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One of the most insidious health risks and major causes
of death in western society is due to cardiovascular
disease (CVD). As most heart attacks occur after 80-90%
of an artery is blocked with atherosclerotic plaquing
this can truly be called a "silent killer"
as the first symptom is in fact a potentially fatal
one!
Consequently, a screening tool that can establish cardiovascular
risk is essential in being able to determine if you
are a potential candidate for this problem. Obviously
family history, weight, and cholesterol levels are important
and are all part of our assessment procedure.
We also utilise a CardioVision instrument, which in
addition to measuring blood pressure, pulse pressure
and rate, gives information on the stiffness or flexibility
of the brachial artery in the arm. This latter value
is termed the Arterial Stiffness Index (ASI) and correlates
with progressive levels of arteriosclerosis in the coronary
and carotid arteries. As arteriosclerosis is a disease
that reduces flexibility in the arterial wall, the higher
the ASI, the more likely hardening of these arteries
is occurring.
As the flexibility is lost there is greater demand
put on the heart to force the blood through the arterial
system. This is the root cause of cardiovascular disease.
The actual test is non-invasive, as it consists of
several repeated blood pressures measurements that are
recorded and then correlated in a computer against an
existing database. This produces a coronary arterial
risk factor that ranges from none to very high. In addition,
variables in the readings have been shown to give indications
to consider if the following conditions are also present:
- Anaemia
- Shock
- Intense stress
- Arrhythmia
- And potential heart failure.
Following the test, appropriate therapies can then
be advised depending upon the results. If indicated, treatment with EDTA chelation therapy has a high correlation with a reduction of the Arterial Stiffness Index
It’s Not a ‘Plumbing Problem’: Doctors Also Fight the Popular Misconceptions About the Causes of Heart Disease
Although we correctly assume that poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking, high cholesterol and hypertension are serious risk factors for CVD, there are many more factors that need to be considered.
To accurately evaluate the molecular environment underlying cardiovascular disease (CVD), it's necessary to assess various biomarkers that influence the synergistic dynamics of this multifactorial process. These markers provide insight into interrelated CVD mechanisms such as inflammation, accumulation of fatty deposits, the function and integrity of the endothelium (the inner layer of cells lining blood vessel walls), glucose/insulin response, blood clotting function, and other important factors.
Homocysteine
Fibrinogen
Lipoprotein(a)
C-Reactive Protein
Blood Sugar, Diabetes, Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Syndrome
All these biomarkers can exert a combined effect on cardiovascular disease that is even greater than the sum of their individual parts. For this reason, assessing these markers together with all other risk factors is crucial.
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