Category: Preventive Cardio

What is a Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) score? A CAC score measures the amount of calcium in the walls of the coronary arteries, which are the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart. CAC is measured using a non-invasive CT scan. A higher CAC score indicates a greater buildup of calcium, which is a sign of atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in the arteries). Calcium gets deposited in the artery wall, which contributes to the formation of more complicated, older plaques as part of the healing and stabilization process. Atherosclerosis increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular events. How is CAC scoring used to assess cardiovascular risk? CAC scoring assesses cardiovascular risk by providing additional information about the presence and extent of atherosclerosis beyond traditional risk factors. While traditional risk factors like age, sex, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure can estimate the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease, CAC scoring directly visualizes the presence of plaque in the arteries. A CAC score of 0 indicates the absence of detectable plaque, generally associated with a low risk of cardiovascular events in the near future. Conversely, a CAC score above 0 suggests the presence of plaque, and the higher the score,...

Dr. Stephen Parcell, ND, ABAAHP, is excited to announce his custom program for coronary artery disease and vascular longevity. Heart attacks are the #1 cause of death in the United States. Up to 75% of patients admitted for heart attacks have normal cholesterol. Cholesterol is only about 25% of the problem. What about the other 75%? This is where we come in. There is much more that needs to be investigated, tested, and treated. This is what NatureMed does. If you are interested in an individualized comprehensive approach to reducing your risk rather than just a prescription, then you are in the right place.   What Type of Patient is a Good Candidate for This Program? Anyone who is interested in: 1. Preventing stroke, heart attack, arrhythmias, and adverse cardiovascular events of all types 2. Improving blood pressure and cholesterol 3. Obtaining individualized cardiovascular risk assessment 4. Obtaining highly sensitive plaque analysis 5. Learning strategies and tactics to optimize all measures of risk 6. Combining longevity medicine concepts into the cardiovascular realm 7. Improving both health span and life span 8. Maintaining physical activities well into old age   Program Overview and What's Included Visit Related: • One, 90-minute initial...

Toxic metals are known to cause significant human health problems, and one of the areas where this impact is most prominent is in the development of coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD is a condition in which the arteries that supply blood to the heart become narrowed or blocked due to the buildup of plaque, a combination of cholesterol, white blood cells, and other substances. This can lead to a decrease in blood flow to the heart, which can result in chest pain, heart attacks, and even death. Heavy Metal Poisoning and the Connection to Coronary Artery Disease Several toxic metals, including lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic, have been shown to be associated with an increased risk of CAD.[i] These metals can enter the body through various sources, such as contaminated food and water, air pollution, and occupational exposure. Once inside the body, they can accumulate in tissues and organs, including the heart, and disrupt normal physiological processes. Lead, for example, is a well-known toxic metal that has been linked to an increased risk of CAD. Studies have shown that exposure to lead can lead to inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction, all of which are key factors in the development...

Can exercising be bad for your heart? Starting in the early 1980s several studies showed an association between endurance exercise and coronary artery disease. [1] Since the discovery of this unexpected finding, follow-up studies have been able to determine that risk of cardiovascular events is still lower compared to sedentary people. Aengevaeren et al [2] investigated whether there were differences between runners and cyclists. They found that cyclists had less arterial plaque compared to runners. The majority of the data was collected from white, middle-aged men. It is common for health minded individuals over 40 to get coronary artery calcium (CAC) tests. My athletic patients are always shocked when they discover they have above average amounts of calcified plaque in the coronary arteries. The notion that a fit individual may have more plaque compared to less fit people, but less risk of a coronary event can be confusing. Types of Arterial Plaque There are three types of plaque: calcified, noncalcified, and mixed. Coronary artery calcium analysis only reveals the calcified type. The type of plaque that athletic endurance individuals develop is denser and more calcified rather than mixed or soft. This is the least risky type of plaque. This “accelerated...

There is burgeoning evidence that gut health and the microbiome have direct links to artery disease. Arterial disease is the main way we develop cardiovascular problems. When arterial plaque develops it can cause either a stroke or heart attack when it ruptures. The plaque may also become so extensive that it completely blocks the artery over time. Additionally, arterial disease in the brain is a common cause of dementia. SIBO and Its Association with Other Diseases Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is the presence of excess colonic bacteria in the small intestine. In contrast to the large intestine, the concentration of the bacteria in the small intestine rarely exceeds 1,000 organisms/ml. This is because gastric acid secretion and intestinal motility limit the overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine. When these protective mechanisms against excessive bacterial growth fail, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) can result. SIBO is associated with several symptoms that typically include gas, abdominal pain, nausea, fatigue, diarrhea, constipation, and bloating. This condition may also irritate the liver. Associations with other diseases have been established and they include rosacea, interstitial cystitis, prostatitis, restless leg syndrome, and fibromyalgia. [1] Related Post: New Research on the Cause of SIBO The...