LATEST ARTICLES

Restoring hope is job one

Dr. W. Gifford-Jones
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Restoring hope is job one

It’s happened before, and it was only a matter of time until it happened again. A brutal act of violence against a candidate for political office shatters the hope that reasonable people can exercise the democratic process. As has also happened before, these events cause a surge of short and long-term impacts on the health of society – especially children, teens, and young adults.

There’s no escaping the economic cost of violence. Gun violence is just one kind of trauma, costing the U.S. a staggering $557 billion annually according to the National Institute for Health Care Management. What’s behind that gargantuan number? Medical costs are less than $3B. Policing and criminal justice costs add $11B. Employer hits to revenue and productivity are half a billion dollars. These are small change in that $557B figure.

But there are two biggies. Income lost due to death and disability, work loss of caregivers, and incarceration costs $53.8 billion on average each year. Quality-of-life costs and the pain and wellbeing lost by those injured or killed and their families amount to a walloping $489 billion annually.

These numbers are calculated based on an annual average in the U.S. since 2020 of about 45,000 people dying from gun-related incidents.

Now consider the impact of gun violence as witnessed by the world with the assassination attempt on a presidential candidate. Like him or not, Donald Trump is a figure well known to all of us. Every shooting is horrible. But as the statistics above confirm, when it is someone we know, the effects are catastrophic, and it’s the innocent and vulnerable who pay the most. 

Maybe young adults have the fortitude to avoid negative impacts on their psyche, motivation, confidence, and general outlook. But we can’t find the studies to show it, and there’s not a lot of overt evidence for that.

For millions of teens and younger children, one wonders how they internalize these events, the societal shock, then weeks of questioning, and the inevitable barrage of media, much of it depressing. What do these costs amount to for them?

Times like this call for bold leadership at the highest levels. But who wants to take up the opportunity in politics? The ideal of shaping a better future through the debate of policies in a democratic system is all but lost. Now, the “wellbeing” calculus is deterring would-be aspirants. The number of young people turning away from the preparation for holding public office is bad enough. What’s alarming is the easy alternative of reckless abandon of the principles that uphold a decent society. Apathy is another sad and likely outcome.

Montesquieu was the French judge and political philosopher who took up the leadership challenge. In 1748 with the publication of his book, The Spirit of Law, he upended old political ways with his theory of the separation of powers into executive, legislative, and judicial branches of administration. And he warned, “The tyranny of a prince in an oligarchy is not so dangerous to the public welfare as the apathy of a citizen in a democracy.”

We’ve seen the cost of this in terms of war and peace. We need also to see it also in terms of general health. Can we measure the social, economic and health costs of loss of hope in the political process?

With half of the world’s population living in the nearly 100 counties having elections this year, 2024 was bound to be tumultuous and costly. Is it time for healthcare leaders to take a bolder stand?

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The right medicine on hand could save a life

Dr. W. Gifford-Jones
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The right medicine on hand could save a life

Summer means different things to different people. But a glimpse into the Gifford-Jones archives suggests some things about summer never change. A vintage article from 1977 called on readers to pay heed to problems that can arise at the cottage. And it remains true, summertime is a dangerous season – especially for those escaping into the great outdoors.

People get into all sorts of trouble during vacations. Some become critically ill and should be rushed to hospital as soon as possible. But there are other occasions when having the right medicine nearby is lifesaving.

It has been said that he who treats himself has a fool for a patient. But if you’re on a canoe trip or at a cottage far away from civilization, medical improvisation may be the game you find yourself playing.

Every summer, the absence of easily acquired provisions costs the lives of some vacationers. So take the time to prepare a kit outfitted with common medications and supplies.

Encounters with animals are one concern. Run-ins with big ones, like moose or bears, are rare but dangerous. A simple noise maker might be all you need to avoid surprising mama bear and her cubs. But for most vacationers, it’s smaller creatures that cause big trouble, like the stings of wasps, bees, yellow jackets and hornets.

Chances are very slim that a death will occur. But this is the fate of about 100 North Americans each year. If a child or a friend were to be stung and have an anaphylactic reaction, you would want an emergency bee sting kit within quick access. A loaded syringe containing epinephrine needs to be injected under the skin. At the same time the victim should swallow a couple of antihistamine tablets.

