Heart health: The price we pay

Of the top causes of death, cardiovascular disease is one of the most expensive.

By contrast, cardiovascular health is one of the cheapest to achieve or maintain.

When assessing costs, we look at medications, hospitalizations, diagnostic tests, surgeries, emergency care, drugs, doctor’s visits, etc.

But what about the price tag the treatments themselves set you back, physically?

Beyond just the wallet, there is an inherent cost to the body, even with so-called “preventive” measures. Starting with drugs, we assume there is no risk to take them, but plenty of risks not to. That of course, is because that is what we are taught. But there can certainly be risks.

Take aspirin for instance.

Aspirin therapy is recommended to thin the blood. According to Mayo Clinic documentation, only people aged 50-70 qualify, and only under certain circumstances (basically if you’ve already had a stroke or heart attack). The risks to ages less than 50 may not be worth the gamble. Aspirin prevents the blood from clotting properly.

If you have an injury, you could suffer extensive loss of blood.

Also, if your blood vessels are already too narrow from plaque, a fatty deposit in the arterial lining could burst, resulting in a heart attack. There is also greater risk of having an aneurysm.

You can also have stomach erosion/bleeding ulcers. Aspirin can deplete your body of vitamins and minerals - potassium, iron, zinc, sodium, folic acid and vitamins E and C.

It has also been linked with kidney failure, certain breast cancers, macular degeneration, cataracts, tinnitus, hearing loss, and erectile dysfunction.

Even the FDA has reversed its position on taking aspirin therapy saying that using aspirin as a “primary prevention” therapy has not been established as beneficial, but the risks are.

The general consensus is, unless you’ve already had a heart attack or stroke, it is not advised.

Still worried about it? Not in this risk category? There are several natural remedies that may be of greater benefit to you. However, it is not recommended to abruptly stop aspirin therapy as it is possible to have a rebound effect, increasing your risk of having a heart attack. Seek proper professional guidance.

Statins are given for “high” cholesterol.

In the wake of the storm which changed the cholesterol “safe” numbers, making more people “qualify” for statins, another storm is brewing about the dangers of statins. We need cholesterol for an estimated 200 functions in the body - such as making sex hormones, anti-inflammatory hormones, brain hormones, brain cells, tissue integrity, and more. These are dependent on a continual supply of cholesterol – you NEED cholesterol! It is more a friend than foe! If your cholesterol is high, you need to figure out why, and not just inhibit it.

Low cholesterol levels have been connected with violent or aggressive behavior, lowered serotonin levels, depression and reduced cognitive functioning.

Risks of statin use include nerve damage, liver problems, decreased immune function, memory loss, increased inflammation and more.

Learn more in tonight’s health class, “High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol and Cardiovascular Health,” Wednesday, February 24th 7 p.m. at Vital Health in Coeur d’Alene. Fee: $10. RSVP: (208) 765-1994.

Holly Carling is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Naturopathy, Clinical Nutritionist and Master Herbologist with over three decades of experience. Carling is currently accepting new patients and offers natural health care services and whole food nutritional supplements in her Coeur d’Alene clinic.

Visit www.vitalhealthcda.com to learn more about her, view a list of upcoming health classes and read other informative articles.

Carling can be reached at (208) 765-1994 and would be happy to answer any questions regarding this topic.