Heart to heart, Part 3

Your health, naturally

By Len Rossi, ND, LMT

Plaque growing layer by layer creates two more problems. If the artery is half way blocked, the amount of blood that can flow through it is reduced to 1/16 of its capacity. Visualize two garden hoses - one has a diameter of 1 inch, the other 1/2 inch. Compare the amount of water flowing from each. Clearly there is more flowing from the 1-inch hose! The second problem is the increasing size of the blockage creates a "dam" that catches cellular components of the blood, particularly platelets. Platelets are the first responders when an injury occurs and initiate clot formation. They are designed to be sticky - they stick to one another and to rough, injured arterial walls. As they stick to the injury, the mechanism that stimulates clot formation is initiated and a clot forms, further blocking the artery. Should this clot (now called a thrombus) dislodge and travel through the bloodstream, a heart attack or stroke could occur.

There are several known causes of CAD:

• 1. High blood pressure
• 2. Obesity
• 3. Smoking
• 4. Poor nutrition
• 5. High total cholesterol and LDL (the bad guy) with low HDL (the good guy) levels.
• 6. High levels of the amino acid homocysteine.
• 7. High levels of C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
• 8. Lack of exercise

It is very important to keep the arteries clear and the blood "slippery." It can be done through proper diet and exercise.

Dr. Len Rossi, ND has been a proponent of Natural Healing for over 30 years. After a 25-year career as a pro wrestler, Len earned his Doctor of Naturopathy degree in 1982 and is a Licensed Massage Therapist. Email lenrossi@comcast.net.