Monthly Archives: February 2011

Congestive heart failure occurs when the muscle fibers of the heart become damaged from arteriosclerosis (and blockage), coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, inflammation, faulty vales (regurgitation), or heart infections. The ventricles of the heart become bloated with blood that can’t be properly expelled. The heart fails to pump blood through the 60,000 miles of…

Statin Medications No doubt, the statins lower cholesterol levels and perhaps do lower the risk of dying from a heart attack, at least in patients who already have had one, but the size of the effect is unimpressive. In one of the experiments for instance, the CARE trial, the odds of escaping death from a…

Hypertension or high blood pressure is a major cause of coronary heart disease. Over 50 million Americans suffer from hypertension. Almost 43,000 Americans died from hypertension in 2002. To much pressure exerted on the arterial walls can cause a host of unwanted cardiovascular problems including: Enlarged heart and possible congestive heart failure (CHF). Formation of…

Mood Disorders and Orthomolecular Medicine Most individuals who consult their medical doctor for mood disorders are placed on prescription medications. Many of these antidepressants are in the form of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI). These drugs (Lexapro, Prozac, Paxil, Effexor, Celexa, and Zoloft) are supposed to help the brain be more efficient at using the…

Mitral Valve Prolapse The heart is comprised of four chambers. Each chamber has a one-way valve at its exit that prevents blood from flowing backwards. The mitral valve connects the left atrium (top chamber) to the left ventricle (bottom chamber). It’s made up of two triangular-shaped fibrous membranes, thin but tough, which are attached to…