Tips
for 2010
Dr.
Vagnini's Health and Longevity
Tips for 2010
| 1. |
Review
your family history.
Very frequently when
I have patients in
the office, usually
a mother and daughter,
father and son, or
children with grandparents;
and if I am seeing
one of them with a
heart problem, diabetes
or weight, I'll say
to the child or grandchild
'Someday you will
be moving over into
that chair.' Science
has confirmed the
fact that heart disease,
diabetes, obesity,
cancer, and many other
degenerative diseases
are genetic in origin.
What is particularly
significant is a family
history of premature
cardiac disease and
how it might impact
an individual as young
as 50 with a heart
attack or stroke.
This is an extremely
serious risk factor,
and persons with a
family history must
be aggressively treated.
I had a patient many
years ago with a family
history of cerebral
aneurysm who requested
an MRI. Indeed, she
had diagnosed the
problem herself, and
it turned out that
she had not one but
three brain aneurysms.
Fortunately, they
were successfully
managed. So, my first
tip is to carefully
review your family
history, especially
when it comes to cardiovascular
degenerative diseases.
Yes, the reverse can
also be true. I have
people coming in and
saying, 'My grandmother
and everyone in my
family lived till
90.' But, be warned,
you can ruin the genes
by an unhealthy lifestyle.
Smoking, poor diet,
high cholesterol,
and lack of exercise
can take good genetics
and cause premature
degenerative disease
problems. On the other
hand, for those individuals
with a bad family
history intensive
medical management,
especially in the
diet and exercise
area, can reverse
poor genetics. |
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| 2. |
Lifestyle
changes. In recent
years, more and more
information is being
reported in the orthodox
medical journals about
lifestyle. A lifestyle
simply means diet,
exercise, and nutrient
management. These
three elements are
potent interventions
for not only the management
of heart disease,
but for cancer and
all degenerative diseases.
With respect to lifestyle
management, it is
an individual thing.
There are diets that
are geared for heart
disease, for diabetes,
for obesity, and other
diets that are anti-cancer.
The family history,
of course, is what
we call a non-modifiable
risk factor. But other
risk factors are modifiable:
sedentary lifestyle,
obesity, and stress.
Exercise is a potent
treatment for cardiovascular
disease and especially
diabetes. I have long
been a proponent of
what is called force
training: aerobic
training with the
use of treadmill,
bicycle . . . any
type of exercise that
increases your heart
rate. Add to that
resistance training
with the use of weights,
machines or some type
of cables such as
the Ultraband Fitness
System, which I have
introduced in my Centers.
I very frequently
tell people that sometimes
the simplest things
to do, such as diet
and exercise, are
the hardest. These
are the things not
stressed by your usual
family doctor: not
that he doesn't believe
in them, but he's
too busy taking care
of sick people. When
it comes to stress,
hostility, and anger,
it is well known that
these are serious
risk factors for heart
disease and probably
other degenerative
diseases as well.
They must be addressed
with the use of meditation,
stress reduction,
biofeedback, and yoga. |
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| 3. |
Nutritional
supplementation: I
have developed a Cardio
Nutrition vitamin
program that you can
learn about in more
detail at my lectures,
in my radio broadcasts,
or on my website.
It consists of a diet,
exercise, and nutrient
program designed to
prevent or treat specific
cardiovascular problems,
such as high blood
pressure, high cholesterol,
high triglycerides,
obesity, diabetes,
fatigue, and other
degenerative diseases.
It is a proven fact
that nutritional supplementation
is a critical factor
in addressing these
health problems. A
recent study out of
Tufts University has
indicated that the
simple taking of a
multi-vitamin daily
is a sure way to prevent
health problems. Another
study reported last
year that if diabetics
take a multi-vitamin
their infection rate
is markedly decreased.
More and more scientific
information supports
the effectiveness
of antioxidant vitamins.
And these studies
identify specific
vitamins, nutrients,
amino acids, functional
foods, and minerals
that are effective
for the management
of cardiovascular
and related problems. |
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| 4. |
Discontinue
all forms of tobacco.
There are still many
closet cigarette smokers,
and this is one of
the most devastating
health problems in
the country today.
These millions of
cigarette smokers,
and pipe and cigar
smokers as well, are
putting their health
at tremendous risk.
Nicotine is a toxin
that promotes arteriosclerosis
(heart disease), chronic
pulmonary disease,
emphysema, and cancer.