You don’t require a medical degree to diagnose a bee sting or give an injection. The important thing is to have this kit available, and for everyone to know where it is located. Even the world’s most brilliant doctor would have to stand helplessly by and watch the patient die if without this medication.

Before you leave, ask your doctor to provide you with some broad spectrum antibiotic capsules. These are not to be used for the common cold. But if someone suddenly develops a boil or a raging fever, chest pain, and begins to cough up copious amounts of sputum, there is a 99 per cent chance that these capsules are what the doctor would order.

Holiday time is notoriously hard on the stomach. Many people eat and drink too much causing a transient gastritis. At other times it results from an infection. Putting the stomach at rest for a few days is the first step towards a resolution. But you can also help nature by swallowing a few antacid tablets for a day or two. If the upset is accompanied by vomiting, checking with a doctor on treatment options is the best move.

Summer is also a time for injuries, and a support bandage in the medical supply bag will come in handy when someone sprains an ankle. A few tablets of codeine will aid in relieving the pain.

Infection often plagues those who take to the woods in summer. Children, in particular, are prone to ear and eye infections from swimming. Most of these common ailments quickly respond to antibiotic drops or ointment. If they appear to be getting worse, head for the nearest clinic.

Remember to throw in some sunscreen, band aids, antiseptic, aspirins, and calamine lotion for poison ivy, bug bites, and rashes. And always, always, check for ticks when coming in from the outdoors.

Then relax and enjoy your holidays!

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A call to care for parents

Dr. W. Gifford-Jones
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A call to care for parents

On the growing list of health pandemics – COVID-19, obesity, diabetes, liver disease, dementia, heart disease, and stroke – there is another one. It’s called benign neglect, and it is a product of our times. It happens when children don’t make sufficient effort to help aging parents understand and manage their medications.

There’s a lot of guilt to go around. But that’s not to say this is easy work.

Ask your parents what medications they are taking and why.  Better yet, have a close look at the medications in their possession and assess how well they are adhering to prescribed treatments.

Congratulations to those who find all is well. For others, it may be a wake-up call.

Over the past several decades, detrimental trends have punished an aging society. Number one, the pharmaceutical industry has ballooned into a juggernaut of profiteering dealmakers with other powerful industries, not least of which are media platforms that depend on advertising dollars. Unsuspecting consumers are too willing to absorb everything they hear about pills to address problems that are often caused by lifestyle, not bad luck. Easier to pop a pill and enjoy life, like on the commercials, than work on the root issues.

Number two, we are living longer – and not always in the best of health. Furthermore, there is a large cohort of the population in North America, the baby boomers, now moving into their senior years. Just watch the costs escalate!

Number three, we have a shortage of healthcare workers. Number four, we take pride in being able to age, independently, without a lot of oversight.

These and other factors mean that a huge number of older people are growing old, living alone, dealing with multiple health problems, and taking all sorts of pills. The great shame is this last point, that many people are making their lives worse, or at risk of doing so, because they are taking too much medication, or the wrong medication, or not adhering to drug protocols.

Take statins as an example. These are complex medications designed to treat high cholesterol. As one website simplifies the explanation, “they work by reducing the amount of cholesterol made by the liver and helping the liver remove cholesterol that is already in the blood.” But statins have potentially serious side and long-term effects that researchers are starting to expose.

Studies show statins increase the risk of developing diabetes. This risk differs between commonly prescribed drugs. Cognitive problems, muscle cramps, and other negative effects result from long-term use.

Even if the medical establishment were to do a better job of weighing the pros and cons of statins versus natural approaches such as high-dose vitamin C, a great many elderly citizens would not benefit. The pandemic of benign neglect is getting in the way.

The so-called silent generation, born between 1928 and 1945, now mostly in their 80s and 90s, need our care. It’s upon younger people to ensure that the quality of the remainder of their lives is not being jeopardized by chronic misuse of powerful drugs.

The boomers are moving into their senior years. Their large numbers can be a force for change in the way we care for the elderly.

What can we do here and now? One of the best things would be to ensure elderly parents are not falling victim to “pillitis”. Find out what they are taking and do your research. Just as there is a lot of misinformation online, there are also trusted sources. If you have questions, take those questions, and your parents, to a doctor’s appointment for a fully informed discussion.

