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Russert's death

Russert's untimely death raises questions about how we're treating heart disease

Dear Friend,

You won't hear me say this often about anyone in mainstream media, but T. Russert,  newsman and anchor of Meet the Press, was someone I respected. I took great joy in watching politicians squirm under his tough questioning. So, like most Americans, I was sad to hear the tragic news of his sudden death. After all, Russert was just 58 years old — relatively young by today's standards.

According to his doctors, he had diabetes, heart disease, and he was overweight. Yet without fail, every time I hear a news story or read an article on his death, the commentators express their surprise that something like this could happen to someone who was on blood pressure pills and cholesterol drugs, who exercised routinely (in fact, he worked out on the treadmill the morning he died), and who was on a diet. He'd even recently passed a stress test.

I wish I could say I was shocked by this news. Unfortunately, stories like this one only highlight what I've been telling you all along: Blood pressure doesn't cause heart disease, high cholesterol drugs aren't cure-alls, and exercise can do more harm than good. In short, none of the steps Russert's doctors told him to take to address his health concerns were doing a darn bit of good.

Instead, if someone had told him to focus on keeping his homocysteine levels low and his magnesium levels high, we might not be having this conversation in the first place. Homocysteine makes cholesterol stick to your artery walls and can also contribute the hardening of your arteries. It's simple to control your cholesterol levels by loading up on B vitamins, like B6, B12 and folate.

Magnesium also has vital heart-healthy benefits.
"Statins don't protect against heart attacks. And [Russert] didn't know that the lack of one nutrient could have cost him his life," said acclaimed neurosurgeon Dr. R. B. "The number-one cause of sudden cardiac death is magnesium deficiency. Cardiac patients and those with diabetes have the lowest magnesium levels of all."

I've written to you before about the many benefits of magnesium. This mineral prevents blood clots, dilates blood vessels, and can also stop the development of dangerous heart irregularities. It's why I've been such a long-time advocate of increasing magnesium intake for its heart-health benefits – not to mention what it does for your bones and bodily tissues. I've even used magnesium in emergency medicine to help limit brain damage in stroke victims. And yet more than half of Americans have a magnesium deficiency.

"People who are deficient in magnesium are most likely to have sudden cardiac arrest, and when they do arrest, they are harder to resuscitate,"DR. B. says. "Many simply can't be resuscitated."

Dr. S. B. surgeon in chief of New York's M. Medical Center, did a good job of summing up just why the death of the beloved newsman has so shaken both Americans in general and doctors in particular: "It makes us all feel mortal, and it also highlights the natural history of this silent killer and our limited ability to catch this killer before it strikes."

Fighting on in the battle against heart disease,

W. C. D. M.D.
40 Responses
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Avatar universal
" I am not counseling someone"  YOUR QUOTE!

Take the tablets and capsules with a full glass of water. In liquid form, may not conform to the recommended to the extended- or slow-release formulations of magnesium chloride in cap or pill form. They are specially formulated to dissolve slowly in the body. YOUR QUOTE!
Helpful - 0
21064 tn?1309308733
Thanks!  That helps : )
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Avatar universal
Dr. R. Blaylock,  He is a nationally recognized board-certified
neurosurgeon, health practitioner, author and lecturer.
He attended the Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans and completed his internship and
neurosurgical residency at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, S.C.
For the past 26 years, he has practiced neurosurgery in addition to having a nutritional practice.
He recently retired from his neurosurgical duties to devote his full attention to nutritional studies and research. Dr.
Blaylock has authored three books on nutrition and wellness, including Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills, Health and
Nutrition Secrets That Can Save Your Life and his most recent work, Natural Strategies for The Cancer Patient. An indemand
guest for radio and television programs, he lectures extensively to both lay and professional medical audiences
on a variety of nutrition-related subjects.
Dr. Blaylock is a member of the international board of the World Natural Health Organization. He is the 2004
recipient of the Integrity in Science Award granted by the Weston A. Price Foundation.
Dr. Blaylock serves on the editorial staff of the Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association and is the
associate editor of the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, official publication of the Association of American
Physicians and Surgeons.
He previously served as Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Mississippi Medical Center
in Jackson, Miss., and is currently a visiting professor of biology at the Belhaven College, also in Jackson.
Helpful - 0
367994 tn?1304953593
Please note the information comes from professionals: nephrologists (kidney), Nephrology-hypertension, pharmacology, etc.

dixter, whether or not I am a doctor is not relevant as I am not counseling someone to take a specific dosage of a supplement that may or may not be harmful to the individual.
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21064 tn?1309308733
Thanks!!  That's great!  
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367994 tn?1304953593
I am citing the source of my information:

Anil Kumar Mandal, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University of Florida School of Medicine; Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine; George R Aronoff, MD, Director, Professor, Departments of Internal Medicine and Pharmacology, Section of Nephrology, Kidney Disease Program, University of Louisville School of Medicine; Rebecca J Schmidt, DO, FACP, FASN, Professor of Medicine, Section Chief, Department of Medicine, Section of Nephrology, West Virginia University School of Medicine; Vecihi Batuman, MD, FACP, FASN, Professor of Medicine, Section of Nephrology-Hypertension, Tulane University School of Medicine; Chief, Medicine Service, Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System

Dr. Stolls book, "Recapture Your  Health".

