Dr. Stephen Sinatra is a
board-certified cardiologist and certified bioenergetic analyst with more than
25 years of experience in helping patients prevent and reverse heart disease.
He is a fellow of the Dr. Stephen Sinatra is a
board-certified cardiologist and certified bioenergetic analyst with more than
25 years of experience in helping patients prevent and reverse heart disease.
He is a fellow of the 
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a marker for inflammation that is directly associated with atherosclerotic plaque. It’s a blood protein that, when found in elevated levels, may indicate you 
could be at risk of heart attack and stroke.
Multiple studies have identified CRP as a potent predictor of future cardiovascular problems—and one that is far more reliable than elevated cholesterol levels.
Biological characteristics that are associated with high CRP levels include trauma, infections, high blood sugar, excess weight, and hypercoagulability of blood (sticky blood). Any one of these situations literally feeds pro-inflammatory mediators, ratcheting up the chances that you’ll develop atherosclerosis.
If you have heart disease concerns, other cardiovascular problems, or you’ve had trauma or an infection that could cause inflammation, you should have your CRP levels tested. Just make sure your doctor uses the high sensitivity test (hs-CRP). This test doesn’t take much time; typically, blood is drawn from a vein located either on the forearm or from inside your elbow. The blood is then analyzed in several tests to determine the level of CRP present.
For more information on heart risk factors or cardiovascular problems, visit www.drsinatra.com.
could be at risk of heart attack and stroke.Multiple studies have identified CRP as a potent predictor of future cardiovascular problems—and one that is far more reliable than elevated cholesterol levels.
Biological characteristics that are associated with high CRP levels include trauma, infections, high blood sugar, excess weight, and hypercoagulability of blood (sticky blood). Any one of these situations literally feeds pro-inflammatory mediators, ratcheting up the chances that you’ll develop atherosclerosis.
If you have heart disease concerns, other cardiovascular problems, or you’ve had trauma or an infection that could cause inflammation, you should have your CRP levels tested. Just make sure your doctor uses the high sensitivity test (hs-CRP). This test doesn’t take much time; typically, blood is drawn from a vein located either on the forearm or from inside your elbow. The blood is then analyzed in several tests to determine the level of CRP present.
For more information on heart risk factors or cardiovascular problems, visit www.drsinatra.com.
The last years of the twentieth century gave rise to a new set of heart risk factors that I call toxic blood indicators: 
- C-reactive protein,
- interleukin-6,
- homocysteine,
- fibrinogen,
- lipoprotein (a) or Lp(a), and
- ferritin (iron).
These blood elements are helping to explain why people with “normal” blood profiles and no obvious risks sometimes turn up with serious heart disease, and more than two of them can produce an increase in risk of heart disease.
Fortunately, these heart risk factors can be detected with a blood test, and most are extremely responsive to good cardiovascular nutrition, nutritional supplements, and other healthy lifestyle changes.
For more information on what I consider to be healthy levels of these blood elements, along with a summary of my recommendations to achieve these healthy levels, visit www.drsinatra.com or subscribe to my monthly newsletter, Heart, Health & Nutrition.
About six months before my scheduled hip surgery, I started to “train” for it, much as I trained for wrestling matches during my athletic heyday. Here’s the 5-step plan I followed:
Step 1: Think Positive. Recovery from surgery starts in the mind. Rather than getting down, I reframed everything for myself, the same way I encourage my patients to do. I visualized a scenario of total success. I thought about coming out of surgery and walking the very first day. And that’s just what happened.
Step 2: Get Fit. Surgery recovery will go much more smoothly if you’re in good physical condition. I exercised every day, incorporating Pilates, stretching, and strength training so I would be well conditioned going into surgery and have the greatest possible chance for a successful outcome.
Step 3: Eat Right. My pre-surgery diet looked very much like my normal healthy diet of lean protein, whole grains, and lots of vegetables and fruit.
Step 4: Supplement Smart. My regular supplement routine consists of my daily multivitamin and mineral formula; the Awesome Foursome of CoQ10 (200 mg), broad-spectrum carnitine (1 g), magnesium (200 mg), and ribose (5 g); and my anti-inflammatory supplement program that includes fish oil (2 g), bromelain (100 mg twice a day), 3 tablets of Wobenzym digestive enzymes, and nattokinase (100 mg). A couple of months before the surgery, I doubled my vitamin D intake to 10,000 IU daily to strengthen my immune system and bones.
A week before my surgery, I stopped taking my fish oil, multivitamin/mineral complex, and nutritional anti-inflammatories due to the possibility of thinning my blood too much during recovery from surgery. But, my surgeon, anesthesiologist, and I agreed that I should continue with my CoQ10 right up until the surgery. I also continued to sleep grounded, as I do every night.
Step 5: Balance Mind, Body, and Spirit. Before my surgery, I also listened to The Surgery Companion, a CD program by Dr. Olga Stevko and her husband Mitchell Stevko, which employs mind-body techniques used by the Mayo Clinic and other top hospitals to promote successful surgery by making patients feel more positive about surgery, reduce pain, and speed healing.
To learn more about my five-step plan for successful surgery recovery, visit my Web site. If you would like to the whole story of my journey through hip replacement surgery, check out the September 2010 issue of my newsletter, Heart, Health & Nutrition.
And to see pictures of my recovery from hip replacement surgery and to share what worked for you, join me on Facebook.
Step 1: Think Positive. Recovery from surgery starts in the mind. Rather than getting down, I reframed everything for myself, the same way I encourage my patients to do. I visualized a scenario of total success. I thought about coming out of surgery and walking the very first day. And that’s just what happened.