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How you breathe affects your health

Dr. W. Gifford-Jones
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How you breathe affects your health

An old Chinese adage goes, “If you know the art of deep breathing, you have the strength, wisdom, and courage of ten tigers.” When a kung fu master takes a meditative moment before delivering the kiss of the dragon, these powers are summoned, and woe be the opponent! But is this practice of deep breathing also responsible for the seemingly long lives of these great masters?

Breathing is something we do naturally and without thought. But ask people with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or lung cancer. There’s no taking the lungs for granted, and a great deal of thought goes into the process.

Does it matter, how you breathe? Breathe in, breathe out, isn’t that enough? It turns out, you may want to make some adjustments in how you do it, and you can have a little fun at the same time.

Researchers conducted an interesting study. Over the course of one month, they compared the practice of mindful meditation with three different types of daily, 5-minute breathwork exercises. One group of study participants were instructed to breath using longer inhalations and shorter exhalations. Another group performed box breathing or tactical breathing, which is equal duration of inhalations, breath retentions, and exhalations. A third group probably had a laugh or two as they undertook something called cyclic sighing, which emphasizes prolonged exhalations.

One can’t be sure, from reading the study, if indeed any of the study participants in the third group had a chuckle or two while doing their 5-minutes of sighing. Since it was conducted remotely during the pandemic, researchers wouldn’t know either. But imagining the potential humour only accentuates the study’s results.

Maybe 5 minutes of breathing with prolonged exhalations can be done in relative silence. But after all, it’s called cyclic sighing. So add the vocalization, and especially when two or more people do it together, the humour becomes more palpable.

All three groups achieved greater benefit from daily 5-minutes of breathwork than from the practice of mindful meditation. These benefits were measured in terms of rate of respiration, resting heart rate, and heart rate variability. But the cyclic sighing group had the highest benefit.

Here’s another fun fact about the study. Researchers found that study participants doing cycle sighing benefited more from the exercise the more days they did it compared with mindfulness meditation, an effect not observed in the other groups.

When might you want to try cyclic sighing? The study suggests everyday. But here’s another consideration. In moments of stress and anger, taking time out to breathe deeply has been shown to have positive benefits.

The physiological effect of deeper, slower breathing is a calming of the nervous system. In turn, calmer nerves mean lower blood pressure and heart rate, reduced production of stress hormones, and less build up of lactic acid in muscles.

Add in a bit of laughter and what happens? It may, initially, speed up your heart rate. But the relaxation that follows brings that rate right down. It increases endorphins in the brain that improve mood. It stimulates circulation and aids muscle relaxation. Laughter can ease pain both by distraction and by stimulating the body to fight pain with its own natural painkillers.

Why not try it now, as you finish reading this article? Set a timer for 5 minutes and commence taking deep breaths in, followed by longer sighs of exhale. Anyone around will ask what on Earth you are doing. You can have a good laugh in explaining and inviting them to join in.

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Why C is the forever vitamin

Dr. W. Gifford-Jones
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Why C is the forever vitamin

There’s an irony about the advertising woman who, in 1948, penned “A Diamond is Forever” to signify the enduring love of two people. Her name was Frances Gerety and she spent the bulk of her life alone. Diamonds do sparkle, but there’s a better “forever” companion.

Longtime readers will know I’ll choose vitamin C over diamonds or any other glitzy trend, and definitely over cholesterol lowering drugs. Vitamin C doesn’t have the high cost or glamourous glitter of diamonds, and it makes no one rich. But making high doses of vitamin C a part of my daily routine has allowed me to spend another quarter century with my wife and family after a heart attack that nearly ended things for me at age 74.

For me, vitamin C is the forever vitamin.

In understanding its true value, first get rid of a common misconception. Vitamin C is not just a nutrient! It’s also an antibiotic, and an antifungal, and a component of the immune system that attacks many different infections. And another trap is in thinking a small dose should be enough. For cardiovascular results, the dose must be high. Linus Pauling, a two-time Nobel prize winner, told me he gets tired of repeating, “It’s the dosage.” With vitamin C, you cannot cause harm by increasing the dose.

Humans, unlike animals, don’t produce vitamin C. We lost this ability eons ago due to an unfortunate degenerative mishap in nature. Nearly all animals, with the exception of humans and the guineapig, day after day produce large amounts their own vitamin C. The key thing to realize about Dr. Pauling’s work is that he was not studying optimal amounts of C for healthy people. He was trying to figure out how much was needed to fight disease in unhealthy people, particularly those with heart disease. And this is where more research is still needed.

