heart Disease becomes more common among women. It does seem likely that age different among men and women with CHD is related to estrogen hormone that disappear once menstruation stops, this hormone has a way of regulating and maintaining the effects of the Coronary Heart Disease in women. But test carried on women who are undergoing hormone replacement therapy (HRT) have shown some evidence that this can protect against heart diseases. Many doctors are recommending HRT for this reason as well as, of course for other reasons.

Family history or Genetic factor: as with age and gender, we do not choose our parents so we are stuck with our genetic history. If your father or mother had a heart attack below the age of 65, this may increase your own risk significantly, but getting it from a second or third degree relative is less likely. The reason being that the gene we inherit from our parents may make us more liable to have high cholesterol or less insulin production in our body.

It is advisable to have a medical check up from time to time with your doctor in order to reduce or treat the risk on time.

The modifiable risk factors: are the ones that can be influenced by changes in our various lifestyles such as diet, physical exercise and medical treatment. The major risk factors include smoking, raised blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, lack of exercise. While the contributory risk factors are obesity, stress, alcoholism, raises insulin level, fibrinogen, homocysteine and some others.

The risk of you developing Coronary Heart Disease becomes greater the more risk factor you have. Some risk however has much greater effect on your chances of developing Coronary Heart Disease, for instance a smoker with high blood pressure and a raised cholesterol level has a much higher risk than a non-smoker who has these factors.

In general, Coronary Heart Disease is a disease of the affluence, it is rare in the tropics and developing countries but common in North America, northern Europe and Australia and it is more related to lifestyle.

To learn more about risk factors in coronary heart disease click here

Knowledge is power, so Learn and Live!

Reprinting this article is allowed provided all references and acknowledgment to the author, the website, and the URL remain intact.

Article Source: Ezine Article
URL: Risk Factors in Coronary Heart Disease

Plaque deposits that cause blockages in the Coronary Arteries, the first blood vessels that branch off from the Aorta — can lead to sudden heart attacks. If the same blockages occur in arteries supplying blood to the brain, then this can lead to a stroke. Sadly, many people miss the preliminary signs and symptoms of Heart Disease and so often their first ’symptom’ is sudden death.

The epidemic spread of cardiovascular diseases, is largely due to the fact that until now, the true nature of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease has been insufficiently understood.

Conventional medicine is largely confined to treating the symptoms of heart disease. Treatments such as calcium antagonists, beta-blockers, nitrates and other drugs are prescribed to alleviate angina pain. Surgical procedures, such as angioplasty and bypass surgery — are applied to mechanically improve blood flow. Rarely does conventional medicine target the underlying problem: the instability of the vascular walls, which triggers the development of atherosclerotic deposits.

Can you prevent and reverse heart disease without invasive procedures and avoid the complications of bypass surgery?

The answer is yes. Cellular Medicine provides a breakthrough in our understanding of the underlying causes of cardiovascular conditions, and leads to the effective prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease. The wonderful benefit of utilizing cellular medicine, is that the complications of bypass surgery are avoided.

According to many nutritional researchers, the primary cause of coronary heart disease and other forms of atherosclerotic disease — is a chronic deficiency of essential nutrients in millions of vascular wall cells. This deficiency leads to the instability of the vascular walls — thereby leading to lesions and cracks, atherosclerotic deposits, and eventually, heart attacks or strokes. Since the primary cause of cardiovascular disease, is a deficiency of essential nutrients in the cells of the vascular walls — the daily optimum intake of these essential nutrients is the primary measure to prevent atherosclerosis and help repair artery wall damage.

Scientific research and clinical studies have already documented the particular value of vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene and other ingredients in the prevention of heart disease — but what if you are already suffering from the symptoms of this disease?