Any means used to
discontinue tobacco
would be a great health
aid. There are today
nicotine gums, patches,
inhalers, and pills,
as well as natural
therapies like acupuncture
and hypnosis; and
even a well-known,
quite successful herbal
homeopathic product,
Smoke Away. |
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| 5. |
Management
of hypertension. Among
the risk factors for
cardiovascular disease,
hypertension has the
added threat that
it is a 'silent killer.'
Elevated blood pressure
can persist for many
years without an individual
knowing about it.
I very frequently
have patients coming
into my Centers with
their diastolic (top
number) up around
160, 170, 180, 190,
and they will say,
'But doc, I never
had high blood pressure.'
They just never knew
it because it was
never measured. Sometimes
there can be the matter
of 'white-coat' hypertension:
blood pressure goes
up in the doctor's
office. If I suspect
this, I have the patient
check his/her blood
pressure at home.
This year new guidelines
were established for
hypertension. The
desired range is 135/80
or lower. It is very
well documented that
hypertension is an
independent risk factor
for heart disease.
That means even if
high blood pressure
is the only risk factor
you have for heart
disease, it is very
serious. Of course,
when other risk factors
are present, the risk
for heart disease
and vascular disease
is much greater. The
problem with hypertension
is that it is progressive
as it causes renal
damage, arteriosclerosis,
and eventual cognitive
(mental) impairment.
So check your blood
pressure. Medications
are frequently necessary.
There are also many
nutrients available
in my Cardio Nutrition
Program that can be
used to control elevated
blood pressure. |
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| 6. |
Check
cholesterol levels.
Elevated cholesterol
is another 'silent
killer.' Since there
is no pain from elevated
cholesterol, the first
sign of elevated cholesterol
can frequently be
a heart attack or
stroke. Do not forget
that one-third of
all individuals with
heart disease find
out they have it,
unfortunately, by
sudden death. With
regards to the so-called
cholesterol controversy,
there is no such thing.
High levels of cholesterol
are definitively associated
with a greater degree
of heart attack and
stroke, and a higher
degree of arteriosclerosis.
The controversy came
about because there
are also other factors
involved in a heart
attack. (I discuss
these at length next.).
It is a fact, and
one reason for the
controversy, that
many people coming
into the hospital
with a heart attack
have only a slightly
elevated cholesterol
-- in the 220 to 230
range. But these individuals
frequently have either
high triglycerides,
low HDL, or other
serious risk factors,
such as elevated homocysteine
or insulin resistance.
New guidelines for
cholesterol levels
were established a
couple of years ago.
Total cholesterol
should be 200 or lower.
LDL cholesterol should
be in the 100 range.
Recently, my Centers
have introduced NMR
or nuclear magnetic
resonance lipid analysis.
This test measures
the actual number
and size of the LDL
particles in the blood.
Science has shown
that small size LDL
is more atherogenic
or more prone to cause
arteriosclerosis.
This type (small particle)
of LDL happens to
be present in diabetics
and those with insulin
resistance. There
are many modalities
used to lower cholesterol:
natural, dietary,
and exercise measures.
Drug therapy is very
effective when necessary. |
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| 7. |
Check
triglycerides. Triglycerides
are frequently overlooked
in the management
and prevention of
heart disease. Patients
with high triglycerides
are frequently mistakenly
treated with drug
therapy. In fact,
an elevated triglyceride
level is a sign the
patient is affected
with insulin resistance,
a metabolic disorder
and pre-diabetes condition
that should be treated
by dietary measures.
There are no specific
drugs that will lower
triglycerides. An
insulin-regulating
diet and the dietary
supplements fish oils
and niacin are effective.
Unfortunately, one
of the problems with
triglycerides is that
they cause a decrease
in the good or protective
HDL. |
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| 8. |
Weight
gain, obesity, and
diabetes. This is
an epidemic today
not only in the
United States, but
in the world. On
one of my recent
broadcasts, I talked
about a Time magazine
cover story of a
225 lb. 10-year-old
child with type
II diabetes. Sadly,
this is often where
the problem of obesity
begins: in youth.
The Time story goes
on to tell of the
multi-million dollar
industry that has
grown up in response
to the epidemic
of obesity. It is
very serious for
America. Part of
the problem -- we
are now learning
-- is in our consumption
of carbohydrates;
as the late Dr.
Robert Atkins pointed
out over and over
again in his diet
books. Excessive
intake of carbohydrates
is directly related
to obesity, diabetes,
and insulin resistance.