Here’s what we know. C decreases the risk of atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries), which is associated with Type 2 diabetes, a problem of pandemic proportions worldwide. Hard arteries decrease the flow of blood to all organs of the body. This causes heart attack, kidney failure, blindness, and amputation of legs. Atherosclerosis is bankrupting our healthcare system. It’s a terrible personal tragedy, ruining quality of life. And it’s a societal nightmare we too readily ignore, costing us billions!

Constipation is easily cured by 2000 milligrams of vitamin C at bedtime. If this amount fails to do the job, take 4,000 mg the following night or two. This invariable works. In elderly people constipation may become so severe that fecal impaction results. This means an emergency visit to hospital for enemas along with removal of feces. You’ll wish you had taken vitamin C.

Painful swollen joints are sometimes due to weakened blood vessels lacking vitamin C. Weakened arteries rupture releasing small amounts of blood into the joint causing inflammation and pain.

Are you getting more colds than formerly or ones that hang on forever? This may be due to a chronic lack of vitamin C and a stressful event. For instance, an emotional event or upcoming surgery can reduce the level of vitamin C in the blood, sometimes by as much as 90 percent. If your tank is low, ask your doctor to give you time to build it up before surgery.

Add up all these benefits and many others associated with C, and you can understand why it’s my forever vitamin. It’s inexpensive, natural, and without the complications of prescription drugs. I’m convinced it has got me to my 101st year. What simpler therapy with better return could I ask for?

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Are Non-Alcoholic Beverages the Better Choice?

Dr. W. Gifford-Jones
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Are Non-Alcoholic Beverages the Better Choice?

Common Sense Health – W. Gifford-Jones MD and Diana Gifford-Jones

Do we enjoy alcoholic drinks? We do! A relaxing drink before dinner with our loved ones is standard practice. We are supported by a landmark study involving 490,000 people involving the American Cancer Society, World Health Organization, and Oxford University that found one alcoholic drink daily decreased the risk of death by 20 percent. Moreover, moderate drinkers have increased levels of the good cholesterol. Platelets, part of the blood clotting process, are more slippery making them less likely to form a fatal blood clot. Medically, for moderate drinkers, it’s a win-win.

But irresponsible and heavy drinkers cause too many road deaths year after year. Excessive alcohol can also lead to family violence and many other societal ills. This is why non-alcoholic beverages need more promotion.

But instead of providing the alternative of a stylish, healthy non-alcoholic product, the problem remains. Whether it’s quitting smoking, going on a diet, or vowing, “I’ll stop drinking while driving in the New Year,” it rarely happens. Failing to make the change can be a deadly error. Why? 

Because driving while drunk can kill an innocent child or an entire family – unthinkable consequences for such carelessness. Even without such catastrophes, drinking and driving rightly amounts to criminal charges and jail time. So why not embrace the alternative? No one gets hurt from drinking a non-alcoholic beverage (NAB).

What are the advantages of NABs and why should we promote a new trend in drinking them? First, all the dangers of drinking are eliminated, including drunk driving. It’s estimated that the harmful use of alcohol causes 3 million deaths every year. Next, say good-bye to hangovers that cause three to eight times more absenteeism from work among heavy alcohol users. Hungover drinkers who make it to work are more likely to cause accidents leading to injuries. Heavy drinking also increases the risk of liver disease, brain damage, cancer, and immune system disfunction.

Swapping the empty calories of booze for a low-calorie NAB will help with weight loss. But people neglect to watch out for calories in alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks alike, and sugary drinks, including many wines, are no good in the fight against obesity and type 2 diabetes. NABs can be loaded with sugar too, so to get the benefit, do your research before making your selection.

Ask anyone who has decreased alcohol consumption and they will tell you they sleep better. If there’s been strife in the family from alcohol, adherence to NABs can restore happiness. And it will be big news if the trend away from alcohol to NABs results in a decrease in cancer rates.

Switching to NABs can be a financial gain too. Even just a few alcoholic drinks a week can add up to over a thousand dollars per year for the consumer.

But all this said, keep your mind open about the positive effects of alcohol. Alcohol in moderation has a relaxing effect that dilates arteries. This translates to a lower risk of heart attack and strokes caused by blood clots. As the saying goes, “Alcohol is for the elderly what milk is for the young.” For the depressed or anxious, alcohol isn’t the wise choice as a tool for coping, but a social drink with family and friends can be soothing at the end of a stressful day.

