Could it be that heart disease is infectious?

[Guest guest]

Infection indicated by White Blood Count Hint at Heart Disease Risk.

Could it be that heart disease is infectious?

June 06 , 2005 by Doctor Fitness

http://www.evliving.com/drfittalks.php?

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By Ed Edelson

HealthDay Reporter

As reported MONDAY, March 14 (HealthDay News) -- A high level of

white blood cells indicates an increased risk of heart attack,

stroke and other cardiovascular problems in women, a major study

finds.

The finding itself is not new, but its application to women is.

" There have been quite a lot of studies that looked at white blood

cell count as a predictor of cardiovascular disease, " said study

author Dr. L. Margolis, an associate professor of medicine at

the University of Minnesota. But the research has generally

concentrated on men, and " this one is definitely the largest for

women, " she added.

Her report appears in the March 14 issue of the Archives of Internal

Medicine.

The study is part of an increasing focus on cardiovascular disease

in women, for whom it is the leading cause of death in the United

States. Other studies have found a difference between the sexes --

most notably, one reported last week that showed low-dose aspirin

does not reduce the risk of heart attack in women, as it does in

men, but does lower the risk of stroke for women.

This latest research uses data from the Women's Health Initiative,

which followed more than 72,000 women, aged 50 to 79. Those with a

count of more than 6.7 billion white cells per liter of blood -- in

the high normal range -- had double the incidence of fatal heart

disease. They were also 40 percent more likely to have heart

attacks, 46 percent more likely to have strokes and 50 percent more

likely to die of all causes over the next six years, as compared to

those with a count of 4.7 billion cells per liter.

White blood cells are part of the body's immune defense system,

attacking invaders such as bacteria and viruses (and fungus-

emphasis added). White blood cell levels measure inflammation in the

body, so the report adds to the growing body of evidence that

inflammation play an important role in cardiovascular disease.

Inflammation studies have focused mostly on a molecule called C-

reactive protein (CRP) as a marker of inflammation. This study also

measured CRP levels and found that white blood cell readings were on

the same level as an indicator of risk (that's because elevated CRP

indicates infection and the endothelial cells produce their own CRP-

emphasis added).

Women with elevated levels of both white cells and CRP had a

markedly higher risk of cardiovascular -- sevenfold higher than

women with lower levels of both markers.

But routine screening of white blood cell levels is not yet in the

cards, said Dr. Cushman, an associate professor of medicine at

the University of Vermont, who wrote an accompanying editorial in

the journal.

" CRP testing now is a very controversial subject, " Cushman

said. " Adding another test on top of that would increase the

controversy. And we don't know what we could do for people with high

levels of white blood cells. A lot more work needs to be done. "

It's still best to stick to the well-established risk markers,

Margolis said. " As a physician, I would ask patients who come into

my office first about traditional markers such as age, blood

pressure, smoking, diabetes and obesity, " she said. " These factors

by themselves measure most of the risk. "

Cushman said the advice given to someone with elevated markers of

inflammation would be the same as for anyone who wants to reduce the

risk of cardiovascular disease -- " lose weight, take aspirin and so

on. " And she worries that a screening program for white blood cell

levels might subject people to too many tests.

That might not be so, Margolis said, because " white blood cell

counts might be sitting in the charts of a large number of people. "

The list of things covered by a routine blood test usually includes

white cells, so " if you flip through someone's chart, there's a

pretty good chance the white cell count is there. If it is high,

maybe the physician should pay attention, " she added.

SOURCES: L. Margolis, M.D., associate professor, medicine,

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Cushman, M.D., associate

professor, medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington; March 14,

2005, Archives of Internal Medicine

Doctor Fitness Talks:

There it was, more confirmation that artery disease is an infectious

disease and a more accurate way to check for it is through doing a

simple blood tests, a " CRP! " We already test for WBC on most

standard test. So combining the 2 can help determine if the disease

is active.

I am familiar with test to determine if a disease is active. I have

to have a cocci titer to check for active Valley Fever.

The cocci titer tells me if it is non-detectable or stable. It has

been for over 3 years, without drugs.

So what makes it so difficult to believe that heart disease could be

an active infection? The answer may be in the recommended treatment.

Instead of treating high cholesterol, the approach would be to get

rid of the infection and that would require a different approach.

Up next a new reason to take Cholesterol Drugs!

Ever wonder, why statin drugs decrease your risk of a heart attack?

Notice I did not say prevents or cures it? Because it doesn't!

Statin drugs were originally developed to treat fungal infections,

that's right fungal infections!

In fact they are made from a fungal metabolite, a mycotoxin. Fungal

poison, derived from Aspergillus Terrreus.

The next move by the drug companies is to site research supporting

more use of statin drugs not only because they lower cholesterol

they also lower CRP and finally (this one has not broke yet) they

decrease risk of infection.

In fact reference this article written in England where statin are

being touted to treat a number of diseases from osteoporosis to

infection.

http://nootropics.com/statins/

Just watch! Mark my words.

Link to Health Scout

In fact they had even saw improvement in MS patients what does that

say about that disease.

Link to ABC.Net.au

Now you are probably saying well maybe I should take this drug?

Guess again the side effects are worth the benefits, mostly when you

can get these benefits from diet and exercise. That is the right

diet.

Link to New Media Explorer

So instead of running to the statin dealer near you, up your pH and

consider this, " Long term acidity (low pH) is a critical step in the

chain of disease. Dr. Kern, the German heart specialist, was first

to discover that heart infarct is caused by over acidity when the pH

of the heart is at or below 6.4, the red blood cells become

inflexible and unable to deform sufficiently to pass through the

narrow capillaries, thus causing blockage. "

I bet you were never told that? Except from me.

Lance Dreher, Doctor Fitness charges $99 for an assessment. Make

your appointment today. Call 480-951-7177.