| Angina is a syndrome of squeezing or heavy
pressure-like pain in the chest caused by an insufficient supply of
oxygen to the heart muscle. It can also be experienced as pain in the
left shoulder blade, left arm, or jaw. The pain usually lasts from one
to twenty minutes. It is typically brought on by physical exertion or
stress and subsides with rest, because exertion and stress increase
the heart's need for oxygen. Angina is usually a precursor to heart
attack, although many people have angina for years without
experiencing damage to the heart itself. Angina is almost always
caused by atherosclerosis, the
buildup of cholesterol containing plaques in arteries. In people with
angina, atherosclerosis narrows and eventually doses the coronary
arteries, the blood vessels leading to the heart. Blockage of the
coronary arteries in turn reduces the supply of blood (and therefore
oxygen) to the heart. When the flow of oxygen to the heart is
substantially reduced, or when there is an unusually high demand for
oxygen in the heart, angina is the result. Angina can also result from
extreme hypoglycemia. That is because
hypoglycemia can lead to increased production of hormones associated
with stress, which can put a strain on the heart. There is another,
rare form of the condition known as Prinzmetal's variant angina, which
is essentially a migraine affecting the blood vessels serving the heart
rather than the blood vessels serving the brain-that is, the blood
vessels are periodically narrowed by spasms rather than by a buildup of
plaque.
| Nutrient /
Supplement |
Importance
( 1 - 10 ) |
Helpful notes |
| Carnitine |
10 |
helps in the
transporting of long chain fatty acids which
aides in prevention of heart disease, angina, high blood
pressure, and other cardiovascular disease. Often is combined with a
omega
fatty acid and flax seed supplements. |
| Coenzyme Q10 |
10 |
increases oxygenation to the heart and has
been shown to prevent recurrences in people who
have had a heart attack. |
| Multi-vitamin
and mineral |
9 |
vitamin B complex, inositol,
selenium, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin E all serve to
help lower blood pressure and reduce its effects. |
| Magnesium |
8 |
low intake of magnesium has been linked to
high blood pressure and a good source of
magnesium is a quality
multi-vitamin & mineral supplement
especially one with calcium, zinc, and garlic. |
| Calcium |
7 |
important for proper functioning of the
cardiac (heart) muscle and is a companion to
magnesium see above. |
| Omega
fatty acids |
9 |
important for
reducing blood pressure and also increasing blood
circulation as well as preventative aid on
general heart health. Fatty acids are found in
omega fatty acids from fish, and from plants in flax seed and borage seed. |
| Arginine |
8 |
important amino acid for
cardiovascular health |
| Hawthorn |
9 |
herb that helps both
the heart and
cardiovascular system nd can help stop chest pain after
exerting yourself |
| Guggul |
9 |
herb from India that lowers cholesterol levels and
protects against the development of hardening of the arteries. |
| Lecithin |
8 |
acts as a fat emulsifier |
| vitamin C |
8 |
vitamin C helps high blood pressure,
hypertension, heart, and cardio-vascular problems
by improving adrenal function. Can be taken in a
good multi-vitamin and mineral supplement. |
| vitamin
E |
8 |
strengthens the immune system and
heart muscle, improves circulation, and destroys free radicals |
| Dandelion |
8 |
herb that can be helpful for many
cardiovascular disorders like angina and heart disease |
| Potassium |
7 |
needed for electrolyte balance especially if
you take blood pressure medication. |
| Selenium |
7 |
low intake of this mineral has been linked to
heart disease and cardiovascular problems a good
source for selenium is a natural multi-vitamin
with complete mineral
supplementation. |
| Garlic |
9 |
garlic has been
shown to help lower high blood pressure and help
with other cardiovascular disease. |
While severe angina can be relieved
surgically, treatment for mild angina focuses on controlling high
blood pressure and on lowering high
cholesterol through diet. Nutritional management of angina
and coronary artery disease (CAD) consists of two strategies:
removing the dietary factors that lead to angina and adding
dietary supplements that prevent it. The presence of
cholesterol cannot be completely eliminated, since some
cholesterol is absolutely necessary to the normal functioning
of every cell in the body, but the activity of compounds that
promote the formation of cholesterol plaques can be greatly
reduced. These compounds include excessive amounts of iron and
copper, which create harmful free radicals that activate
immune cells known as macrophages. The macrophages form a
platform, called a foam cell, on which cholesterol can
accumulate and later calcify in the artery wall. Dietary
restriction alone may take two to five years to have an
effect, but herbal medicine can help speed the process. Herbs
can also help to prevent angina pain and reduce the frequency
of attacks. People with angina must be especially careful,
however, to take note of all precautions regarding the use of
herbs and other prescription medications that can produce
interactions with nitroglycerin, which is used to treat acute
attacks.
Note: women who have hyperthyroidism
have increased risk of developing blockages in their aorta.
Other Changes To Make
-
drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or
filtered water a day
-
eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)
-
nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good
-
juice is good (make your
own with a juice machine)
-
do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods
-
carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack
-
a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)
-
do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks
-
do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...
-
use stress relief like going for walks in the park
(or the 10/90 rule - see
Stress)
-
brown rice is good to eat
-
avoid red meat and animal fats
-
reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others
-
fast a few days a month
-
get at least 8 hours of sleep
-
exercise light to moderate amounts
-
avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet
-
do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke
-
do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal
-
do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry
-
do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else
|
