Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Jerry Hickey is a pharmacist and radio personality and fills the esteemed role of Scientific Director and President of Invite Health. He has spent his professional life analyzing nutritional information and medical studies with the aim of creating the highest quality and most natural nutraceuticals …
A new study has reported that a daily dose of vitamin D3 improves heart function in people with chronic heart failure. The University of Leeds performed a five year study, funded by the Medical Research Council, to determine the link between Vitamin D3 and heart …
The Importance of Understanding Endothelial Dysfunction
By Dr. Alan Pressman, DC, CNS, DAC, BN
Endothelial dysfunction is a fancy word for a condition where the inner linings of blood vessels are not functioning correctly. This is because of three issues – reduced vasodilation (the opening of the artery when the heart pumps), inflammation of the lining of the artery, and the formation of clots. The endothelium (a layer of cells that line the blood vessel) is like a retaining wall with tiny leaks; without the leaks, the wall would crack and fall apart. In the case of the artery, tiny gaps between the cells that line the artery allow for important cells, fluids, nutrients, gases and waste to move in and out of the circulatory system.
The artery has three layers – a thick outer layer of connective tissue, a middle muscular layer and a very thin, delicate inner layer known as the endothelium. There are a number of theories about how the innermost part of an artery can become scorned and damaged. One theory is called the “inflammation theory”, which states that very low grade inflammation (almost too small to detect) irritates the endothelium, causing scarring. This results in the formation of plaque and eventually blockages.
Another theory is the “low grade scurvy” theory , which says that people with low vitamin C levels in their diet have susceptibility to artery weakness because of weakened collagen. Collagen is the glue that holds us together. Without strong collagen, arteries get leaky and plaque forms in order to plug the holes. Nonetheless, preventing plaque in the vascular system is essential for avoiding heart attacks, strokes and peripheral vascular disease – the number one problem for diabetics.
By Nicole Crane, BS, NTP So many people, 72 million Americans, struggle to have normal blood pressure. High blood pressure is clinically known as hypertension, and it is a major conspirator in cardiac dysfunction. Normal blood pressure is 120/80 ng/dl, and many clinicians consider 115/75 …
By Nicole Crane, BS, NTP In the United States alone, 72 million adults, nearly one third of all people over the tender age of 20, have high blood pressure, according to the National Heart and Lung Association. Worldwide, the number of people expected to have …
According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI), 8.3 million American children have respiratory allergies, 9.5 American children have skin allergies and nearly 6 million children in the U.S. have food allergies. Though the organization reports that early identification of childhood allergies can improve the child’s quality of life and reduce the number of missed school days, a new study is advising parents to get their children screened more aggressively for high cholesterol and high blood pressure because those factors can set them on a dangerous path at a very early age.
The study, set to be published on December 8th, 2015 in the Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, concluding report states, “Children with allergies, particularly asthma and hay fever, have about twice the rate of high blood pressure and high cholesterol, setting them on a course for heart disease at a surprisingly early age. Even when the study controlled for obesity, children with allergic disease has a much higher risk.”
Lead study author, Dr. Jonathan Silverberg, an associate professor of dermatology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a Northwestern Medicine dermatologist says, “This study shows that cardiovascular risk starts far earlier in life than we ever realized. Given how common these allergic diseases are in childhood, it suggests we need to screen these children more aggressively to make sure we are not missing high cholesterol and high blood pressure. There may be an opportunity to modify their lifestyles and turn this risk around.”
Allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever, is the most common allergic reaction in children in the United States. Symptoms, according to the ACAAI, including runny and itchy nose, sneezing, postnasal drip and nasal congestion. Allergies can also cause nasal congestion, ear infections, and ailments to particular foods.
Silverberg and his team of researchers studied associations between asthma, hay fever and eczema in the U.S. against cardiovascular risk factors. Data from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey of 13,275 children from all 50 states was used in the study. According to the study’s findings, asthma occurred in 14% of children, eczema in 12% and hay fever in 16.6% of children. All three factors were associated with higher rates of overweight or obese children.
Dr. Jonathan Silverberg explains, “Because the association with hypertension and high cholesterol exists separately from obesity, inflammation occurring in asthma and hay fever might contribute to higher rates of cardiovascular disease. Also, children with profound asthma are typically more sedentary, which also may have a harmful effect and drive up blood pressure.”
To find an allergist near you, visit the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology’s website, here: http://acaai.org/locate-an-allergist. Speak to your child’s pediatrician for more information.
Sources: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151208081328.htm and http://acaai.org/