Heart Thoughts – How to Identify and Prevent Heart Disease

By Dr. Anna Walden, HealthWalk™ Vital Hematology Department

A shockingly large number of Americans succumb each and every day to cardiovascular disease. It tops the charts as the leading cause of death at an impressive 28% according to the Center for Disease Control, CDC. These deaths are largely from heart attacks (myocardial infarctions) but include other heart disease related conditions as well. Nearly half of the people who have had one heart attack suffer another within a year. Faced with these facts and statistics, it is no wonder that an entire month, February is designated as American Heart Month to promote education and awareness about heart health issues.

Modern society tends to gaze into the gene pool for explanations for the maladies of humankind but consider this: Paul Dudley White who was the cardiologist for President Dwight Eisenhower (who suffered several heart attacks), said that when he graduated from medical school in 1911, he had never even heard of a heart attack. The following year in 1912 the Journal of the American Medical Association published an article detailing four cases of an unusual event which they called “coronary thrombosis.” So in less than 100 years, heart disease has gone from an obscure occurrence to the leading cause of death. How did this happen?

Very simply, the 20th century happened. And by that I mean that the food supply became more processed (and increasingly more so), the environment became filled with more toxins and our means of transportation became more passive as riding in cars took the place of walking or riding horses. The consequence is that our bodies became more vulnerable to pathogens and our bodies’ natural abilities to fight those pathogens were compromised by the environment, diet and lifestyle. With the introduction and widespread use of antibiotics, strains of micro-organisms morphed into forms that we had less defense against.

Now in the 21st century, awareness and evidence is percolating that perhaps a return to more natural and holistic ways might give us possibilities for extended quality of health and life.

The first question we might ask ourselves is – “How can I tell if I am at risk for a cardiac event?” Many times, the first warning sign is a fatal heart attack- which won’t help much. There are some indicators of potential heart disease in traditional blood tests such as high Homocysteine levels and high LDL’s and as early warning signs of heart disease they are better than nothing. A better indicator is the presence of C-reactive Proteins in your system; ask to include it in the test in addition to your basic blood panel testing for heart disease. High blood pressure can also be an indicator of heart disease.

At HealthWalk we utilize other techniques and technologies which often can reveal an energetic weakness before it has a chance to develop fully as a “red flag” in the body. We offer Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging, DITI, which can reveal arterial blockages and the presence of C Reactive Protein without an invasive procedure. DITI is an effective and FDA approved service to help diagnose pathology in the vascular, muscular, neural and skeletal systems. DITI can provide early detection of heart health issues and we can also offer the solutions, supplements and lifestyle recommendations to support your path to a healthy heart.

Through Galvanic Skin Response biofeedback testing, we can detect the energetic state of the internal organs and find the source of stress in the body. G.S.R. measures through the conductivity of the skin, the autonomic nervous system responses to stress. A stress profile is determined by looking at responses of the meridians, vertebrae, teeth, and organs. G.S.R. can also look at food, environmental, chemical, viral, bacterial, and fungal stressors. With HealthWalk’s different modalities we can give you the information, suggested solutions and products to enhance your health.

“What is the number one cause for heart disease?” There is a mounting body of evidence that infection is the major reason for heart disease, with infection in the mouth leading the pack. Researchers have found that people with gum disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease. Under the microscope, gum tissue and heart tissue are virtually indistinguishable.

Another aspect of this point is the teeth; beyond the gums, an additional risk is when there is infection or abnormalities in the teeth. Minor infections in the teeth can go on for years without much awareness or any action being taken. This creates a chronic inflammatory process in the body which will ultimately take its toll on the heart. Although it may seem strange, one of the best things you can do for your heart is to take care of your teeth.

At HealthWalk we are dedicated to working with you to provide the most comprehensive picture of your health so that you are empowered with the knowledge and solutions to achieve and maintain vibrant health.