Step 2: Get Fit. Surgery recovery will go much more smoothly if you’re in good physical condition. I exercised every day, incorporating Pilates, stretching, and strength training so I would be well conditioned going into surgery and have the greatest possible chance for a successful outcome.
Step 3: Eat Right. My pre-surgery diet looked very much like my normal healthy diet of lean protein, whole grains, and lots of vegetables and fruit.
Step 4: Supplement Smart. My regular supplement routine consists of my daily multivitamin and mineral formula; the Awesome Foursome of CoQ10 (200 mg), broad-spectrum carnitine (1 g), magnesium (200 mg), and ribose (5 g); and my anti-inflammatory supplement program that includes fish oil (2 g), bromelain (100 mg twice a day), 3 tablets of Wobenzym digestive enzymes, and nattokinase (100 mg). A couple of months before the surgery, I doubled my vitamin D intake to 10,000 IU daily to strengthen my immune system and bones.
A week before my surgery, I stopped taking my fish oil, multivitamin/mineral complex, and nutritional anti-inflammatories due to the possibility of thinning my blood too much during recovery from surgery. But, my surgeon, anesthesiologist, and I agreed that I should continue with my CoQ10 right up until the surgery. I also continued to sleep grounded, as I do every night.
Step 5: Balance Mind, Body, and Spirit. Before my surgery, I also listened to The Surgery Companion, a CD program by Dr. Olga Stevko and her husband Mitchell Stevko, which employs mind-body techniques used by the Mayo Clinic and other top hospitals to promote successful surgery by making patients feel more positive about surgery, reduce pain, and speed healing.
To learn more about my five-step plan for successful surgery recovery, visit my Web site. If you would like to the whole story of my journey through hip replacement surgery, check out the September 2010 issue of my newsletter, Heart, Health & Nutrition.
And to see pictures of my recovery from hip replacement surgery and to share what worked for you, join me on Facebook.
For years, I’ve been telling my readers and my patients to avoid acetaminophen—especially the extra-strength variety—because of the potential for liver problems. I’ve also told them to 
avoid NSAIDs because of the potential for gastrointestinal bleeding, liver damage, and kidney dysfunction. Now there’s yet another reason to avoid these analgesics, as recent studies suggest that they can also make it difficult to maintain healthy blood pressure levels. So…
If you take painkillers regularly, please inform your doctor or holistic health practitioner. He or she may have some safer recommendations. You can also talk to your doctor about trying my recommendations for pain control, which include:
These options are safe for almost everyone, including people with cardiovascular problems.
For more information on how pharmaceuticals can lead to cardiovascular problems, visit www.drsinatra.com.
avoid NSAIDs because of the potential for gastrointestinal bleeding, liver damage, and kidney dysfunction. Now there’s yet another reason to avoid these analgesics, as recent studies suggest that they can also make it difficult to maintain healthy blood pressure levels. So…If you take painkillers regularly, please inform your doctor or holistic health practitioner. He or she may have some safer recommendations. You can also talk to your doctor about trying my recommendations for pain control, which include:
- White willow bark (180 mg twice a day); or
- Low-dose aspirin (325–650 mg a day as tolerated, but discontinue if you experience abdominal discomfort); or
- The nutritional supplement SAM-e (200–400 mg, once or twice a day as needed).
These options are safe for almost everyone, including people with cardiovascular problems.
For more information on how pharmaceuticals can lead to cardiovascular problems, visit www.drsinatra.com.
Research has found a connection between high blood pressure levels and non-aspirin painkillers. A report from the Harvard School of Medicine’s ongoing Nurses Health Study concluded 
that women are at increased risk for high blood pressure levels if they take daily doses of painkillers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin).
The Harvard study involved 5,123 women age 34 to 77, each of whom had healthy blood pressure at the onset. Here are the results:
that women are at increased risk for high blood pressure levels if they take daily doses of painkillers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin).The Harvard study involved 5,123 women age 34 to 77, each of whom had healthy blood pressure at the onset. Here are the results:
- For women not taking painkillers, the risk of developing high blood pressure levels was about 1 to 3 percent a year.
- Women taking an average daily dose of more than 500 mg of acetaminophen (one extra-strength tablet) had a 93 to 99 percent increased risk of developing high blood pressure levels within three years, compared to women taking less than 500 mg.
- Women taking more than 400 mg a day of over-the-counter NSAIDS (the equivalent of two ibuprofen) had a 60 to 78 percent increased risk of developing high blood pressure levels, compared to women taking less than 400 mg.
If you’re working hard to prevent heart attack and stroke, as well as the occurrence of other cardiovascular problems, you need to beware of the dangers associated with salt. 
As any decent doctor or holistic practitioner will tell you, having too much salt in your system can make it difficult for you to maintain healthy blood pressure levels, as well as healthy cholesterol levels. In fact, too much salt can severely compromise your overall health and force you to deal with a myriad of serious heart risk factors you’d do well to avoid.
Here are four things you may not know about salt consumption:
For more information on blood pressure levels and other cardiovascular problems, visit www.drsinatra.com.
As any decent doctor or holistic practitioner will tell you, having too much salt in your system can make it difficult for you to maintain healthy blood pressure levels, as well as healthy cholesterol levels. In fact, too much salt can severely compromise your overall health and force you to deal with a myriad of serious heart risk factors you’d do well to avoid.
Here are four things you may not know about salt consumption:
- Your body requires sodium (a component of salt) to regulate fluid balance and distribution, as well as nerve and muscle cell function. Although you need some sodium, the standard American diet includes way too much. That’s why I urge my patients to try what I often refer to as "the healthiest diet of all." You'll be amazed at how effective it can be.
