Bad Circulation

Lipoprotein A, or Lp(a), is a component of LDL or “bad” cholesterol and high levels of it in your blood can be a serious heart risk factor.  

According to an article in the 1997 Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Lp(a) appears to regulate clot formation (thrombosis) and inhibit blood thin­ning, which can lead to blood circulation problems.

We know that Lp(a) increases in unstable diabetics and menopausal women with elevated levels due to lowered estrogen levels. This may be why the incidence of heart disease among menopausal women quadruples.

Conversely, Lp(a) decreases with estrogen replacement therapy. For this reason, it’s imperative that all menopausal and perimeno­pausal women with a strong family history of heart disease have their Lp(a) levels checked by their doctor. Further, postmenopausal women with multiple heart risk factors should consider natural, topical estrogen replace­ment therapy, particularly if their Lp(a) is elevated.

Research shows that elevated Lp(a) levels appear to be even stronger predictors for the development of premature heart disease in men. JAMA reported a study of 2,191 men confirming this.

Statin Drugs Will Not Reduce Lp(a)

Statins, drugs commonly prescribed to help you keep good cholesterol levels, are not effective for lowering Lp(a) levels. In fact, a study involving these drugs showed an increase in Lp(a) levels! And therein lies the dilemma.

While cholesterol-lowering drugs can reduce LDL, they can’t reduce Lp(a). If you find that a high Lp(a) level runs in your family, you must attack it with an alter­native approach.

Here’s what I recommend:

• Take 100 mg of niacin, twice a day. If you experience side effects like flushing, headache, and diarrhea, follow the diet and stop the niacin. You can try a lower dosage at a later date and you can increase the dose to 500 mg a day, twice a day for further protection, or reduce it by no less than 100 mg daily if you have side effects. Twinlabs’ quick-acting Niacin is a good product.
• Follow my Pan-Asian Modified Mediterranean (PAMM) diet.
• Take 1–2grams of vitamin C and 100–200 mg of standard coenzyme Q10.
• Take 1–2grams of fish oil daily.
• Take 50mg of nattokinase twice a day.
• Take 100mg of delta tocotrienols twice a day.
• Exercise regularly.

If you’re concerned, you and your family members should have your Lp(a) and other risk factors (homocysteine, fibrinogen, and serum ferritin) evaluated by your doctor. And be aware of other heart disease risk factors, includ­ing smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, glucose intolerance, and repressed emotions, all of which can cause cardiovascular problems.

For more information on LDL cholesterol levels and ways to lower them, visit www.drsinatra.com.

I’ve written a lot about healthy blood pressure over the past few weeks, and there’s good reason for that. Controlling chronic hypertension is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke.

Today I want to go back to the relationship between diet and blood pressure levels, and talk specifically about salt.

Most people think they’re doing a good job cutting down on their salt intake simply by sitting down for a meal and not reaching for the salt shaker. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. What you eat is just as important.

The majority of salt we consume is hidden in the ingredients used to increase the shelf-life of processed and fast foods. Some salty choices, like potato chips, are obvious, but others you may not be aware of.

I’ll never forget a hypertensive patient of mine who ate his fill of canned ham (packed with salt) one Easter Sunday. The next day he was in the emergency room in hypertensive crisis, having an episode of acute congestive heart failure. His heart couldn’t handle the enormous amount of salt he’d eaten.

Now, I’ll admit that was an extraordinary situation, but it happens, and it underscores the need to be careful with salt intake—especially if you have high blood pressure levels, bad circulation, or other cardiovascular problems.

So the next time you reach for something to eat, make sure it’s not full of "hidden salt." I’ve put together a partial list of products that are loaded with it, to help you steer clear of some of the worst offenders:
 

• Canned and dried (packaged) foods, especially soups
• Potato chips, pretzels, saltines
• Salty or smoked meats—bacon, bologna, corned beef, luncheon meats, sausage—canned meats, and pickled meats
• Salty or smoked fish—anchovies, caviar, herring, and sardines
• Pickles and sauerkraut
• Salted nuts
• Olives
• Processed cheese and cheese spreads
• Macaroni and cheese
• Canned vegetables and vegetable juices
• Ketchup and tomato sauce
• Soy sauce
• Frozen pizza