One vocal proponent of using nutrition in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, is Matthias Rath, M.D. In Dr Rath’s book, “Why Animals Don’t Get Heart Attacks — But People Do!”, he outlines his theories about why optimum nutrition is so vital and can not only prevent, but even reverse heart disease. Dr. Rath believes that there are specific, essential nutrients that help to prevent cardiovascular disease and repair existing damage.

Vitamin research and cardiovascular disease.

One of the largest studies about the importance of vitamins in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, was conducted in Europe. It is a well-known fact, that cardiovascular diseases are more frequent in northern European countries, compared to Mediterranean countries.

Professor K.F. Gey, from the University of Berne in Switzerland, compared the rate of cardiovascular disease in these countries — to the blood levels of vitamin C and beta-carotene, as well as cholesterol. His findings were remarkable:

* People in Northern European countries have the highest rate of cardiovascular disease, and on average, the lowest blood levels of vitamins.

* Southern European populations, have the lowest cardiovascular risk and the highest blood levels of vitamins.

* An optimum intake of the vitamins C, E and A — had a much greater impact on decreasing the risk for cardiovascular disease than lowering cholesterol levels, a frequent focal point in conventional medicine.

This study finally provides the scientific answer as to why there is such a lower rate of heart attacks — in France, Greece and other Mediterranean countries, when compared to the norm. The key factor for the lower cardiovascular risk in these countries, is the high intake of nutrition through the regular diets of these regions. Certain dietary preferences, such as the consumption of wine and olive oil, which are rich in bioflavonoids and vitamin E seem to be of particular importance.

Supplementation – Your defense against heart disease.

With our modern lifestyle and eating choices, it is simply not that easy to get all the nutrients we need from our diet alone. This is why so many people choose to supplement their diet with nutritional supplements such as vitamins and antioxidants. If your aim is to prevent diseases such as heart disease — then supplementation has become more than just a ‘quaint health fad’ — it’s more a matter of life and death.

What are the best supplements to take for problems with the cardiovascular system?

Many people know of the general benefits of nutrients, such as vitamins, antioxidants, fish oil etc. But what is specifically good for the heart and cardiovascular system? Here are some suggestions:

* Vitamin C: provides protection and promotes the natural healing of the artery wall and the reversal of plaque

* Vitamin E: provides antioxidant protection

* Vitamin D: optimizes calcium metabolism and the reversal of calcium deposits in the artery wall

* Folic acid, Biotin and B Vitamins: provide a protective function against increased homocysteine levels

* Copper: supports stability of the artery wall with the improved cross-linking of collagen molecules

* Bioflavonoids, Grape Seed Extract and Pine Bark Extract: contain antioxidant nutrients and molecules known as ‘OPCs’ which act as biocatalysts for improved vitamin C function and improved stability of the artery wall

The most specific supplement formula for cardiovascular disease, would have to be what is known as an Oral Chelation Therapy supplement. This type of formula, is a blend of nutrients designed to heal and tone the cardiovascular system, as well as ‘chelate’ or ‘claw out’ the excess plaque and calcium buildup in the arteries. Oral Chelation Therapy is not as widely available as the individual nutrients mentioned before – however its specific formula provides the best combination of nutrients to fully assist the body in its healing processes — so that one can prevent and even reverse the onset of cardiovascular diseases.

Article Source: Ezine Article
URL: Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease – Is There a Natural, Non-Invasive Way to Treat Heart Disease?

Our doctor told us it was not really possible to fix his heart — that is to say, his heart would never be “brand new.”

The steps he did take, however, prevented him from further damaging his heart. While this is not exactly a “cure” he was able to function pretty well and it relieved us from worrying about his condition worsening.

Our doctor referred to this as as “reversing his heart disease.”

Where do you begin if you want to reverse your heart disease before you have a heart attack?

Well, the obvious place is to quit smoking, quit drinking excessively or abusing any substances. In my husbands case it was no more cigars! Not even on the golf course! This was particularly true for him because our doctor said he had an obesity heart problem (he has since lost 75 pounds!) The next step was a change of diet.

