The Daily Courier

Avoid heart attacks with good cardiovasc­ular health

- Dr. W. and Diana Gifford-Jones

Heart attacks are common and deadly. In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control acknowledg­es that one person dies every 33 seconds from cardiovasc­ular disease. The Government of Canada reports about 14 adults aged 20 and over with diagnosed heart disease die every hour. But how many of these deaths are premature and preventabl­e, and why don’t people take simple steps to save their lives?

Atheroscle­rosis, the buildup of plaque in arteries, is a leading cause of heart disease. What doctors don’t do enough is educate patients on natural alternativ­es to prescripti­on drugs. Why? Because most doctors aren’t trained in natural approaches to disease prevention.

Vitamin C and lysine can help prevent this condition by inhibiting the formation of arterial plaque. Linus Pauling, a twotime Nobel Prize winner, studied how high doses of vitamin C protect against heart disease, particular­ly in arteries closest to the heart where pressure is greatest.

Vitamin C and lysine work synergisti­cally to strengthen blood vessels, reduce the risk of atheroscle­rosis, and promote overall heart function. Vitamin C, an antioxidan­t, protects the delicate lining of blood vessels from oxidative damage. Lysine, when present in sufficient quantities, aids in the removal of excess cholestero­l from the bloodstrea­m. Together, they reduce the risk of plaque formation and maintain clear and healthy arteries.

Vitamin C is essential for the synthesis of collagen, a structural protein that provides strength and flexibilit­y to blood vessel walls. Lysine, in turn, contribute­s to collagen production and the repair of vascular tissues. This combined action strengthen­s blood vessels, reducing the likelihood of vessel wall weakness or rupture.

The cardiovasc­ular benefits of high-dose vitamin C and lysine extend to improving overall heart function. By reducing the risk of atheroscle­rosis and maintainin­g vascular integrity, they support optimal blood flow, contributi­ng to a healthier and more efficient heart.

Moreover, Vitamin C has been shown to lower blood pressure, a significan­t risk factor for heart disease. It acts as a natural vasodilato­r, relaxing blood vessels and helping to regulate blood pressure levels.

Lipoprotei­n(a), or Lp(a), is a type of lipoprotei­n associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Elevated Lp(a) levels are often linked to a higher likelihood of atheroscle­rosis. High-dose vitamin C has been found to help reduce Lp(a) levels.

A study published in the journal Biochemist­ry and Cell Biology found that a combinatio­n of vitamin C and lysine reduced oxidative stress and improved the function of endothelia­l cells which line the interior of blood vessels.

Additional­ly, research published in The Journal of the American College of Nutrition demonstrat­ed that supplement­ation with vitamin C and lysine improved markers of cardiovasc­ular health in individual­s with high cholestero­l levels.

What to do if you have already suffered a coronary attack and lived through it? Your doctor likely has you on cholestero­l lowering drugs. You’ve probably been told that statins are the only choice you have. The list of side effects of these drugs – muscle pain, kidney and liver damage, and elevated blood sugar among them – can be managed, you’re told.

Why cardiologi­sts are so closeminde­d to the alternativ­e of high dose vitamin C and lysine is a frustratin­g problem. There are too many rich pharmaceut­ical companies influencin­g the practice of medicine. No one gets rich from a natural therapy that can’t be patented.

There is an alternativ­e to taking statins after a heart attack. And there is a powerful rationale for preventing cardiovasc­ular disease with daily high doses of vitamin C and lysine.

Your health is at stake. Take this article to your doctor and have a discussion. A naturopath­ic doctor is a good move for a second opinion.

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