Heart Disease is the number 1 killer of people in the population, and has been so for many years. Scientists and doctors have wondered why this is so, and have typically blamed the plaque phenomenon on cholesterol and fats. Studies have been ongoing for the past 40 years and have expanded into some new and exciting areas. Other contributors to inflammation and plaque include Homocysteine, Vitamin Deficiency, and Infection.

Homocysteine was discovered a few years after the cholesterol research was published, and was ignored primarily because there was no ability to make medication to control it. Its treatment relied on the use of simple vitamin combinations (B6, B12, Folate). Only recently has homocysteine become a major focus of medical and nutritional literature. (I'll address this in-depth in a separate article).

Vitamin deficiency has received a great deal of attention in recent years, in part because of homocysteine but also in relation to free radical damage of tissues and aging.

Any of the large search engines on the internet can direct you to thousands of studies on the benefits of vitamins and minerals and how they reduce cardiovascular and cancer risk. I will also devote an entire newsletter top this topic.

Infection, at present, is the "hottest” topic in plaque research and has described some fascinating information. To make it simple, there are at least 20 or so different, common organisms that have been linked to blood vessel inflammation and the progression of disease. Most of these creatures exist in our tissues and don't create much of a stir or symptom. So, in a hidden, sneaky way, these things are starting an inflammatory process that fats and cholesterol can adhere to. They also can attach to, and colonize on, plaque that has started independently.

Take home message ---- Blood testing for Vitamins, Minerals, Homocysteine and Infection is important to understand plaque risk. Ultrasound testing can help us visualize deposits in vessels, and there are various ways to change cardiovascular risk. Stay tuned for more on risk assessment prevention and change.

Written by Dr. Calapai

http://www.drcalapai.net