His old diet consisted of fast food breakfasts and lunches and was loaded with foods high in trans fats, empty carbohydrates, foods made with refined flour and sugars, and salty processed foods.

Changes had to be made if he wanted to reverse his heart disease.

He now avoids all of the above poor food choices. We are both particularly watchful of trans fats. You find this devil in everything: in fast foods and processed foods, in fried foods and desserts like packaged cookies and cakes and other packaged snack foods. Trans fats are loaded with empty calories that do nothing to nourish the body. In my husband’s case they caused him to gain weight and become sluggish. He was always complaining of being tired. Overweight and sluggish — both conditions that lead to obesity and an obese heart problem.

These habits had to be changed.

It is important to remember that our bodies actually require some fats in order to work like they should. A good example of these healthy fats are the fats found in nuts and olive oil. These fats actually help in reversing heart disease.

In our house we now follow the Mediterranean diet plan which is rich in these oils and also in Omega-3 fatty acids which are often said to be absolutely essential in reversing heart disease.

You find Omega-3 fatty acids in a variety of delicious foods and food products. For example, fatty fish like salmon has a high level of Omega-3 fatty acids. Oils like fish oil and flaxseed oil are good sources and can also be taken as supplements. We both now have diets rich in these healthy fats.

My husband started exercising regularly! We know this definitely helped him reverse his heart disease, especially since he was classified with an obese heart problem. He now does regular aerobic exercises that increase his heart beat (examples include walking, jogging, bicycling, swimming, dancing and other activities). He doesn’t go crazy with exercise, but we were told they should get him breathing hard and perspiring.

Naturally, before he began his new exercise routine he had it ok’d by our doctor. In his case the doctor actually prescribed it. What do we do for exercise? We now play volleyball once a week at the community center. And we take regular walks. And my husband actually peddles our son’s old bicycle around the neighborhood!

He also started working moderately with weights. This has really built up his muscles which in turn increased his metabolism. Hence the 75 pound weight loss!

We found that losing weight through diet and exercise was the #1 important step in reversing his heart disease symptoms. I’m sure you’ll find this true, too, especially if you have a heart problem due to obesity.

Article Source: Ezine Article
URL: How My Husband Reversed His Heart Disease and How You Can Too!

Prevention is definitely better than cure when it comes to heart disease. Is your dog eating a healthy diet? If not this may be the cause of his deteriorating health. Rather than beating yourself up about this, start learning about healthy foods for dogs and what to feed your dog to improve his health and aid his recovery.

Conventional medications for heart disease in dogs can have some serious side effects. Making the effort to find a holistic vet who can point you towards a natural cure is well worthwhile. A holistic vet can prescribe herbal remedies such as hawthorn and dandelion which can both help strengthen the heart muscle and prevent harmful fluid build up.

Make sure you make the time to take your dog for his yearly vet check up even though he seems healthy. If you notice your dog coughing, especially during the night time or after exercise, then you should waste no time in taking your dog to the vet as this may be one of the symptoms heart disease.

If your dog lacks energy and can’t seems to keep up while you are walking or there seems to be a difference in the way they’re breathing, then take them to the vet without delay. Other serious symptoms of heart disease in dogs include weight loss for no apparent reason, difficulty breathing and fainting.

Moderate exercise is very important and can be as simple as taking your dog for a walk two or three times a week. If your dog is already affected by heart problems allow him to set the pace. Stop or slow down if he seems very tired or starts to cough.

If your vet has diagnosed your dog with cardiac ischemia, which is a shortage of blood supply to the heart, or reperfusion, which is damage to the heart tissue, then CoQ10 will help your dog. CoQ10 is a natural co-enzyme which will not only help to slow down the progression of heart disease in your dog, but will also improve his overall health. We all know that a happy dog is a healthy dog.