- The current recommendation for salt consumption is less than 2,400 mg of sodium a day, which amounts to about one teaspoon of salt. Recent research suggests that people ingesting less than 1,500 mg of sodium a day are better able to keep their blood pressure low. If you have high blood pressure, you should definitely aim for that kind of level. Don’t use salt from the shaker, and read labels to add up the amount you’re taking in.
- Many items at fast food restaurants are high in salt, so you can easily exceed the recommended level with one serving.
- You can easily make up for the reduced salt in your diet by cooking with fresh herbs and spices such as basil, garlic, oregano, rosemary, chives, parsley, and onion. What’s more, all of these flavorings contain natural substances that are good for your health. Garlic, in particular, has been shown to have a positive effect on blood pressure when consumed on a daily basis.
For more information on blood pressure levels and other cardiovascular problems, visit www.drsinatra.com.
One of the common conditions we cardiologists treat has nothing directly to do with the heart itself, but rather with blockages of blood vessels going to and from the kidneys, stomach, 
arms, legs, and feet. We call this condition peripheral vascular or arterial disease. You may know it as “poor blood circulation.”
An estimated 12 million Americans are affected by the disease, and its incidence increases with age—about one-fifth of people age 70 and older have it. The condition is sometimes called a smoker’s disease because it’s particularly prominent among people who have smoked at some point in their lives.
Most doctors and holistic health practitioners agree that blood circulation problems are typically due to the buildup of plaque in the affected blood vessels—similar to the kind of buildup we see in the coronary arteries that feed the heart or the carotid arteries leading to the brain. The result is restricted blood flow, discomfort, tiredness, heaviness, and, often, cramping.
To combat the condition, doctors often use drugs, angioplasty, or surgery. My approach takes a different tack. I focus on the muscle cells and how to get rid of their metabolic by-products, which become increasingly toxic because of the poor blood circulation.
The solution is to help remove the toxins. To do this, I suggest taking glycine propionyl-L-carnitine (GPLC), a recently developed form of L-carnitine that can help improve blood circulation, as well as blood pressure levels. Like other forms of carnitine, GPLC gets quickly into the muscle cells’ mitochondria (the part of the cell where energy is produced). There it acts as a ferry, ushering in the fatty acids that are burned as fuel, and escorting out the toxins that otherwise would build up inside the cell.
GPLC has also been shown to increase the primary enzyme responsible for nitric oxide production in the arteries. Nitric oxide, as you may know, helps regulate the dilation of blood vessels. Proper dilation is necessary to keep blood circulation problems at bay.
For more information on poor blood circulation, ways to improve blood circulation, or other cardiovascular problems, visit Dr. Sinatra's Web site.
arms, legs, and feet. We call this condition peripheral vascular or arterial disease. You may know it as “poor blood circulation.”An estimated 12 million Americans are affected by the disease, and its incidence increases with age—about one-fifth of people age 70 and older have it. The condition is sometimes called a smoker’s disease because it’s particularly prominent among people who have smoked at some point in their lives.
Most doctors and holistic health practitioners agree that blood circulation problems are typically due to the buildup of plaque in the affected blood vessels—similar to the kind of buildup we see in the coronary arteries that feed the heart or the carotid arteries leading to the brain. The result is restricted blood flow, discomfort, tiredness, heaviness, and, often, cramping.
To combat the condition, doctors often use drugs, angioplasty, or surgery. My approach takes a different tack. I focus on the muscle cells and how to get rid of their metabolic by-products, which become increasingly toxic because of the poor blood circulation.
The solution is to help remove the toxins. To do this, I suggest taking glycine propionyl-L-carnitine (GPLC), a recently developed form of L-carnitine that can help improve blood circulation, as well as blood pressure levels. Like other forms of carnitine, GPLC gets quickly into the muscle cells’ mitochondria (the part of the cell where energy is produced). There it acts as a ferry, ushering in the fatty acids that are burned as fuel, and escorting out the toxins that otherwise would build up inside the cell.
GPLC has also been shown to increase the primary enzyme responsible for nitric oxide production in the arteries. Nitric oxide, as you may know, helps regulate the dilation of blood vessels. Proper dilation is necessary to keep blood circulation problems at bay.
For more information on poor blood circulation, ways to improve blood circulation, or other cardiovascular problems, visit Dr. Sinatra's Web site.
I worry about the fact that so many women still think that cardiovascular problems, like heart disease and stroke, is primarily a problem for men. The truth is that heart disease is a 
major health risk for women, but many physicians did not realize this until recently, so they’ve done little to encourage their female patients to take steps to protect their heart health.
I also worry because much of our knowledge about heart disease describes how the condition affects men. This leads many physicians, including some holistic practitioners, to diagnose and treat women as if heart disease affected them the same way. Nothing could be further from the truth. Heart disease affects men and women very differently and I’ve written about that here in this in newsletter articles, books, and here in this blog.
For example, if a 45-year-old woman and a 45-year-old man both come into the emergency room with chest pain, most physicians will probably admit the man and tell the woman her symptoms are due to stress and anxiety. Not many physicians realize that the incidence of coronary events among women quadruples as they reach middle age.
What You Can Do About It
I want you to understand that much of this, in both women and men, is related to lifestyle and the choices you make.
For more information on women and cardiovascular problems or tips for good cardiovascular nutrition, visit Dr. Sinatra's Web site.
major health risk for women, but many physicians did not realize this until recently, so they’ve done little to encourage their female patients to take steps to protect their heart health.I also worry because much of our knowledge about heart disease describes how the condition affects men. This leads many physicians, including some holistic practitioners, to diagnose and treat women as if heart disease affected them the same way. Nothing could be further from the truth. Heart disease affects men and women very differently and I’ve written about that here in this in newsletter articles, books, and here in this blog.