Taking the personal decision to drink NABs can be frustrated by friends that insist on pressing alcoholic drinks. Social settings that traditionally involve alcohol, like bars and restaurants can also be a problem. Everyone will need to adjust if the NAB trend is to grow. Let’s hear what readers think.

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Get fit in virtual reality

Dr. W. Gifford-Jones
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Get fit in virtual reality

Lao Tsu, the ancient Chinese philosopher, said, “If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.” Unfortunately, a lot of people are speeding to the wrong destination, each year putting on extra pounds and becoming more sedentary. But people do have choices. Make a change now to be more active, one way or another, or anticipate the inevitable earlier than necessary.

What’s a new way to get active that may seem unappealing to those who haven’t tried it yet? New research suggests that virtual reality (VR) might be the ticket, including for older adults. Strapping on a bulky headset and learning to use the technology are the first obstacles, but the benefits for those who get into the game are impressive.

VR can take many different forms, but here we are talking about computer-based equipment that enables users to interact with a simulated environment while getting feedback on performance.

In one study, a group of older citizens was supervised using VR equipment to engage in stretching, aerobic, and coordination exercises. In comparison with another group not exercising, the study participants improved their fitness, flexibility, strength, cardiorespiratory performance, balance and agility.

The technology can be fun. Admittedly, a pleasant walk around the block with the family dog is a wholesome tradition. But don’t preclude the idea of descending into the basement to where the kids have hooked up the VR equipment. It remains to be seen if older citizens will take up VR games for fitness, but science suggests we should promote it.

VR is emerging as a promising tool in the treatment of more than just general fitness. For Parkinson’s disease, innovative use of virtual reality games is proving more effective than traditional approaches to improve gait and balance and to reduce the risk of falls.

Researchers are now exploring the potential for VR exercises to produce better results in reducing pain, improving disability, enhancing range of motion, and increasing treatment satisfaction in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain.

VR is being used in the treatment of mental health problems too, with promising results in treating anxiety, schizophrenia, and substance-related and eating disorders. Among older adults, the technology is helping make more accurate diagnosis of cognitive impairments.

Researchers are also finding that people with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia can benefit from VR experiences that evoke a sense of the familiar. At University College London, a VR game is being tested for effectiveness in identifying early signs of Alzheimer’s by assessing how well people navigate simulated surroundings.

A study conducted by Stanford University immersed seniors into virtual reality experiences such as parachuting, playing with puppies, or taking in panoramic views of remarkable places around the world. Researchers are measuring the extent to which participating in VR activities improve outlook and social connectivity.

Retirement communities and assisted living residences are taking note of the entertainment value, but also in the physical, mental and social elements of VR.

But it’s the effectiveness of VR in weight loss and general fitness that deserves more attention – for children, adults, and seniors alike. A study published in the Journal of Human Sport and Exercise involved two similar groups of people riding exercise bikes at the same level of resistance, with one group wearing VR headsets. “The data collected led to the conclusion that working out while wearing a virtual reality headset will lead to a higher heart rate, and in turn can lead to burning more calories during a workout.”

So treat VR as another option for exercising, and enjoy all the extra benefits.

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A too uncommon theory of medicine

Dr. W. Gifford-Jones
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A too uncommon theory of medicine

Are your health care providers trained in integrative medicine? It’s not an area of medical specialization, like gynaecology or gastroenterology. Think of it as a theory of medicine.

Doctors practicing integrative medicine respect the roles of prescription drugs and surgery when the situation calls for these treatments. But they also study and embrace the potential for natural remedies, lifestyle modifications, nutrition, and traditional practices in both health promotion and disease treatment.

Hippocrates, born in 460 BC, was the most influential philosopher of integrative medicine. He believed the human body should be treated as a whole, not as the sum of its parts.

Benedict Lust, born in 1872 in Baden, Germany, is regarded as the “Father of Naturopathy”, a form of alternative medicine whose legitimate members promote evidence-based natural remedies.

Then there is Linus Pauling. Through his research, he advanced the prevention and treatment of disease by studying how the body benefits from optimized amounts of substances which are natural to the body. Pauling was a molecular biologist.  His practice of orthomolecular medicine acknowledges the body’s biochemical pathways and genetic variabilities that interact with diseases such as atherosclerosis, cancer, and brain-related conditions.