In order to prevent bad cholesterol (LDL) in your dog and to help your dog’s heart health, then we recommend some good old Vitamin E. You should give your dog Vitamin E in 200-500 IU each day mixed with his food.

Another recommended natural supplement for heart disease in dogs is L-Carnitine which will help with deterioration of the heart muscle. If you combine L-Carnitine with another supplement called Taurine, it will help to improve your dog’s life expectancy as well. This can be given in the amount of 500-2000 mg daily.

So to conclude, it is very easy to keep your dogs heart safe, as long as you pay close attention to his health and remember to take him to his annual visit to the vet each year (or straight away if something seems wrong). Remember, heart disease in dogs can happen fast and without warning, so please be watchful for any of the above symptoms.

Article Source: Ezine Article
URL: How to Prevent and Even Reverse Heart Disease in Dogs

There may be more that is passed on than merely genetics. Environmental and lifestyle habits can ALSO be passed on from generation to generation. This means that the behaviors and diet habits of a bald man can be passed on to his son and it may be THOSE influences that make the hair loss to APPEAR hereditary.

Is the son’s baldness genetic, or does he just have bad scalp circulation? The baldness lifestyle could be so similar between a father and a son that the baldness is similarly induced! For example, a love of greasy foods, which are known to block the small capillaries to the scalp, can be passed on from a father to his son. Or, drinking water from a source that is contaminated with pesticides could also be “passed on” from father to son if the son lives in the same area. Or maybe the son “inherited” a preference for a particular shampoo that is known for being damaging to hair.

One of the pioneers of the concept of “lifestyle baldness” originates from an interesting book written in 1985. The author of this out-of-print book from Japan theorized that the loss of hair is the result of a “westernized” diet including “fatty foods.” Dr. Masumi Inaba shows a correlation between a diet with increased animal fats, increased levels of sebaceous gland activity in the scalp, and an increased incidence of male pattern baldness in Japanese men in the 40 years since World War II. Before World War II almost every Japanese male in Japan had a full head of hair! When they move to Hawaii or California, or change their diet in Japan, many Japanese men start losing their hair. The book is called “Can Human Hair Grow Again?: Baldness: New Steps Toward Prevention and Cure” Publisher: Azabu Shokan (1985).

Whether you have the baldness gene or not, there are many natural treatments for hair loss. These can include scalp massage, exercise, colon cleanse, liver flush, skin brushing, alternations of heat and cold, reflexology, homeopathy and acupuncture. In addition, reducing the fat intake in one’s diet has been shown to help to reverse the tendency towards baldness.

To help counter the baldness lifestyle, you should try to avoid the following: dandruff shampoos, hair conditioners, hair dye, margarine/hydrogenated oil, elemental calcium supplements, and over-thinking/worrying.

Editor’s Note: This article previously published here.

…

Howard Richman has compiled a detailed resource list of natural hair loss treatments for hair regrowth. http://www.soundfeelings.com/free/natural_hair_loss_treatments.htm He is the author of many self-help articles and books. His specialty is to help people break through their most stubborn blocks. 1-818-757-0600 Copyright (c) Sound Feelings Publishing. http://www.soundfeelings.com/

Read more articles written by Howard Richman

Unluckily at this time there is no treatment though endeavors persist to do in minimizing the effects of it. The damage caused to your airways and lungs can not be reversed. Yet, there are things you can do to aid feel better and slow the damage.

This ailment is not something you can catch from someone else, though other sicknesses can have a straight effect on how bad your pulmonary heart disease is. The most common trigger of this ailment is smoking.

Treatment for Pulmonary Heart Disease

The preliminary thing in healing your pulmonary heart disease is by stop smoking. Besides stopping smoking, you should also shun things that would stress your lungs. Working in dust filled and chemical environments will simply progress the opportunity that your condition is going to get worse.

Then if you are overweight, you must also need to try to lose your weight. It does so to relieve the stress being placed on your heart. To lower your weight and reduce the stress on your heart you must eat well balanced low fat diet. In addition, exercise will aid your lungs to recover somewhat and will also develop the stamina of your heart.

