Re: New Predictor Of Heart Disease Risk Found: Damage Caused By Block Of Critical Protector Protein In Blood Cell Wall

[Guest guest]

Since I have rheumatoid arthritis, I have been concerned about all of this

inflammation in my body and what it's doing to my blood vessels. At

diagnosis, my C-reactive protein level was 12.2 (normal 0.0-1.0). As a

diabetic, I am also at increased risk for cardiovascular disease.

What can we do to try to minimize our risk of stroke or heart attack?

Sue in NC

on 8/28/02 9:46 PM, a at paula54@... wrote:

> New Predictor Of Heart Disease Risk Found: Damage Caused By Block Of

> Critical " Protector " Protein In Blood Cell Wall

>

> SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Cardiovascular research is increasingly showing that a

> new predictor of heart disease risk, c-reactive protein, is just as

> important as monitoring cholesterol levels to prevent and treat heart

> disease and other ills, including stroke, sudden death and peripheral

> vascular disease. Now, UC physicians have discovered that this protein

> is not just a marker for heart disease, but that it actually damages the

> blood vessel wall by blocking a critical " protector " protein and by

> promoting plaque formation.

[Guest guest]

Sue,

This really is worrisome since elevate CRP is so prevalent in rheumatic

diseases. The DMARD¹s we take are supposed to decrease our CRP. That is

why we need aggressive treatment.

Besides DMARD¹s, the next best thing I feel we can do is to eat a lot of

fruits and veggies. Decrease processed foods that contain refined white

flour and sugar, such as breads, cereals, pasta, bagels.

Decrease foods containing hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils (which

become trans fatty acids in the bloodstream), such as most crackers, chips,

cakes, candies, cookies, doughnuts, and processed cheese.

Decrease Processed fruit juices, which are often loaded with sugars. (Try

juicing your own carrots, celery and beets instead, or other fruit and

vegetable combinations). Decrease oils and dairy products.

INCREASE oatmeal and other whole grains, fresh veggies, fruits, cold water

fish, nuts and seeds - especially walnuts, almonds, brazil nuts and flax

seed. Use Extra-virgin olive oil and sesame oil on salads or for cooking

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is found in plants and vegetables (and

acts like an omega-3 fatty acid), appears to support healthy blood clotting.

ALA also is a precursor to omega-3 oils like DHA and EPA, which are found in

fish and shellfish. Both help to reduce inflammation and blood clotting‹ a

dual processes that may block coronary arteries and ultimately result in a

heart attack or sudden death.

Besides taking our meds and eating healthy, exercise is important. Exercise

can be challenging when you have arthritis. But there are ways to get

exercise without hurting yourself.

All we can do is the best we can do.

Hugs,

a

> Since I have rheumatoid arthritis, I have been concerned about all of this

> inflammation in my body and what it's doing to my blood vessels. At

> diagnosis, my C-reactive protein level was 12.2 (normal 0.0-1.0). As a

> diabetic, I am also at increased risk for cardiovascular disease.

>

> What can we do to try to minimize our risk of stroke or heart attack?

>

> Sue in NC

>

>

[Guest guest]

a,

Thank you so much for the advice. This is basically the way I have to eat in

order to control my diabetes, except I really don't eat many grains, either.

I have been trying to decrease my intake of Omega-6 fats and increase the

Omega-3 ones. I take fish oil and flaxseed tablets, as well as calcium, a

multi-vitamin, and extra A, B, C, D, and E.

I also exercise for 30 minutes most mornings on the exercise bike. That is

pretty easy on the knees, which is where my pain these days is concentrated.

Still, I can't help thinking that I'll die of a stroke, like my father, or a

heart attack, like my mother.

Maybe by eating right and exercising, I'll be able to postpone it a little.

Sue in NC

on 8/29/02 9:14 PM, a at paula54@... wrote:

> Sue,

> This really is worrisome since elevate CRP is so prevalent in rheumatic

> diseases. The DMARD¹s we take are supposed to decrease our CRP. That is

> why we need aggressive treatment.

> Besides DMARD¹s, the next best thing I feel we can do is to eat a lot of

> fruits and veggies. Decrease processed foods that contain refined white

> flour and sugar, such as breads, cereals, pasta, bagels.

> Decrease foods containing hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils (which

> become trans fatty acids in the bloodstream), such as most crackers, chips,

> cakes, candies, cookies, doughnuts, and processed cheese.

> Decrease Processed fruit juices, which are often loaded with sugars. (Try

> juicing your own carrots, celery and beets instead, or other fruit and

> vegetable combinations). Decrease oils and dairy products.