Dr. Andrew Saul was the founder of the Orthomolecular Medical News Service, and with his death earlier this year, we lost one of the world’s foremost advocates for evidence-based natural therapies. He made it his life’s work to pass on a wealth of knowledge, including the message that natural remedies never killed anyone.

Prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs can’t make that claim.

Saul practiced what he preached. His home included a garden full of vegetables, and he stressed that for a few dollars it would produce thousands of dollars of fresh produce for his family.

Saul’s news service shares research papers from esteemed scientists from around the world. But it’s the simple messages that stick, and his reminders about the importance of vitamins are worthy of note.

Take the 80-year-old tennis player who had to stop playing his favourite game due to severe leg cramps. He wasn’t getting oxygenated blood to his leg muscles. After taking natural vitamin E, he was back on the court. Vitamin E increases the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. This is the other reason E can stop anginal heart pain.

Saul chastised dermatologists for telling patients to keep out of the sun and to use sun block. He championed the need for 3,000 to 5,000 units of vitamin D daily to decrease the risk of multiple sclerosis and maintain our sense of balance as we age.

What irritated Saul the most? It was the failure of doctors to accept that vitamin C carries out so many vital health functions, and that it fights the number one killer, heart disease. He pointed to medical studies showing its effectiveness in fighting viral diseases such as pneumonia, hepatitis, meningitis, polio and even the lethal bite of a rattlesnake.

He repeated over and over that no one had ever died from an overdose of vitamin C. If you take more than you body can use, it is excreted in the urine. Another fact he underscored was that the dose is so important – the greater the degree of infection the greater amounts of C needed to cure it.

Saul reported that in patients desperately ill with infection, in the process of dying, one decision could save them – that is, huge doses of vitamin C, such as 300,000 milligrams administered intravenously.

His final advice? Hospitals are the locus of death. So stay away, or get out of them quickly.

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Weight and Diet Strain Knees and Hips

Dr. W. Gifford-Jones
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Weight and Diet Strain Knees and Hips

Common Sense Health

W. Gifford-Jones MD and Diana Gifford-Jones

How many thousands of knee and hip replacements, and how much pain, could be avoided by the right diet?

Arthritis has been called the chronic-care challenge of the 21st century. It is no small problem in economic terms either. A few months ago, The Lancet, a peer-reviewed medical journal, published startling statistics. Over the last 30 years, the global incidence of osteoarthritis has risen by132% to 595 million people. There is no sign of the disease slowing down and there’s no cure.

What does this mean? For public healthcare systems like Canada’s, it means ever more costs to the taxbase for higher and higher numbers of expensive knee and hip replacements.

Osteoarthritis is the “wear and tear” form of arthritis. Like aging car brakes that wear down with use, human joints begin to grate and scrape with age. It’s a fact that heavier vehicles need especially careful maintenance. People carrying excess weight should shed it to avoid unnecessary wear. But arthritis is caused by more than just heavy use and aging. Inadequate nutrition also sets the stage for arthritis.

The famous Framingham Health Study followed thousands of people for 40 years assessing risk factors for osteoarthritis.

The study showed that people with osteoarthritis who consumed over 9,000 international units of beta-carotene a day had decreased progression of this disease and were less likely to suffer from knee pain later in life. A Finnish study showed that people with low levels of beta-carotene were eight times more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis as they aged. Beta-carotene is present in deep-coloured vegetables and fruits.

The same Framingham study underscored the importance of vitamin D. People with arthritic knees consuming less than 350 units developed arthritis at higher rates than those who took over 400 units a day. There’s good reason why.

Vitamin D is needed for the absorption of calcium. The typical dietary source of vitamin D is milk, one of nature’s nearly perfect foods. But few people drink enough milk daily.

The Framingham study uncovered another vital fact, that our joints need oil. But not all the oils we eat are equal. Our food contains different types of fatty acids. The good omega-3 fatty acids fight inflammation; the bad omega-6 fatty acids trigger inflammation.

Obviously, it’s better to have more of the good oils than the bad ones. But North Americans eat 10 times more omega-6 than omega-3, and this sad reality triggers not only arthritis, but also heart disease. Research shows that death from heart attack may be the result of a combination of both clogged and inflamed coronary arteries.