Do you want to read more? Only by clicking this link stated above you can decrease as many of the signs of pulmonary heart disease as you can.

Article Source: Ezine Article
URL: All You Need to Know Closer About Pulmonary Heart Disease and Its Treatment

Lab results The hearts of lab rats that were enlarged and that would, in normal circumstances, develop into a heart attack were treated with the extract and the phytochemical properties played various roles in preventing any form of heart disease from occurring. In the first place this spice extract reduced the enlargement of the heart, so rather than it increasing in size it downsized. Another aspect of the healing mechanism that it showed was its ability to turn off genes that are responsible for heart enlargement and tissue scarring. In addition curcumin and turmeric evidence showed that it prevented the heart of a mouse from enlarging at all or from the systolic function, pressure at which the blood is pumped out of the left ventricle, from deteriorating.

Protection through regular ingestion We understand how important diet is and how a good diet can give the body protection. This spice that comes from the Curcuma Longa plant has longed played that role in protecting the health of many Asian cultures. In particular the Indian culture who use this spice as part of their daily diets have the lowest incidence of Alzheimer’s disease and this has been linked back to the properties of curcumin being able to remove amyloyd plaque and prevent it building up in the brain. Although there are a lot more conditions that it can treat these have not been the subject of this article. But just from what I have written it is easy to see how important it is to have in our daily lives and you don’t have to eat curry every day to benefit from it either!

Supplemental form I have started taking turmeric as part of a truly amazing multi nutritional supplement. A friend introduced me to this supplement and although I took some convincing to try it I am so glad that I did. Unlike 99% of other supplements that our out there these do not contain, chalk, artificial sweeteners or colours or any other toxic ingredient. What they do contain is over 70 life enhancing nutrients such as resveratrol, decaffeinated green tea extract, ginko biloba, aloe vera and many others to help protect the body from cancer, heart diseases and many other nasty aging conditions. Since I started taking them I have seen my skin improve, my energy levels increase and even my memory is getting better than it was.

Article Source: Ezine Article
URL: Curcumin and Turmeric Evidence – An Effective Treatment For Heart Disease

It is true that beverages such as tea, coffee, wine, beer, soft drinks and juices contain water but they also contain caffeine, alcohol, sugar, artificial sweeteners or other chemicals that act as strong dehydrators. The more you drink these beverages, the more dehydrated you become because the effects they create in the body are exactly opposite to the ones that are produced by water. Caffeine containing beverages, for example, trigger stress responses that have strong diuretic effects (causing increased urination, at first). Beverages with added sugar drastically raise blood sugar levels, which uses up large quantities of cellular water, too. Regular consumption of such beverages results in chronic dehydration, which is a common factor in every toxicity crisis.

There is no practical or rational reason to treat an illness (toxicity crisis) with synthetic drugs or even with natural medications and methods unless the body’s need for hydration has been met first. Drugs and other forms of medical intervention can be dangerous for the human physiology largely because of their dehydrating effects. Most patients today are suffering from “thirst disease,” a progressive state of dehydration in certain areas of the body. Unable to remove toxins from these parts due to insufficient water supply, the body is faced with the consequences of their destructive effects. The lack of recognition of the most basic aspects of water metabolism in our body can be held responsible for seeing a disease when it really is the body’s urgent cry for water.

Recognizing Dehydration

Those who have lived for many years without proper water intake are the most likely to succumb to the build-up of toxins in the body. Chronic disease is always accompanied by dehydration and, in many cases, caused by dehydration. The longer a person lives on a low water ration and/or on a high ration of stimulating beverages or foods, the more severe and long lasting is the toxicity crisis. Heart disease, obesity, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, stomach ulcers, hypertension, cancer, MS, Alzheimer’s, and many other chronic forms of disease are precipitated by years of “body drought.” Infectious agents such as bacteria and viruses cannot thrive in a well-hydrated body. Drinking enough water is therefore one of the most important preventives for any disease.

