Increased Presence, Severity of Coronary Artery Plaques in HIV-Infected Men
ScienceDaily (Jan. 8, 2010) — A Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) study has found that relatively young men with longstanding HIV infection and minimal cardiac risk factors had significantly more coronary atherosclerotic plaques -- some involving serious arterial blockage -- than did uninfected men with similar cardiovascular risk.
Please read the entire article:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100107151659.htm
Could it be that heart disease with coronary blockages are caused from inflammation? Obviously the body is constantly inflamed while battling HIV. Could those without HIV have inflammation too from eating High Glycemic foods or High Blood Pressure or Stress? Could it be that those inflammation markers combined with genetically inclined high cholesterol profiles expedite the blockages while those without any symptoms of heart disease such as in the case of the HIV patients actually have the disease due to arterial inflammation?
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
IS ANYONE LISTENING? PARTICULARLY INSURANCE COMPANIES!
It is interesting to note that people seem to take offense at advice particularly regarding medical or supplement usage even though the advice is based on your experiences. They do it as if they understand more than you do even though they themselves have only recently been impacted by the same experience. I believe we are all guilty of this!
There have been numerous times I have offered outstanding advice, based on my own experience which would "cut" through the "fog" and get to what I believe are the pillars of detecting heart disease. Basically, what has worked for me! I believe based on personal experience that St. Joseph Hospital in Atlanta & the St. Joseph Medical Group have created the best diagnostic and analysis tests in the area. The two tests include the Cardiac 64 slice CT Scan and the Submolecular Cholesterol Blood Analysis including Lp(a). The reason I believe the two tests are so important is based on my own experience. I originally had the old CT scan (16 slice) which detected a large calcified plaque in left marginal branch. I had already passed a regular stress test. The CT scan prompted a thallium stress test which showed blood flow. Because of the CT results along with a cardiologist who actually listened to me; Dr. Frohwein at St. Joseph I had a catherization which found the 99% occlusion in the artery. The submolecular testing was not done til years later which detected issues with blood that required different medications but one blood level Lp(a) particularly increased my chances of disease progression by 30X. Subsequent blocked arteries spurred the detailed testing.
Supplements which seem to have actually worked for me based on evidential support from several years of blood tests include Niacin (as Niaspan), fish oil and CoQ10. Niaspan has reduced my Lp(a), LDL, increase HDL and changed particle sizes of LDL, Fish Oil has reduced inflammation in the arteries and the CoQ10 without a doubt has eliminated the muscular impacts of statin prescription usage. I read somewhere that Canada required a CoQ10 supplementation label to be added to all prescription statin bottles?
So, what does it take for the approval by the health care community and insurance providers of Cardiac CT scans and submolecular testing as protocol for cardiac diagnostic along with covering the payment for the procedures? Would'nt the aggressive treatment of the disease in the long run save them money? The payment of a $2K test which may decrease the probability of paying for a $40K stent along with a myriad of medications seems to me to make great business sense. The insurance companies can qualify the patient based on family history, initial blood profile, etc. thus reducing the risks that the test is being performed on someone with no or low probability of heart disease. But it would also catch the ones with the developing disease at an early age and greatly impact the progression of it. If every person with family history of the disease had the Cardiac CT scan along with submolecular testing done at age 30 I believe it would impact the progression of the disease and the economy.
If I had known the information at 30 I definitely would have changed my lifestyle and diet. Heart Disease impacting an individual during their highest earning years of life puts strain on the persons family, society and the economy as a whole. No one can say they have worked at a greater pace or degree after a blocked artery than before one especially after three. By detecting the disease earlier I believe it would not only impact the lives and families of the individuals but society and the economy as a whole!
The tests are out there; they are available but all I hear is "My insurance company will not cover the testing!" INSURANCE COMPANIES PLEASE LISTEN AND APPROVE THIS TESTING! PRESCRIPTION STATIN MANUFACTURERS, INSURANCE COMPANIES AND CARDIAC COMMUNITY PLEASE ISSUE PROTOCOLS FOR CT SCREENING AND SUBMOLECULAR TESTING AT 30 YEARS OLD!
There have been numerous times I have offered outstanding advice, based on my own experience which would "cut" through the "fog" and get to what I believe are the pillars of detecting heart disease. Basically, what has worked for me! I believe based on personal experience that St. Joseph Hospital in Atlanta & the St. Joseph Medical Group have created the best diagnostic and analysis tests in the area. The two tests include the Cardiac 64 slice CT Scan and the Submolecular Cholesterol Blood Analysis including Lp(a). The reason I believe the two tests are so important is based on my own experience. I originally had the old CT scan (16 slice) which detected a large calcified plaque in left marginal branch. I had already passed a regular stress test. The CT scan prompted a thallium stress test which showed blood flow. Because of the CT results along with a cardiologist who actually listened to me; Dr. Frohwein at St. Joseph I had a catherization which found the 99% occlusion in the artery. The submolecular testing was not done til years later which detected issues with blood that required different medications but one blood level Lp(a) particularly increased my chances of disease progression by 30X. Subsequent blocked arteries spurred the detailed testing.
Supplements which seem to have actually worked for me based on evidential support from several years of blood tests include Niacin (as Niaspan), fish oil and CoQ10. Niaspan has reduced my Lp(a), LDL, increase HDL and changed particle sizes of LDL, Fish Oil has reduced inflammation in the arteries and the CoQ10 without a doubt has eliminated the muscular impacts of statin prescription usage. I read somewhere that Canada required a CoQ10 supplementation label to be added to all prescription statin bottles?