For example, if a 45-year-old woman and a 45-year-old man both come into the emergency room with chest pain, most physicians will probably admit the man and tell the woman her symptoms are due to stress and anxiety. Not many physicians realize that the incidence of coronary events among women quadruples as they reach middle age.
What You Can Do About It
I want you to understand that much of this, in both women and men, is related to lifestyle and the choices you make.
- Choose to seek natural ways to lower blood pressure if that’s a problem for you.
- Choose to adhere to good cardiovascular nutrition, which may include increasing the amount of fresh vegetables you consume and lowering the amount of breads and other starches you eat each day.
- Choose to do what you need to do to maintain good cholesterol levels, improve blood circulation, and healthy triglycerides.
- Choose to exercise so that you can more easily prevent blood clots and maintain a healthy weight.
For more information on women and cardiovascular problems or tips for good cardiovascular nutrition, visit Dr. Sinatra's Web site.
Though you wouldn’t know it based on today’s obsession with cholesterol levels, cardiology has been slowly veering away from the narrow view of cholesterol as a primary cause of 
coronary artery disease (CAD).
The field is finally realizing that although good cholesterol levels can help deter the biochemical process that creates damage in arterial walls—which in turn leads to plaque, occlusions, and clots—it’s a relatively minor one. In other words, they’ve realized that even though they may find cholesterol at the scene of the crime, it’s not necessarily the perpetrator.
An excellent example of this is shared in a population study that showed how the French have the highest total cholesterol levels in Europe—about 250—but the lowest incidence of cardiovascular problems, including heart disease.
This being said, I continue to encourage you to find natural ways to maintain healthy cholesterol, including adhering to a smart, cholesterol lowering diet. I just want you to also realize that cholesterol is just one of many heart risk factors, and is not necessarily the most deadly.
For more information on reducing cholesterol and other cardiovascular problems, visit Dr. Sinatra's Web site.
coronary artery disease (CAD).The field is finally realizing that although good cholesterol levels can help deter the biochemical process that creates damage in arterial walls—which in turn leads to plaque, occlusions, and clots—it’s a relatively minor one. In other words, they’ve realized that even though they may find cholesterol at the scene of the crime, it’s not necessarily the perpetrator.
An excellent example of this is shared in a population study that showed how the French have the highest total cholesterol levels in Europe—about 250—but the lowest incidence of cardiovascular problems, including heart disease.
This being said, I continue to encourage you to find natural ways to maintain healthy cholesterol, including adhering to a smart, cholesterol lowering diet. I just want you to also realize that cholesterol is just one of many heart risk factors, and is not necessarily the most deadly.
For more information on reducing cholesterol and other cardiovascular problems, visit Dr. Sinatra's Web site.
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a marker for inflammation that is directly associated with atherosclerotic plaque. 
It’s a blood protein that, when found in elevated levels, may indicate risk of heart attack and stroke. Multiple studies have identified CRP as a potent predictor of future cardiovascular problems—and one that is far more reliable than elevated cholesterol levels.
Biological characteristics that are associated with high CRP levels include trauma, infections, high blood sugar, excess weight, and hypercoagulability of blood (sticky blood). Any one of these situations literally feeds pro-inflammatory mediators, ratcheting up the chances that you’ll develop atherosclerosis.
If you currently have cardiovascular problems or you’ve had trauma or an infection that could cause inflammation, you should have your CRP levels tested. Just make sure your doctor or holistic health practitioner requests the high sensitivity test (hs-CRP). This test doesn’t take much time; typically, blood is drawn from a vein located either on the forearm or from inside your elbow. The blood is then analyzed in several tests to determine the level of CRP present.
For more information on heart risk factors and cardiovascular problems, visit Dr. Sinatra's Web site.
It’s a blood protein that, when found in elevated levels, may indicate risk of heart attack and stroke. Multiple studies have identified CRP as a potent predictor of future cardiovascular problems—and one that is far more reliable than elevated cholesterol levels.
Biological characteristics that are associated with high CRP levels include trauma, infections, high blood sugar, excess weight, and hypercoagulability of blood (sticky blood). Any one of these situations literally feeds pro-inflammatory mediators, ratcheting up the chances that you’ll develop atherosclerosis.
If you currently have cardiovascular problems or you’ve had trauma or an infection that could cause inflammation, you should have your CRP levels tested. Just make sure your doctor or holistic health practitioner requests the high sensitivity test (hs-CRP). This test doesn’t take much time; typically, blood is drawn from a vein located either on the forearm or from inside your elbow. The blood is then analyzed in several tests to determine the level of CRP present.
For more information on heart risk factors and cardiovascular problems, visit Dr. Sinatra's Web site.
The leading causes of high blood pressure levels include stress, genetics, being overweight, a high-sugar diet, heavy metal toxicity, and lack of exercise. 
This blog is loaded with posts that can help you manage all of these. And once you have them under control, you’ll be well on your way to avoiding a host of cardiovascular problems, including heart attack and stroke.
Obviously, it’s better to prevent high blood pressure levels than to treat them. That’s why I work so hard to educate my readers. I want you all to know that there are natural ways to lower blood pressure, including:
You also want to adhere to good cardiovascular nutrition and following my PAMM diet makes that easy. You’ll never go hungry, but will enjoy delicious foods filled with the nutrients you need to maintain good health.
For more information on blood pressure levels and healthy blood pressure, visit Dr. Sinatra's Web site.