People who do not drink enough water or unduly deplete their body’s water reserves through overstimulation for a period of time gradually lower the ratio of the volume of water that exists inside the cells to the ratio of volume of water that is found outside the cells. Under dehydrated conditions, the cells may lose up to 28% or more of their water volume. This certainly undermines all cellular activities, whether they occur in skin cells, stomach cells, liver cells, kidney cells or heart cells. Whenever there is cellular dehydration, metabolic waste products are retained, causing symptoms that resemble disease but in truth are nothing but signs of disturbed water metabolism. Since more and more water begins to accumulate outside the cells, the dehydration may not be apparent to the afflicted person; he may in fact notice that he retains water, leading to swelling of his legs, feet, arms and face. Also his kidneys may begin to hold on to water, markedly reducing urinary secretion and causing retention of harmful waste material. Even the enzymes and proteins living in the dehydrated cells become so inefficient that they are no longer able to recognize the dehydrated state of the body; they fail to set off the “thirst alarm.”

Demetria, a 53-year-old Greek woman consulted me to find relief for a painful condition of gallbladder disease. Her skin was dark gray, indicating a high concentration of toxins in her liver and throughout her body. Seeing how dehydrated (and swollen) her body was, I offered her a glass of water. She said: “I never drink water, it makes me sick!” I told her that her natural thirst signals no longer worked because of cellular dehydration and that without drinking water her body could not return to balance. Any water she would drink would instantly be used to remove some of the toxins lurking in her stomach, giving rise to nausea. In her case, any other therapy than drinking water would have been a waste of time and money.

A dehydrated person may also suffer from lack of energy. Due to the shortage of water inside the cell the normal osmotic flow of water through the cell membrane becomes disrupted or severely disturbed. Like in a stream, the movement of water into the cells generates “hydroelectric” energy, which is subsequently stored in form of ATP molecules (the main source of cellular energy). Normally, the water we drink keeps the cell volume balanced and the salt we eat maintains the balanced volume of water that is held outside the cells and in circulation; this generates the right osmotic pressure necessary for cellular nourishment and energy production. During dehydration, this basic process is undermined.

The Pain Connection

Another major indicator of dehydration in the body is pain. In response to increasing water shortage, the brain activates and stores the important neurotransmitter histamine, which directs certain subordinate water regulators to redistribute the amount of water that is in circulation. This system helps move water to areas where it is needed for basic metabolic activity and survival (from drought). When histamine and its subordinate regulators for water intake and distribution come across pain-sensing nerves in the body, they cause strong and continual pain. These pain signals, as they manifest, for example, in rheumatoid arthritis, angina, dyspepsia, low back problems, neuralgia, migraine, and hangover headaches, etc., are necessary to alert the person to attend to the problem of general or local dehydration.

Taking analgesics or other pain relieving medications such as antihistamines or antacids can cause irreversible damage in the body. They not only fail to address the real problem (which may be dehydration) but they also cut the connection between the neurotransmitter histamine and its subordinate regulators such as vasopressin, Renin-Angiotensin (RA), prostaglandin (PG), and kinins. Although
Article Source: Ezine Article
URL: Dangers of Dehydration – And The Importance of Kidney Cleansing

The term alternative medicine refers to health care practices that are used in place of conventional medicine. For example, using a special diet to treat cancer instead of undergoing radiation or chemotherapy is alternative medicine. Complementary medicine is not the same as alternative medicine. Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine. Using dietary supplements for diabetes in addition to conventional medical treatment is an example of complementary medicine.

Complementary and alternative medicine includes a variety of medical systems. Eastern cultures have used traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, and acupuncture for centuries. Homeopathic medicine and naturopathic medicine are newer alternative medical systems.