So, what does it take for the approval by the health care community and insurance providers of Cardiac CT scans and submolecular testing as protocol for cardiac diagnostic along with covering the payment for the procedures? Would'nt the aggressive treatment of the disease in the long run save them money? The payment of a $2K test which may decrease the probability of paying for a $40K stent along with a myriad of medications seems to me to make great business sense. The insurance companies can qualify the patient based on family history, initial blood profile, etc. thus reducing the risks that the test is being performed on someone with no or low probability of heart disease. But it would also catch the ones with the developing disease at an early age and greatly impact the progression of it. If every person with family history of the disease had the Cardiac CT scan along with submolecular testing done at age 30 I believe it would impact the progression of the disease and the economy.
If I had known the information at 30 I definitely would have changed my lifestyle and diet. Heart Disease impacting an individual during their highest earning years of life puts strain on the persons family, society and the economy as a whole. No one can say they have worked at a greater pace or degree after a blocked artery than before one especially after three. By detecting the disease earlier I believe it would not only impact the lives and families of the individuals but society and the economy as a whole!
The tests are out there; they are available but all I hear is "My insurance company will not cover the testing!" INSURANCE COMPANIES PLEASE LISTEN AND APPROVE THIS TESTING! PRESCRIPTION STATIN MANUFACTURERS, INSURANCE COMPANIES AND CARDIAC COMMUNITY PLEASE ISSUE PROTOCOLS FOR CT SCREENING AND SUBMOLECULAR TESTING AT 30 YEARS OLD!
WebMD article regarding Chemical induced Heart Disease
http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20100112/bpa-link-to-heart-disease-confirmed
BPA May Be Linked to Heart Disease Risk
Study Shows Higher Levels of Chemical Mean Higher Risk of Heart Disease
By Daniel J. DeNoonWebMD Health News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
Jan. 12, 2010 - Nearly everyone in the U.S. carries the plastics chemical BPA in their bodies. But those with the highest BPA levels have the highest risk of heart disease, new data confirm.
BPA May Be Linked to Heart Disease Risk
Study Shows Higher Levels of Chemical Mean Higher Risk of Heart Disease
By Daniel J. DeNoonWebMD Health News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
Jan. 12, 2010 - Nearly everyone in the U.S. carries the plastics chemical BPA in their bodies. But those with the highest BPA levels have the highest risk of heart disease, new data confirm.
Ready, Set Go!
2010 beginning with a great time! Had complete physical today. Moving forward.......ARE YOU? Let's do it together this year........KEEP THAT HEART HEALTHY & STRONG!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Insurers Will Pay for Heart CT Screening
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hotstories/6796055.html
See my July 2009 post:
Finally; the insurance companies or rather states are making a stand when it comes to fighting Heart Disease.
The CT scan is the most crucial way to detect early disease and up til now the insurance companies would not pay for them. I don't understand why? It makes good business sense to pay $1500 for a CT scan vs. $50K plus for open heart or stenting procedure.
Early detection is the key and finally the process is beginning. Way to go Texas! Hopefully soon the procedure will be implemented for those below 40 with family history or risks associated with the disease.
I realize detecting it early and stopping the disease will impact money made by hospitals on open heart and stenting procedures but colonoscopies have helped reduce colon issues; why not screen sooner for the number one killer in the country; HEART DISEASE!
There is enough information known now that the Disease could be eliminated by screening adolescents with simple VAP cholesterol testing at 18; then if risks are there followup with stress test and CT scan at 25 and 30?
HAVING GONE THRU 4 BLOCKED ARTERIES SINCE 40 YEARS OLD I WANT TO STAND AND SCREAM "PLEASE STOP THE MADNESS". IF THOSE IMPLEMENTING THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR EARLY DETECTION WOULD EXPERIENCE WHAT I HAVE GONE THRU THEY WOULD CHANGE THE PROCESS TO INCLUDE EARLY DETECTION & MAKE IT AVAILABLE AND AFFORDABLE FOR ALL!
See my July 2009 post:
Finally; the insurance companies or rather states are making a stand when it comes to fighting Heart Disease.
The CT scan is the most crucial way to detect early disease and up til now the insurance companies would not pay for them. I don't understand why? It makes good business sense to pay $1500 for a CT scan vs. $50K plus for open heart or stenting procedure.
Early detection is the key and finally the process is beginning. Way to go Texas! Hopefully soon the procedure will be implemented for those below 40 with family history or risks associated with the disease.
I realize detecting it early and stopping the disease will impact money made by hospitals on open heart and stenting procedures but colonoscopies have helped reduce colon issues; why not screen sooner for the number one killer in the country; HEART DISEASE!
There is enough information known now that the Disease could be eliminated by screening adolescents with simple VAP cholesterol testing at 18; then if risks are there followup with stress test and CT scan at 25 and 30?
HAVING GONE THRU 4 BLOCKED ARTERIES SINCE 40 YEARS OLD I WANT TO STAND AND SCREAM "PLEASE STOP THE MADNESS". IF THOSE IMPLEMENTING THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR EARLY DETECTION WOULD EXPERIENCE WHAT I HAVE GONE THRU THEY WOULD CHANGE THE PROCESS TO INCLUDE EARLY DETECTION & MAKE IT AVAILABLE AND AFFORDABLE FOR ALL!
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