This blog is loaded with posts that can help you manage all of these. And once you have them under control, you’ll be well on your way to avoiding a host of cardiovascular problems, including heart attack and stroke.
Obviously, it’s better to prevent high blood pressure levels than to treat them. That’s why I work so hard to educate my readers. I want you all to know that there are natural ways to lower blood pressure, including:
- reducing stress,
- losing weight (you can get great tips for doing this here),
- controlling your sugar intake, and
- exercising more.
You also want to adhere to good cardiovascular nutrition and following my PAMM diet makes that easy. You’ll never go hungry, but will enjoy delicious foods filled with the nutrients you need to maintain good health.
For more information on blood pressure levels and healthy blood pressure, visit Dr. Sinatra's Web site.
If you’re unaware of your blood pressure levels, you put yourself at great risk. That’s because uncontrolled high blood pressure (or hypertension) is a leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
Often, there are no symptoms to alert you of the need to better control high blood pressure, which is why hypertension is called the “silent killer.” You may not know you have it unless you have your blood pressure levels checked regularly.
Your blood pressure levels reflect how hard your heart has to work to pump adequate blood through your arteries. Each contraction of your heart pumps out a wave of oxygen-rich blood that causes the flexible arterial walls to expand. After the wave passes, the walls deflate. The intensity of this sequence is your blood pressure.
The first number is your systolic reading (the pressure of the blood against arterial walls at the wave’s peak), and the second number is the diastolic reading (the pressure when the wave passes).
Years ago, we thought a reading of 140/88 was the upper limit of normal. These days, a reading that high is unacceptable. Research shows that you want your systolic pressure to be in the 120s and your diastolic pressure to be in the high 70s or low 80s.
For more information on blood pressure levels or healthy blood pressure, visit Dr. Sinatra's Web site.
disease and stroke.Often, there are no symptoms to alert you of the need to better control high blood pressure, which is why hypertension is called the “silent killer.” You may not know you have it unless you have your blood pressure levels checked regularly.
Your blood pressure levels reflect how hard your heart has to work to pump adequate blood through your arteries. Each contraction of your heart pumps out a wave of oxygen-rich blood that causes the flexible arterial walls to expand. After the wave passes, the walls deflate. The intensity of this sequence is your blood pressure.
The first number is your systolic reading (the pressure of the blood against arterial walls at the wave’s peak), and the second number is the diastolic reading (the pressure when the wave passes).
Years ago, we thought a reading of 140/88 was the upper limit of normal. These days, a reading that high is unacceptable. Research shows that you want your systolic pressure to be in the 120s and your diastolic pressure to be in the high 70s or low 80s.
For more information on blood pressure levels or healthy blood pressure, visit Dr. Sinatra's Web site.
One of the common conditions cardiologists treat has nothing directly to do with the heart itself, but rather with blockages of blood vessels going to and from the kidneys, stomach, arms, legs, and feet. We call this condition peripheral vascular or arterial disease. You may know it as “poor blood circulation,” a phrase often used in the ads you see on television.
An estimated 12 million Americans are affected by the disease, and its incidence increases with age—about one-fifth of people age 70 and older have it. The condition is sometimes called a smoker’s disease because it’s particularly prominent among people who have smoked at some point in their lives.
Doctors agree that peripheral blood circulation problems are typically due to the buildup of plaque in the affected blood vessels—similar to the kind of buildup we see in the coronary arteries that feed the heart or the carotid arteries leading to the brain. The result is restricted blood flow, discomfort, tiredness, heaviness, and, often, cramping. In the early stages of the disease, patients commonly complain of cramping and fatigue in the legs and buttocks during activities like walking. Because the symptoms tend to subside when the person sits down, we refer to the problem as intermittent claudication.
To improve blood circulation, doctors often use the drugs advertised in the ads I mentioned earlier. Angioplasty or surgery is also sometimes necessary. My approach takes a different tack. I focus on the muscle cells and how to get rid of their metabolic by-products, which become increasingly toxic because of the poor blood circulation.
As the muscles are used, they burn energy and release waste. This waste causes the cells in the muscles to swell and press against adjacent blood vessels. In a person whose arteries are already compromised by plaque buildup, the swelling causes further vasoconstriction, or narrowing of the vessels. Worse yet, the toxins themselves have a vasoconstricting effect of their own—so you’re hit with a triple whammy of sorts. And as you would imagine, the more toxins that accumulate, the worse the condition gets and the more difficult it becomes to walk.
The solution is to help remove the toxins. To do this, I suggest taking 1 gram daily of glycine propionyl-L-carnitine (GPLC), a form of L-carnitine that’s proven to help improve blood circulation and blood pressure levels, as well as offsetting the destructive nature of inflammatory compounds, cellular waste products, and toxins.
For more information on natural ways to avoid circulatory problems or other cardiovascular problems, visit www.drsinatra.com.
arms, legs, and feet. We call this condition peripheral vascular or arterial disease. You may know it as “poor blood circulation,” a phrase often used in the ads you see on television.An estimated 12 million Americans are affected by the disease, and its incidence increases with age—about one-fifth of people age 70 and older have it. The condition is sometimes called a smoker’s disease because it’s particularly prominent among people who have smoked at some point in their lives.
Doctors agree that peripheral blood circulation problems are typically due to the buildup of plaque in the affected blood vessels—similar to the kind of buildup we see in the coronary arteries that feed the heart or the carotid arteries leading to the brain. The result is restricted blood flow, discomfort, tiredness, heaviness, and, often, cramping. In the early stages of the disease, patients commonly complain of cramping and fatigue in the legs and buttocks during activities like walking. Because the symptoms tend to subside when the person sits down, we refer to the problem as intermittent claudication.