The logical solution is to change our diet. Increase consumption of fruits and vegetables to obtain healthy vitamins. One carrot contains 20,000 international units of beat-carotene and a sweet potato with skin has 25,000 IU. Drink three glasses of milk daily or get the equivalent through supplementation.

Excellent sources of omega-3 are salmon, halibut and sardines. Omega-3 is also found in walnuts, beans, tofu, flaxseed oil, pecans and green leafy vegetables. A high-quality supplement like Certified Natural’s Omega-3X is recommended since few people eat enough of the dietary sources.

To avoid omega-6 oils reduce processed, frozen and boxed foods. Skip the crackers, cookies and most desserts. Buy the right cooking oils. Omega-6 is present in corn, sunflower and cottonseed oil. Olive, soybean and canola cooking oils contain omega-3.

Don’t neglect weight control. The pressure on your knees going upstairs is 2.5 times your body weight. Going downstairs, it is 3.5 times. Squatting amounts to 8 times the pressure. Weight reduction goes far to increasing the benefits of sound nutrition in preventing osteoarthritis.

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Cardiovascular Health 101

Dr. W. Gifford-Jones
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Cardiovascular Health 101

Common Sense Health

W. Gifford-Jones MD and Diana Gifford-Jones

Heart attacks are common and deadly. In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control acknowledges that one person dies every 33 seconds from cardiovascular disease. The Government of Canada reports about 14 adults aged 20 and over with diagnosed heart disease die every hour. But how many of these deaths are premature and preventable, and why don’t people take simple steps to save their lives?

Atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaque in arteries, is a leading cause of heart disease. What doctors don’t do enough is educate patients on natural alternatives to prescription drugs. Why? Because most doctors aren’t trained in natural approaches to disease prevention.

Vitamin C and lysine can help prevent this condition by inhibiting the formation of arterial plaque. Linus Pauling, a two-time Nobel Prize winner, studied how high doses of vitamin C protect against heart disease, particularly in arteries closest to the heart where pressure is greatest.

Vitamin C and lysine work synergistically to strengthen blood vessels, reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, and promote overall heart function. Vitamin C, an antioxidant, protects the delicate lining of blood vessels from oxidative damage. Lysine, when present in sufficient quantities, aids in the removal of excess cholesterol from the bloodstream. Together, they reduce the risk of plaque formation and maintain clear and healthy arteries.

Vitamin C is essential for the synthesis of collagen, a structural protein that provides strength and flexibility to blood vessel walls. Lysine, in turn, contributes to collagen production and the repair of vascular tissues. This combined action strengthens blood vessels, reducing the likelihood of vessel wall weakness or rupture.

The cardiovascular benefits of high-dose vitamin C and lysine extend to improving overall heart function. By reducing the risk of atherosclerosis and maintaining vascular integrity, they support optimal blood flow, contributing to a healthier and more efficient heart.

Moreover, Vitamin C has been shown to lower blood pressure, a significant risk factor for heart disease. It acts as a natural vasodilator, relaxing blood vessels and helping to regulate blood pressure levels.

Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is a type of lipoprotein associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Elevated Lp(a) levels are often linked to a higher likelihood of atherosclerosis. High-dose vitamin C has been found to help reduce Lp(a) levels.

A study published in the journal Biochemistry and Cell Biology found that a combination of vitamin C and lysine reduced oxidative stress and improved the function of endothelial cells which line the interior of blood vessels.

Additionally, research published in The Journal of the American College of Nutrition demonstrated that supplementation with vitamin C and lysine improved markers of cardiovascular health in individuals with high cholesterol levels.

What to do if you have already suffered a coronary attack and lived through it? Your doctor likely has you on cholesterol lowering drugs. You’ve probably been told that statins are the only choice you have. The list of side effects of these drugs – muscle pain, kidney and liver damage, and elevated blood sugar among them – can be managed, you’re told.

Why cardiologists are so closeminded to the alternative of high dose vitamin C and lysine is a frustrating problem. There are too many rich pharmaceutical companies influencing the practice of medicine. No one gets rich from a natural therapy that can’t be patented.

There is an alternative to taking statins after a heart attack. And there is a powerful rationale for preventing cardiovascular disease with daily high doses of vitamin C and lysine.

Your health is at stake. Take this article to your doctor and have a discussion. A naturopathic doctor is a good move for a second opinion.

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