Health/Natural: Building a Healthy Heart

Q. About six months ago, I began experiencing chest pains. Since I am a forty-four year old woman, just entering the years when I'm prone to develop heart trouble, I was concerned. I was also concerned because I've been on medication for panic disorder for about ten years, a condition that can also manifests as a chest pain that resembles a heart attack.

Luckily, my doctor has pronounced my heart to be in good condition, but did find some inflammation in the muscles of my chest, which he attributes to arthritis. He has prescribed a drug called Vioxx, which has partially made my symptoms go away, but not completely. However, I don't feel comfortable taking this drug because of possible side effects that are downright scary.

I was wondering if you might have any suggestions for possible alternative treatments I might try with the hope of one day weaning myself off the Vioxx, since I don't think this is a medication I want to take for the rest of my life.

A. Thanks for your question. The first things that come to my mind concerning your situation are many, many questions. Your condition is definitely not something I can recommend specific supplements for without knowing more. Therefore, the first healthy step you could take on your journey to wellness would be to find a qualified practitioner in your area to properly access your case and thereby recommend a program for you. What I would like to do is to suggest some options for you to consider and perhaps offer some ideas which you may not have thought of previously.

Anyone who knows me knows that I always speak about a healthy diet when dealing with any chronic illness. This is important for a number of reasons. Feeding your body the healthiest daily diet you possibly can will begin to make a difference for you by providing better nutrition all the way around. Take a look at your normal choice of foods on a daily basis. Are there fruits and vegetables, which provide antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fiber? Are there limited amounts of bad fats, and daily portions of healthy fats, such as omega-3's (found in fish and flax seed oil) which are known to protect the heart? Are there whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds? Do you drink somewhere around 6-8 glasses of spring or filtered water each day? Do you limit your intake of dairy products, red meats, sugar and caffeine? Do you eat fish several times per week?

An important reason for eating a healthy diet to protect your heart specifically is not just for the added vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber, but also for providing a proper pH balance in the bloodstream. In natural medicine, we recognize the importance of the acid/alkaline balance, especially when it comes to heart-health. Certain foods are very acidic by nature, and others are alkaline. Acidic foods are known to contribute to degenerative diseases, weakened immune system and especially circulatory problems. The condition and health of the bloodstream is vitally important to protecting the heart. Some acidic foods are white sugar, white bread, fried foods, dairy products, meats, soft drinks, alcohol and caffeine. Some alkaline foods are most fruits and vegetables, brown rice and other whole grains,  and sea vegetables. The idea is to integrate a healthy balance of foods, consuming 75% of the daily diet as alkaline foods and 25% as acidic. I have seen great improvement in many people through the years who have made these changes, especially as protection for the circulatory system.

You may want to consider relaxation techniques to calm and soothe your nervous system. Years ago, one of my meditation instructors taught the importance of “the breath.” Breathing is the center of your being, the very inflow and the outflow. We can live for several days without food, a few days without water, but no more than seconds or minutes without the inflow of breath. How we allow air to fill us, how we open ourselves to the literal “breath of life” determines the well-being of the nervous system and the circulatory system. Most of us breathe in a very shallow manner, only taking air into the very top area of the lungs. Our body literally craves to breathe deeply, opening the middle and lower lungs to receive oxygen. Notice how babies breathe, expanding their belly with the inflow of air. This also is how we should breathe, allowing the breath to open itself into the bottom of the lungs, expanding the diaphragm. Only then can the rest of our body be deeply fed by the inflow of breath. The deep intake of breath in this manner is well-proven to benefit the heart, and can literally relieve physical stress within a matter of minutes. The next time you feel stress or panic symptoms, just breathe deeply and slowly, several times. You will notice your physical body starting to relax, and tension disappearing. Practicing Tai-Chi or Yoga can teach us the control of stress through breathing and balanced movement. Any of these options could be very beneficial for you.

Some supplements to consider are first, a good high-quality multivitamin mineral formula. Adding an additional magnesium citrate (or a blend of citrate-malate) can be very important for the heart. Magnesium not only assists in the proper absorption of calcium, but also softens and relaxes the muscles (which can be helpful in stress and tension), regulates the electrical activity in nerve cells and is vitally important for protecting the heart. I read several studies years ago which claimed that the vast majority of folks with heart problems were very deficient in magnesium.

Also consider a high-quality B-complex, to soothe and protect the nerves and the arteries. Other supplements to think about are Co-enzyme Q-10, grape seed extract (a powerful plant-based antioxidant to keep the blood clear), bromelain (an enzyme derived from pineapple which can provide excellent anti-inflammatory benefits), hawthorne berry extract and l-carnitine. Any of these may be a possibility for you if you choose to consult with a qualified natural health practitioner.

Good luck to you, and I hope these possibilities help to put you on the path to health.

Susie

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Susie Cooper, a community herbalist and homeopathic educator, has worked in the natural foods business since 1991 and has been teaching workshops on herbal and homeopathic medicine since 1993. In addition to presenting numerous talks, she has also appeared on radio programs pertaining to natural health. With her husband, Paul, she owns and operates Blue Mountain Herbs, a small health food store in Pilot Mountain, North Carolina, where she also teaches workshops in herbal and homeopathic medicine. “Offering a proper base of education for people interested in maintaining health the natural way is of utmost importance to me,” she says. “So many options exist in the world around us, and it’s important to me to offer the best traditional educational support I can to people wanting a healthy alternative for prevention and wellness.”

Important note: The information contained in this column is not meant to diagnose or prescribe for specific ailments, but is intended for educational support only. Please seek the advise of a licensed health practitioner for specific illnesses and emergency situations.