To improve blood circulation, doctors often use the drugs advertised in the ads I mentioned earlier. Angioplasty or surgery is also sometimes necessary. My approach takes a different tack. I focus on the muscle cells and how to get rid of their metabolic by-products, which become increasingly toxic because of the poor blood circulation.
As the muscles are used, they burn energy and release waste. This waste causes the cells in the muscles to swell and press against adjacent blood vessels. In a person whose arteries are already compromised by plaque buildup, the swelling causes further vasoconstriction, or narrowing of the vessels. Worse yet, the toxins themselves have a vasoconstricting effect of their own—so you’re hit with a triple whammy of sorts. And as you would imagine, the more toxins that accumulate, the worse the condition gets and the more difficult it becomes to walk.
The solution is to help remove the toxins. To do this, I suggest taking 1 gram daily of glycine propionyl-L-carnitine (GPLC), a form of L-carnitine that’s proven to help improve blood circulation and blood pressure levels, as well as offsetting the destructive nature of inflammatory compounds, cellular waste products, and toxins.
For more information on natural ways to avoid circulatory problems or other cardiovascular problems, visit www.drsinatra.com.
There are four key heart risk factors that affect women more than men. They include: 
Diabetes. Diabetic women have a higher risk for heart disease than diabetic men. This is because the incidence of diabetes and its complications (including heart disease) is much higher in women. If you are a diabetic woman, your risk for heart disease is five to seven times normal, compared with a risk of only two to three times normal for a diabetic man. For you, proper heart sense means you should increase your physical activity and adhere to good cardiovascular nutrition to maintain a healthy body weight.
Overweight. Women have a higher heart disease risk from being overweight than men do. Studies indicate that being only 20 pounds overweight doubles a woman’s risk of heart disease. If you are overweight, I don’t want you to go on a diet. Instead, get physically active—it’s your most powerful weapon against fat—and eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, and lean poultry. That’s the “Dr. Sinatra” way to safe weight loss.
Cholesterol. Women have a higher risk for heart disease than men if they have low levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol. For men, high levels of LDL present a greater risk, but for women, research indicates that a low HDL, not a high LDL, is the more significant risk factor for developing heart disease. The good news is that HDL is sensitive to factors such as smoking, obesity, and lack of exercise. So you can easily increase your HDL cholesterol by quitting smoking and dropping excess weight through a combination of healthy heart nutrition and physical activity.
High Triglycerides. When you get your cholesterol checked, also have your doctor check your level of triglycerides, which are another type of blood fat. A high triglyceride level (above 200 mg/dL) is more dangerous for women than for men, especially if you are a diabetic. Diabetic women with high triglycerides are up to 200 times more liekly to develop heart disease. A healthy triglycerides level can be obtained through exercise and weight control.
Though you should take the above risk factors very seriously, I want you to keep in mind that you can substantially reduce all of them. There are no secrets to doing this. Healthy eating, weight control, and regular physical activity are your weapons for keeping heart disease at bay.
For more information on heart risk factors or other cardiovascular problems for women, visit www.drsinatra.com.
Diabetes. Diabetic women have a higher risk for heart disease than diabetic men. This is because the incidence of diabetes and its complications (including heart disease) is much higher in women. If you are a diabetic woman, your risk for heart disease is five to seven times normal, compared with a risk of only two to three times normal for a diabetic man. For you, proper heart sense means you should increase your physical activity and adhere to good cardiovascular nutrition to maintain a healthy body weight.
Overweight. Women have a higher heart disease risk from being overweight than men do. Studies indicate that being only 20 pounds overweight doubles a woman’s risk of heart disease. If you are overweight, I don’t want you to go on a diet. Instead, get physically active—it’s your most powerful weapon against fat—and eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, and lean poultry. That’s the “Dr. Sinatra” way to safe weight loss.
Cholesterol. Women have a higher risk for heart disease than men if they have low levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol. For men, high levels of LDL present a greater risk, but for women, research indicates that a low HDL, not a high LDL, is the more significant risk factor for developing heart disease. The good news is that HDL is sensitive to factors such as smoking, obesity, and lack of exercise. So you can easily increase your HDL cholesterol by quitting smoking and dropping excess weight through a combination of healthy heart nutrition and physical activity.
High Triglycerides. When you get your cholesterol checked, also have your doctor check your level of triglycerides, which are another type of blood fat. A high triglyceride level (above 200 mg/dL) is more dangerous for women than for men, especially if you are a diabetic. Diabetic women with high triglycerides are up to 200 times more liekly to develop heart disease. A healthy triglycerides level can be obtained through exercise and weight control.
Though you should take the above risk factors very seriously, I want you to keep in mind that you can substantially reduce all of them. There are no secrets to doing this. Healthy eating, weight control, and regular physical activity are your weapons for keeping heart disease at bay.
For more information on heart risk factors or other cardiovascular problems for women, visit www.drsinatra.com.
Contrary to popular belief, cholesterol is not a villain. Your body needs cholesterol to synthesize certain nutrients and hormones, construct the semi-permeable membranes around each of the 100 trillion cells that make up your body, and facilitate cell communication and memory in the brain.
Cholesterol moves through the body with the help of two proteins: LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, and HDL, or high-density lipoprotein. LDL carries ready-to-use cholesterol molecules that can be absorbed by cells that need it, and HDL picks up excess cholesterol and carries it back to the liver for recycling and excretion.
