Angina? What To Do!
Angina pectoris refers to the squeezing type of chest pain sometimes experienced by patients who are not getting enough blood and oxygen to the heart muscle, usually due to arterial blockages and plaque build up. Often the pain will come on with exertion, and can be relieved by taking nitoglycerin medications. Many angina patients who see cardiologists end up on a conveyor belt that inevitably lead them to have invasive and questionably effective surgical and diagnostic procedures like angiograms, angioplasties, and bypass surgery. Studies suggest that conservative medical management of such patients carries no greater risk of sudden patient death than the more aggressive therapies, and we believe that adding certain natural medicine therapies can tip the survival advantage distinctively over to non-surgical management. Patients must be strong enough emotionally and secure enough in their facts to be able to resist the tremendous pressure that invasive cardiologists place on them about having surgical procedures done on an “urgent” basis.

The natural medicine approach to these cases first revolves around getting a complete history and physical examination done, and a review of previous medical records. All body organ systems are reviewed so that other contributing factors will not be missed. Comprehensive laboratory testing which includes ALL of the important coronary risk factors, and not just cholesterol, will be recommended. A patient with a hyperactive thyroid, for example, will have a hard time getting his angina controlled without getting his thyroid slowed down. We take a holistic approach and look at everything. The patient’s diet must be cleaned up for sure, but how? Again, personalized evaluation and testing, including Diet Typing, will determine the right diet for each patient. Certainly with the high incidence of insulin resistance, we are recommending a lot of high protein low carbohydrate diets. This is often the exact opposite of what most cardiologists advise. Very rarely do cholesterol and triglycerides fail to drop if the diet is prescribed and implemented correctly. Then, we tailor a streamlined nutritional supplement program based on risk factor analysis, and we adjust self help programs our patients may come in with that were implemented blindly, or which just throw everything the patient reads about into the mix. That can be expensive, and is unnecessary.

When discussing the other specific natural medicine therapies for angina we must keep in mind one very important fact. It is not only arterial blockages that account for angina pain! Many individuals have awful looking coronary arteries and experience no pain whatsoever. Then there are those who have bypasses and angioplasties, yet their pain continues. Why? Cellular energy production may be impaired. Frequently the mitochondria of heart muscle and endothelial cells are not utilizing the oxygen they do receive in an efficient manner. Cardiologists and cardiac surgeons can sometimes make coronary patients more comfortable by opening blocked arteries, but we can almost always make these patients more comfortable by supporting cellular energy metabolism nutritionally, with hormone therapy, and with chelation therapy.

Supplements that effectively increase oxygen utilization and allow cells to “make do” with a little less than the ideal amount of blood flow include L-carnitine and CoQ-10. Cayenne has been known for some time as an emergency substitute for an aspirin or nitro when someone develops acute chest pain. I usually include this supplement for most patients with circulatory problems. Magnesium is hugely important. Taking it orally is good, but taking it as a series of short weekly injections is even better. Angina patients should do both since magnesium definitely dilates blood vessels, reduces blood pressure, and prevents sudden cardiac deaths. Most of my readers already know about chelation therapy IV’s. This treatment helps keeps patient at risk of heart attack and stroke alive. It may be via its biochemical effects on the endothelial cell membrane and the production of nitric oxide, which keeps vessels open, rather than “rotorouting” the plaque out of the interior of arterial walls, but it works, and one of the main ways that I know it works is that it relieves anginal chest pain fairly quickly. Chelation therapy for angina patients will work even faster if it is combined with an oxidative therapy such as dilute IV hydrogen peroxide. This winning combination is known as “Chelox”. Another intravenous treatment we use is phosphatidylcholine, also previously known as Plaquex. This is a fat fighting natural substance that can reduce plaque and increase arterial circulation, thereby relieving angina. Finally, I always check testosterone levels and advise men with even borderline readings to receive fairly high dose testosterone therapy, usually through intramuscular injections. Testosterone relieves angina by supporting cellular metabolism and strengthening heart muscles.

In summary, we are confident that we can help angina patient eliminate or greatly reduce their chest pain by improving their circulation, supporting their cellular metabolism, and strengthening their heart muscle. Angioplasty and bypass surgery are certainly overused, and a good case can be made that they lack logical scientific basis. If you or a loved one have cardiac origin anginal chest pain, by all means see a cardiologist. But don’t let them bamboozle you into doing risky and unnecessary surgical procedures. And remember, the only reason to have an angiogram done is IF you are considering having a surgical treatment procedure. Otherwise, ultrafast CT scanning for anatomic, and thallium stress testing for physiologic diagnosis of the condition of the heart’s circulation, and the natural treatment approach outlined above are great and effective alternatives!

The information on this website is presented as information only and not a self-help guide. Never alter or change your health management or begin any new health plans without first consulting your personal health care provider. Please note: Prolotherapy and Supplement recommendations by disorders is a general recommendation. It is not our suggestion that these supplements cure or improve these conditions, neither do we make claims that these supplements in anyway are to be used in place of medical advice from a licensed medial professional, nor are they to be used in the place of medications prescribed by a physician. The Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated statements made about specific supplements nor does the Food and Drug Administration recognize that any nutritional supplement is to be used as a cure for any condition. Nutritional, herbal, mineral supplementation can be beneficial in certain health circumstances but not in every circumstance. Before using any nutritional supplement it is strongly advised that you seek the guidance of a licensed health care professional to help guide you in choosing any supplementation program.  Supplement suggestions  ARE NOT to be considered cures or possible remedies, but rather supplements that can possibly enhance the quality of life by helping the immune and/or nervous system. All medical procedures have risks, these risks should always be discussed with your physician. CMRS 715 Lake Street Suite 600 Oak Park IL 60301 708-848-7789