>

> INCREASE oatmeal and other whole grains, fresh veggies, fruits, cold water

> fish, nuts and seeds - especially walnuts, almonds, brazil nuts and flax

> seed. Use Extra-virgin olive oil and sesame oil on salads or for cooking

>

> Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is found in plants and vegetables (and

> acts like an omega-3 fatty acid), appears to support healthy blood clotting.

> ALA also is a precursor to omega-3 oils like DHA and EPA, which are found in

> fish and shellfish. Both help to reduce inflammation and blood clotting‹ a

> dual processes that may block coronary arteries and ultimately result in a

> heart attack or sudden death.

>

> Besides taking our meds and eating healthy, exercise is important. Exercise

> can be challenging when you have arthritis. But there are ways to get

> exercise without hurting yourself.

> All we can do is the best we can do.

> Hugs,

> a

[Guest guest]

Sue,

It sounds like you are doing a great job. I don¹t eat a lot of grains

either. Veggies, fish, nuts and fruit are the main part of my diet. This

is actually a high protein diet since veggies and nuts contain proteins.

I¹ll eat oatmeal and/or brown rice once or twice a week. I am really

surprised that even though people around me eat junk, I don¹t want it. A

new Dunkin Donuts opened yesterday, right around the corner. My husband got

a half dozen, and the sight of them was actually nauseating. All I could

see is fat and sugar, which means PAIN! He at the whole half dozen. The

only junk in my house is Club crackers, (if you consider that junk!) so I

didn¹t get on his case. I guess he needs his occasional pig out. He has

diabetes in his family and I severely limit his junk food. If he wants it,

he has to go buy it. On occasion I¹ll be sweet and make blueberry or banana

nut muffins. He actually doesn¹t complain about the lack of junk. I think

having so much fruit around has helped. Being diabetic, I guess you know

that eating a protein with fruit will help avoid the blood sugar fluxuations

from eating fruit. Many diabetics think they cannot eat fruit, but eaten

within an hour of a meal and with protein makes it possible.

a

> a,

>

> Thank you so much for the advice. This is basically the way I have to eat in

> order to control my diabetes, except I really don't eat many grains, either.

> I have been trying to decrease my intake of Omega-6 fats and increase the

> Omega-3 ones. I take fish oil and flaxseed tablets, as well as calcium, a

> multi-vitamin, and extra A, B, C, D, and E.

>

> I also exercise for 30 minutes most mornings on the exercise bike. That is

> pretty easy on the knees, which is where my pain these days is concentrated.

>

> Still, I can't help thinking that I'll die of a stroke, like my father, or a

> heart attack, like my mother.

>

> Maybe by eating right and exercising, I'll be able to postpone it a little.

>

> Sue in NC

>

> on 8/29/02 9:14 PM, a at paula54@... wrote:

>

>> > Sue,

>> > This really is worrisome since elevate CRP is so prevalent in rheumatic

>> > diseases. The DMARD¹s we take are supposed to decrease our CRP. That is

>> > why we need aggressive treatment.

>> > Besides DMARD¹s, the next best thing I feel we can do is to eat a lot of

>> > fruits and veggies. Decrease processed foods that contain refined white

>> > flour and sugar, such as breads, cereals, pasta, bagels.

>> > Decrease foods containing hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils

>> (which

>> > become trans fatty acids in the bloodstream), such as most crackers, chips,

>> > cakes, candies, cookies, doughnuts, and processed cheese.

>> > Decrease Processed fruit juices, which are often loaded with sugars. (Try

>> > juicing your own carrots, celery and beets instead, or other fruit and

>> > vegetable combinations). Decrease oils and dairy products.

>> >

>> > INCREASE oatmeal and other whole grains, fresh veggies, fruits, cold water

>> > fish, nuts and seeds - especially walnuts, almonds, brazil nuts and flax

>> > seed. Use Extra-virgin olive oil and sesame oil on salads or for cooking

>> >

>> > Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is found in plants and vegetables (and

>> > acts like an omega-3 fatty acid), appears to support healthy blood

>> clotting.

>> > ALA also is a precursor to omega-3 oils like DHA and EPA, which are found

>> in

>> > fish and shellfish. Both help to reduce inflammation and blood clotting‹ a

>> > dual processes that may block coronary arteries and ultimately result in a

>> > heart attack or sudden death.

>> >

>> > Besides taking our meds and eating healthy, exercise is important.

>> Exercise

>> > can be challenging when you have arthritis. But there are ways to get

>> > exercise without hurting yourself.

>> > All we can do is the best we can do.

>> > Hugs,

>> > a

>

>

>