LDL, often referred to as the “bad cholesterol” only becomes unsafe when it interacts with molecular fragments called free radicals. The effect of such interaction is that the LDL becomes oxidized. Unlike normal LDL, oxidized LDL has toxic effects on the cells it attaches to. This is especially troublesome when oxidized LDL penetrates the endothelial cells lining the arteries because it contributes to—and accelerates—the inflammatory process.
When you get down to it, though, the real problem is not cholesterol—it’s whether your body’s antioxidant system can effectively neutralize the free radicals that damage LDL molecules.
In order to enjoy healthy cholesterol, it’s important to adhere to a cholesterol lowering diet, like my PAMM diet. You’ll also want to exercise on a regular basis, which will also help to keep other cardiovascular problems away.
For more information on good cholesterol levels or reducing cholesterol, visit www.drsinatra.com.
of the 100 trillion cells that make up your body, and facilitate cell communication and memory in the brain.Cholesterol moves through the body with the help of two proteins: LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, and HDL, or high-density lipoprotein. LDL carries ready-to-use cholesterol molecules that can be absorbed by cells that need it, and HDL picks up excess cholesterol and carries it back to the liver for recycling and excretion.
LDL, often referred to as the “bad cholesterol” only becomes unsafe when it interacts with molecular fragments called free radicals. The effect of such interaction is that the LDL becomes oxidized. Unlike normal LDL, oxidized LDL has toxic effects on the cells it attaches to. This is especially troublesome when oxidized LDL penetrates the endothelial cells lining the arteries because it contributes to—and accelerates—the inflammatory process.
When you get down to it, though, the real problem is not cholesterol—it’s whether your body’s antioxidant system can effectively neutralize the free radicals that damage LDL molecules.
In order to enjoy healthy cholesterol, it’s important to adhere to a cholesterol lowering diet, like my PAMM diet. You’ll also want to exercise on a regular basis, which will also help to keep other cardiovascular problems away.
For more information on good cholesterol levels or reducing cholesterol, visit www.drsinatra.com.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is by far the most common cardiovascular problem. 
You may have heard of the term atherosclerosis, which refers to the buildup of plaque in the blood vessels. Essentially, coronary artery disease is a form of atherosclerosis that affects the arteries leading to the heart. As plaque in the coronary arteries builds up and blockages grow, the level of oxygen and nutrients provided to the heart decreases, limiting the heart’s effectiveness. Should an artery become blocked completely—due to plaque buildup or the inability of a clot to pass through the narrowed opening—a heart attack results.
Informing a patient that he or she has coronary artery disease is never pleasant for me. But what the patient says to me in the next few minutes can make all the difference in that individual’s course of recovery. In over 35 years of practice, I have found that the single most important question that can come from a patient is: “Dr. Sinatra, what can I do to help myself?”
I tell them that, in almost every case, coronary artery disease is a story about an unhealthy lifestyle. I probably don’t have to remind you traditional heart risk factors can predispose you to it, including:
I challenge my patients, as I’m challenging you now, to become proactive and do what it takes to reduce your heart risk factors and take control of your health. You must realize that all of the advice, medicine, and technology in the world won’t help you if you continue to abuse your body and live an unhealthy lifestyle.
For more information on coronary artery disease or other cardiovascular problems, visit www.drsinatra.com.
You may have heard of the term atherosclerosis, which refers to the buildup of plaque in the blood vessels. Essentially, coronary artery disease is a form of atherosclerosis that affects the arteries leading to the heart. As plaque in the coronary arteries builds up and blockages grow, the level of oxygen and nutrients provided to the heart decreases, limiting the heart’s effectiveness. Should an artery become blocked completely—due to plaque buildup or the inability of a clot to pass through the narrowed opening—a heart attack results.
Informing a patient that he or she has coronary artery disease is never pleasant for me. But what the patient says to me in the next few minutes can make all the difference in that individual’s course of recovery. In over 35 years of practice, I have found that the single most important question that can come from a patient is: “Dr. Sinatra, what can I do to help myself?”
I tell them that, in almost every case, coronary artery disease is a story about an unhealthy lifestyle. I probably don’t have to remind you traditional heart risk factors can predispose you to it, including:
- cigarette smoking,
- high blood pressure levels,
- diabetes,
- physical inactivity,
- obesity,
- unhealthy cholesterol levels, and
- emotional stress.
I challenge my patients, as I’m challenging you now, to become proactive and do what it takes to reduce your heart risk factors and take control of your health. You must realize that all of the advice, medicine, and technology in the world won’t help you if you continue to abuse your body and live an unhealthy lifestyle.
For more information on coronary artery disease or other cardiovascular problems, visit www.drsinatra.com.
As you may know, there’s an email that periodically floats around the Internet regarding what is supposedly an easy test for whether someone is having a stroke. And I often have concerned patients come into my office and ask, “Dr. Sinatra, is there any truth to it?”
Well, I checked it out, and I’m happy to report the information there is correct. Hopefully you never need to apply it, but in case you do, the simplicity of it can perhaps make a difference in saving someone’s life or minimizing their symptoms.
Note the key words in each of these first three steps. Smile. Talk. Raise. The words start with the first three letters of the word stroke: s, t, r.
If the person has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, then seek immediate medical attention.
Again, my hope is that you’ll never need to apply this. I hope you’re adhering to good cardiovascular nutrition, exercising daily, and trying to maintain healthy blood pressure levels. Doing this will go a long way toward helping you to avoid a stroke, as well as other cardiovascular problems.
For more information on strokes or other cardiovascular problems, visit www.drsinatra.com.
concerned patients come into my office and ask, “Dr. Sinatra, is there any truth to it?”Well, I checked it out, and I’m happy to report the information there is correct. Hopefully you never need to apply it, but in case you do, the simplicity of it can perhaps make a difference in saving someone’s life or minimizing their symptoms.
