When can I be considered "cured" of heart disease or, more accurately, Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)? This is a subject that has plagued me for years and especially since I became involved with Track Your Plaque (TYP).
It seemed so simple at first. If I reversed or halted the progression of coronary calcium then I was "cured" (note that TYP does not make this hard claim of a cure - but you DO dramatically reduce your risk of a heart attack and I need a frame of reference to start the conversation).
The subject becomes even murkier when you consider the independent clinical experience of heart attack prevention pioneers Dr. Davis and Dr. Blanchet. Davis seem to feel that there is considerable risk reduction even if coronary calcium progresses but is held under 10% per year. Blanchet pushes the limit to about 15%. Both doctors rarely see heart attacks in their practices and other leading heart docs like Dr. Arthur Agatston (the doc of South Beach Diet fame and inventor of the gold-standard Agatston coronary calcium scoring system) made this statement.
"I'll let you in on a big secret. Physicians who practice aggressive prevention have seen heart attacks and strokes practically disappear from their practice. It's that simple — this approach [plaque reduction] can literally prevent heart attacks and strokes and save lives."
So when can I consider myself "cured" of heart disease and why is it so important to define a standard for a cure? Let's tackle the second, and easier, question first.
It is no secret I am a numbers guy. I need a target a goal. More selfishly (my competitive neurosis is showing) I need to know when I am winning and when I am losing. Put more simply, I need to know how to "keep score!" What number and unit of measure signals that I am “cured.” Even more importantly, I need a method of comparing and ultimately selecting the different heart disease treatments and programs available in my search for a cure.
To answer the first question, I believe there is a spectrum of possible standards in defining a cure for heart disease. At one end we have a practical definition, "No heart attacks." At the other end of the spectrum we have a far more complex definition, “No detectable coronary plaque.”
Without tipping my hand I’d like to ask those who read my blog to answer a simple poll question, “Under which condition would I consider myself "cured" of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)?”
I’ll follow-up later with more thoughts on the subject of what constitutes a cure and we can begin to debate the issue!
Looking out for your heart heath (and a cure),
HeartHawk
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Defining a Cure for Heart Disease
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6 comments:
I would suggest:
CURE:
"Plaque growth ceases and you have no symptoms."
Hey Bill:
Darn good definition! The question I hope to answer as we take your direction is, "Can we really expect to completely stop plaque growth any more than we can completely stop gray hair and wrinkles?" Put bluntly, some plaque is part of aging and we are not trying to cure aging and/or death (much as we may like to)!
I think I will add a mention of this discussion on the TYP Forum. I bet there are others who would like to chime in!
Regards,
HH
I like the stories of some native tribes where the elders get really old, and then they know it is time to "go" and they tell the tribe, and then they go and "die". Now, do we call this a heart attack? Or is there just a time that it naturally shuts down?
I was convinced from reading Dr. Rosedale's article on low insulin levels that that is one of the main factors that enables long life and no heart attacks. As a diabetic it, low insulin is one of my top goals....and I hope the consequence will be no heart attack.
Choose the types of foods that improve your health and avoid the types of foods that raise your risk for such illnesses as heart disease,cancer and diabetes.Expand your range of healthy choices to include a wide variety of delicious foods.Learn to use guidelines and tips for creating and maintaining a satisfying and healthy diet.Good luck!
discount nutrition
These days because of very less care of our own self which might be because of lack of time as a result of busy work schedule and because of carelessness people tend to be caught to many heart diseases which may result in very adverse effects if not taken timely care.Thus this advanced lipoprotien may really be helpful in various ways.
Texas breast reduction
HeartHawk
I would recommend the following:
policaosanol
CoQ10
tocotrienols
K2 MK7 150mcg daily
These should improve your heart health.
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