With weight gain
comes a multitude
of medical problems,
including premature
death, heart disease,
stroke, high blood
pressure, diabetes,
arthritis, and even
an increased risk
of cancer. So all
efforts to maintain
a healthy weight
are a top priority
in your health regimen. |
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| 9. |
Insulin
resistance. Insulin
resistance is associated
with the new term
in medicine: the
Metabolic Syndrome,
or what nutrition
oriented doctors
have for many years
called 'Syndrome
X.' It is an inherited
metabolic disorder
characterized by
the following:
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central
obesity |
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hypertension
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glucose
intolerance
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elevated
cholesterol,
especially high
triglycerides |
Related conditions
are elevated uric
acid, low HDL, small
size LDL particles,
and low testosterone
levels. The metabolic
syndrome can be
addressed by diet,
exercise, nutritional
and pharmacological
therapy. Critical
because it is the
precursor of diabetes. |
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| 10. |
Management
of the so-called novel
risk factors: homocysteine,
lipoprotein(a), and
fibrinogen. They are
important to consider
because they are factors
that may contribute
to a heart attack
when cholesterol levels
are low or within
a safe range. * Homocysteine
is an amino acid-like
substance. When elevated,
it is associated with
heart attack, strokes,
and neurodegenerative
diseases. It can be
lowered by administering
vitamins B6, B12,
and folic acid. Homocysteine
levels should be a
part of every blood
chemistry done by
physicians. Homocysteine
levels below 10 are
desirable. * Fibrinogen
is a clotting substance
that when elevated
is a risk factor for
heart disease. It
is very commonly elevated
in smokers and those
with insulin resistance
syndrome. Eliminating
smoking and diet are
ways to reduce it.
* LP(a) or lipoprotein(a)
is a risk factor that
is poorly understood
and is difficult to
lower. It can sometimes
be lowered with niacin
and should be managed
by lowering LDL cholesterol. |
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| 11. |
Reduce
inflammation in the
body. A new study
entitled High Sensitivity
C-Reactive Protein
(CRP) has called our
attention to the risk
factor of CRP. The
study indicates that
inflammation appears
to be a part of cardiovascular
disease as evidenced
by elevated levels
of C-reactive protein,
an inflammatory marker.
We now know that certain
viruses, infections,
and even periodontal
disease are associated
with heart disease.
So part of a routine
blood chemistry, I
believe, should be
a measure of high
sensitivity C-reactive
protein. Where found,
it can be managed
by taking aspirin.
This is an important
benefit of aspirin
in addition to aspirin's
anti-platelet activity.
I recommend low-dose
aspirin therapy for
all individuals over
40, knowing that its
effect may also be
that of an anti-inflammatory
treatment. Fish oils
are also very effective
and, as always, an
holistic lifestyle
with a proper diet,
exercise, and antioxidant
protection are an
important defense
against inflammation
problems. |
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| 12. |
Evaluate
toxic heavy metals.
It has recently been
found that lead is
associated with hypertension.
Moreover, I believe
there is an epidemic
of mercury toxicity
in this country because
of the fish supply.
And I have been finding
high levels of arsenic
in some individuals,
which has been reported
to be present in water
and food supply. Dental
amalgams and other
heavy metals, such
as cadmium, have been
associated with arteriosclerosis.
This is probably one
of the reasons chelation
therapy has been successful
for those physicians
using it. Because
of these considerations,
every routine blood
chemistry should include
measurement of lead,
mercury, and other
heavy metals. |
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| 13. |
Check
your hormone levels.
In men especially,
testosterone is extremely
important. In addition,
human growth hormone
lately has been found
to be an anti-aging
marker. See the articles
I have written on
HGH and its replacement
that are available
through my Centers. |
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| 14. |
Be
sure to get an annual
physical. It must
be an extensive one.
I believe in the findings
of studies which establish
the importance and
efficacy of each of
these preventive tests:
Depending on circumstances,
(age,gender and certain
risk factors) you
will decide which
of these tests should
be included in your
overall annual physical.
For women I recommend
bone density, GYN
exam, and mammograms.
For both men and women,
I advise colonoscopy
and, if you have been
a smoker, a chest
x-ray. Men should
get prostate evaluations,
and every man and
woman at risk should
get a coronary CAT
scan. |
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| 15. |
Don't
forget the 'Man upstairs.'
Prayer and meditation
belong among the resources
of anyone's health
maintenance program.
They are a means of
reducing stresses
and they as well give
a context to your
efforts, since they
remind you of your
health responsibilities
to yourself and to
others. |
This
is only part of my good
health advice for 2010;
there will be more to
follow.
Frederic J. Vagnini MD,
FACS
January 2010 |