Note the key words in each of these first three steps. Smile. Talk. Raise. The words start with the first three letters of the word stroke: s, t, r.
- Step No. 1: Ask the individual to smile.
- Step No. 2: Ask the person to talk. Try a simple sentence, like “it’s rainy (or cloudy or sunny) outside.” Look for coherence in how the person speaks.
- Step No. 3: Ask the person to raise both arms.
- Step No. 4: Ask the person to stick out his or her tongue. A “crooked” tongue that curves outward to one side or the other is another easy-to-recognize indication of a stroke.
If the person has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, then seek immediate medical attention.
Again, my hope is that you’ll never need to apply this. I hope you’re adhering to good cardiovascular nutrition, exercising daily, and trying to maintain healthy blood pressure levels. Doing this will go a long way toward helping you to avoid a stroke, as well as other cardiovascular problems.
For more information on strokes or other cardiovascular problems, visit www.drsinatra.com.
The following eight tips can help you improve blood circulation and even reduce your risk of stroke:- Address any lifestyle-related or heart risk factors you have with your doctor.
- Follow a good cardiovascular nutrition eating program, such as the PAMM diet.
- Take 1–3 grams of fish oil daily.
- For women over 65, take 100 mg of aspirin (equivalent to 1.25 baby aspirin) a day. (Beware of stomach bleeding, though, which is always a possibility with long-term aspirin use.)
- Drink 1 to 3 cups of green tea and 2 ounces of pomegranate juice daily.
- Take a 500–1,000 mg garlic supplement or eat one crushed clove daily. (Avoid this tip if you’re taking Coumadin.)
- Be aware of your high inflammation marker scores: CRP, homocysteine, fibrinogen, and Lp(a).
- Maintain good cholesterol levels, including an HDL less than 40.
Following these tips will minimizes your chances of having a stroke and will also help to keep other cardiovascular problems at bay. For more information on stroke, heart risk factors, cardiovascular problems and overall heart health, visit www.drsinatra.com.
Often when patients come to my office, I will find their blood pressure levels to be high. However, when they go home and measure it themselves, their blood pressure levels are normal. Occasionally they’ll ask if the instruments in my office are off, or if my staff misread the result.
The actual problem, however, is a common condition called white coat hypertension. It’s used to describe people who become anxious over a visit to a physician, holistic health practitioner, dentist, or other medical facility. Such visits evoke a fight-or-flight response, and their blood pressure levels go up. But research has shown that abnormally high blood pressure readings in a medical setting could be more than just a benign byproduct of anxiety. Although the condition is poorly understood, WCH could be a precursor to high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems.
A Danish study published in the Journal of Human Hypertension found a heightened cardiovascular event risk for patients with WCH over a 10-year period. A Japanese study reported in the journal Hypertension Research suggests that white coat hypertension contributes to carotid arteriosclerosis. And in another Japanese medical report, based on eight years of observation, researchers suggest that white coat hypertension is a “transitional condition to hypertension” and may carry a “poor cardiovascular prognosis.”
If you experience white coat hypertension, I suggest you introduce a regular stress-reduction program into your life. That could include activities such as exercise, T'ai chi, meditation, or yoga.
You may also want to start taking blood pressure-friendly supplements on a daily basis—such as fish oil (2–3 grams), magnesium (400–800 mg), hydrosoluble CoQ10 (100–200 mg), and a garlic supplement high in allicin (500–1,000 mg).
Finally, consider my book, Lower Your Blood Pressure in Eight Weeks (Ballantine Books, 2003). It has lots of great, practical tips for lowering blood pressure levels.
For more information on natural ways to lower blood pressure, visit www.drsinatra.com. While there, sign up for FREE e-letters or subscribe to Dr. Sinatra’s monthly newsletter, Heart, Health & Nutrition.
Occasionally they’ll ask if the instruments in my office are off, or if my staff misread the result.The actual problem, however, is a common condition called white coat hypertension. It’s used to describe people who become anxious over a visit to a physician, holistic health practitioner, dentist, or other medical facility. Such visits evoke a fight-or-flight response, and their blood pressure levels go up. But research has shown that abnormally high blood pressure readings in a medical setting could be more than just a benign byproduct of anxiety. Although the condition is poorly understood, WCH could be a precursor to high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems.
A Danish study published in the Journal of Human Hypertension found a heightened cardiovascular event risk for patients with WCH over a 10-year period. A Japanese study reported in the journal Hypertension Research suggests that white coat hypertension contributes to carotid arteriosclerosis. And in another Japanese medical report, based on eight years of observation, researchers suggest that white coat hypertension is a “transitional condition to hypertension” and may carry a “poor cardiovascular prognosis.”
If you experience white coat hypertension, I suggest you introduce a regular stress-reduction program into your life. That could include activities such as exercise, T'ai chi, meditation, or yoga.
You may also want to start taking blood pressure-friendly supplements on a daily basis—such as fish oil (2–3 grams), magnesium (400–800 mg), hydrosoluble CoQ10 (100–200 mg), and a garlic supplement high in allicin (500–1,000 mg).
Finally, consider my book, Lower Your Blood Pressure in Eight Weeks (Ballantine Books, 2003). It has lots of great, practical tips for lowering blood pressure levels.
For more information on natural ways to lower blood pressure, visit www.drsinatra.com. While there, sign up for FREE e-letters or subscribe to Dr. Sinatra’s monthly newsletter, Heart, Health & Nutrition.
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