Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
By Abby Vallejo, RD, CPT, CHC
What is the number one risk factor for heart disease? High cholesterol may come to mind, but it is actually hypertension, or high blood pressure. Why? Think about your blood vessels for a minute.
When blood vessels are healthy, their inner lining (endothelium) is smooth. However, if damage to this lining occurs, it becomes a jagged sticky surface, upon which plaque– the body’s natural Band-Aid– forms. Plaque in itself is not bad, but it indicates that there is tissue damage in that area of the endothelium. When plaque becomes vulnerable and ruptures, it can cause a heart attack or stroke. So, what is the number one contributor for damaged blood vessel inner lining with subsequent plaque formation? High blood pressure.
Microcirculation is especially important for women, since a condition known as coronary microvascular dysfunction is the usual cause of women’s heart attacks and strokes. Coronary microvascular dysfunction entails ruptured plaque in the microvascular system– minute blood vessels averaging less than 0.3 mm in diameter– that’s undetectable via routine cardiovascular testing, and which commonly leads to heart attacks. Women concerned about heart disease should ask their doctor for an echo stress test. This ultrasound scan is the only means of diagnosing coronary microvascular dysfunction. Conversely, men tend to have heart attacks from coronary artery disease, characterized by easily detectable plaque that’s prone to rupture in the coronary arteries.
In addition to reliable testing, the best ways to protect yourself against heart disease are natural support for blood pressure, blood vessels, and microcirculation.
Healthy blood pressure support
. Magnesium
. Omega 3s/fish oil
. Coleus (Coleus forskohlii root) – also helps with weight loss
. Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus root) – also supports a healthy stress response.
. Herbs for stress and Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal axis support like Ashwagandha and Eleuthero
. Daily practice of stress management
. Exercise and movement
. It is important to investigate and address the underlying cause of high blood pressure; i.e., due to stress or kidney dysfunction. Unfortunately, blood pressure medications do not address underlying causes, they simply bring numbers down.
Healthy blood vessel support: Support microcirculation, bringing nutrients to blood vessels and capillaries with:
. Grape seed extract
. Ginkgo biloba
. Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica)
. Support healthy blood vessel integrity with Vitamin C and Buckwheat
The best herb for vulnerable plaque is Gotu Kola
In addition to supporting microcirculation, Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) can help stabilize existing plaque that is vulnerable to rupture.
A note about statin drugs
Although a statin drug for cholesterol has been the conventional intervention of choice when it comes to heart disease, diet, exercise, lifestyle and herbal support also offer quite powerful results. These typically well tolerated natural approaches do not cause low CoQ10, muscle aches and diminished testosterone or estrogen, common side effects of statin drugs. Additionally, it is important to account for not just cholesterol, but all other risk factors for heart disease. This is since approximately 50% of heart attacks occur in those with healthy cholesterol.
Other risk factors for heart disease include:
. Metabolic Syndrome (a cluster of coinciding conditions including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol and excess body fat especially around the waist)
. Smoking
. Obesity
. Unmanaged stress and emotions
. Lack of exercise
. Diet (especially diets high in sodium and low in potassium)
. Excessive sugar consumption
. Nutrient and mineral deficiencies
. Excessive alcohol consumption
. Poor sleep, especially due to obstructive sleep apnea
. Gut dysbiosis and poor gut health
. Chronic inflammation
. Gum disease
It is always important to check with your healthcare practitioner before making any changes to your current health regimen or beginning any new supplement.
For more information, please stop by today, call or visit their website at Professionalsupplementcenter.com.
The in-store hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. They are located at 5525 Palmer Crossing Circle, Sarasota, FL 34233 (Between Gecko’s Grill and Pub and Cafe Barbosa)
Professional Supplement Center
5525 Palmer Crossing Circle, Sarasota, FL 34233
941-487-5990
Professionalsupplementcenter.com
Sources:
American Heart Association
Herbal Support for a Healthy Heart by Dr Berris Burgoyne. Wholistic Matters Podcast. https://wholisticmatters.com/herbs-for-heart-health/
Lowering Cholesterol Doesn’t Always Count by Dr Christiane Northrup. Heart Health. https://www.drnorthrup.com/cholesterol-doesnt-always-count/
Onor IO, Hill LM, Famodimu MM, Coleman MR, Huynh CH, Beyl RA, Payne CJ, Johnston EK, Okogbaa JI, Gillard CJ, Sarpong DF, Borghol A, Okpechi SC, Norbert I, Sanne SE, Guillory SG. Association of Serum Magnesium with Blood Pressure in Patients with Hypertensive Crises: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study. Nutrients. 2021 Nov 24;13(12):4213. doi: 10.3390/nu13124213. PMID: 34959763; PMCID: PMC8709166.