Mind-body medicine uses techniques such as meditation, art, mental healing, and dance to enhance the mind’s ability to affect the functioning and healing of the body. Clinical depression sometimes responds well to these techniques.

Dietary supplements, herbs, and vitamins are natural remedies used in both complementary and alternative therapies. For example, research shows that leaves and flowers of the hawthorn tree are safe and effective for treating mild heart failure. Flaxseed oil is used to treat arthritis, while ginger relieves pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting. NCCAM continues to study the effect of omega-3 fatty acids on heart disease.

Chiropractic, massage therapy, and osteopathic manipulation involve moving parts of the body to re-establish alignment, relax the body, and support healing. Energy medicine uses invisible energy fields for healing. Reiki, therapeutic touch, and the use of electromagnetic fields are examples of energy medicine. Reiki is a 20th century Japanese healing art in which the practitioner places his or her hands just above the body of the person being treated. In addition to promoting overall health and well being, Reiki can provide relief from the side effects of conventional medical treatments such as chemotherapy.

NCCAM funds research on complementary and alternative approaches to obesity. Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States, affecting children as well as adults. Many health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, that had previously been seen mostly in adults have now become common in children and teenagers. The complexity of obesity warrants a multi-faceted approach to prevention and treatment.

NCCAM urges people who are using complementary, alternative, and natural remedies to tell their physicians. Doctors need to know about other treatments because of possible conflicts with conventional therapies. For example, certain natural remedies interact with prescription medicines and can cause undesirable sides effects.

There is another reason to discuss complementary and alternative treatments with doctors. Increasingly, physicians trained in conventional medicine appreciate the healing power of other approaches. Many are knowledgeable about complementary and alternative therapies and willing to work with patients who are interested in using natural remedies and cures and other non-conventional avenues of healing.

Article Source: Ezine Article
URL: Natural Remedies and Cures For Diabetes, Heart Disease, Arthritis, and Obesity

By depriving them of testosterone, the prostate cancer cells “starve” and die. This treatment is called androgen suppression therapy. Usually, it is men with aggressive prostate cancer and those with prostate cancers that cause the prostate gland to enlarge who benefit the most from androgen suppression therapy.

Nearly every treatment that has benefits also has risks. Physicians must always weigh the benefits and risks of a treatment. Of course, the potential of androgen suppression therapy to prolong the life of men with prostate cancer and even increase the likelihood of it being cured cannot be disregarded. Nonetheless, the side effects of androgen suppression therapy include the loss of sex drive, anemia, osteoporosis, weight gain, decreased muscle mass, increase in bad cholesterol (LDL) and decrease in good cholesterol (HDL).

The alteration of LDL and HDL by androgen suppression therapy can potentially increase the risk of coronary artery disease and heart attacks. Therefore, this possibility was analyzed from data pooled from three randomized studies performed in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, respectively.

One thousand three hundred seventy two (1, 372) men who received androgen suppression therapy in addition to radiation therapy to the prostate gland were followed for at least five years. The researchers found that men over 65 who received androgen suppression therapy for six months had an earlier onset of heart attacks, perhaps by two and a half years.

Does this mean men should not be treated with androgen suppression therapy, especially in the group in whom the benefits of hormonal therapy outweigh the risks? It does not; instead, the implication is that men who will benefit from hormonal therapy to avoid dying from prostate cancer but who also have risk factors for coronary artery disease should be referred to a cardiologist.

Men can then be assessed for and even treated for heart disease before they begin hormonal therapy. They can then undergo androgen suppression therapy without adverse effects on their hearts.

Also, more good news is that new studies are being developed to determine the optimal duration of androgen suppression therapy. By making hormonal therapy intermittent, such as six months on androgen suppression therapy and six months off, men might achieve the same survival endpoint with less toxicity than continuous androgen suppression therapy.

Article Source: Ezine Article
URL: Prostate Cancer Treatment and Heart Disease