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21064 tn?1309308733
Can you please post a citation for the information you provided on magnesium?  TX
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21064 tn?1309308733
I'm with kenkeith on this!  I would NEVER take supplements without talking with my doctor.

Dixter, who is the doctor you refer to earlier in the thread?  I still don't understand your reluctance to let us do our own research...  These discussions are important and the information may be very useful.  But, without some identifiable way to substantiate the data, I would strongly caution readers to avoid changing their current regimes.  Please discuss any thoughts on supplements with your physician.  About that source.....??
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Avatar universal
Are you  pasting copywrited liturture from Dr. B. I notice you didn't mention to check with your MD first.
No I'm not a DR.!  are you? I know who DR. B. Is!
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367994 tn?1304953593
Are you a doctor?  Do not take magnesium citrate without first talking to your doctor if you have kidney disease. Do not use magnesium citrate as a laxative if you have stomach (abdominal) pain, nausea, or vomiting, unless directed by a doctor. If you notice a sudden change in bowel habits that persists over a period of 2 weeks, consult your healthcare provider before using a laxative. Magnesium citrate should not be used for longer than one week, unless otherwise directed by your healthcare provider. Rectal bleeding or failure to have a bowel movement after use of a laxative may indicate a more serious condition; stop using magnesium citrate and contact your healthcare provider.
Before taking magnesium citrate, tell your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, allergies, or if you take other medicines or other herbal/health supplements. Magnesium citrate may not be recommended in some situations.

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Avatar universal
you should take Magnisium Citrate with food 133mg
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367994 tn?1304953593
Hi Rose,

Symptoms of an magnesium chloride overdose include nausea, vomiting, flushing, low blood pressure, a slow heartbeat, arrythmia, drowsiness, coma, and death.

Take the tablets and capsules with a full glass of water. In liquid form, may not conform to the recommended to the extended- or slow-release formulations of magnesium chloride in cap or pill form. They are specially formulated to dissolve slowly in the body.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thankyou for the information on stress EKG/Echo. Just wanted to add that a friend suggested I take this magnesium chloride which I bought from Ancient Minerals and it is very pure liquid form and you can either drink it (diluted) or rub it over your chest or soak in bath/footbath. It is good , I will try not to O.D on it though.
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367994 tn?1304953593
Someone asked for more information on ingesting magnesium.  The benefits have been written.

Quote:
"I've written to you before about the many benefits of magnesium. This mineral prevents blood clots, dilates blood vessels, and can also stop the development of dangerous heart irregularities. It's why I've been such a long-time advocate of increasing magnesium intake for its heart-health benefits – not to mention what it does for your bones and bodily tissues. I've even used magnesium in emergency medicine to help limit brain damage in stroke victims. And yet more than half of Americans have a magnesium deficiency.

People who are deficient in magnesium are most likely to have sudden cardiac arrest, and when they do arrest, they are harder to resuscitate,"DR. B. says. "Many simply can't be resuscitated."
_______________________________________________________________
Causes for unbalanced levels of mg and calcium:
Renal failure, acute and chronic
Increased magnesium load (especially in presence of renal insufficiency)
Magnesium-containing laxatives, antacids, or enemas
Treatment of eclampsia (mother and infant)
Diabetic ketoacidosis
Increased renal magnesium reabsorption
Hyperparathyroidism
Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia
Hypothyroidism
Mineralocorticoid deficiency, adrenal insufficiency

Symptoms and signs
:Muscle and generalised weakness Decreased reflexes (Neuromuscular depression) Hypotension, Disordered CARDIAC RHYTHM (cardiac arrhythmias), Drowsiness, etc.

Treatment:
One possible approach to correct this is to increase magnesium's natural syngergists, and reduce it's natural antagonists. Here is the breakdown:
The most common cause of hypermagnesemia is renal failure. Other causes include the following:
Excessive intake
Lithium therapy
Hypothyroidism
Addison disease
Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia
Milk alkali syndrome
Depression
Thn patients with symptomatic hypermagnesemia that is causing cardiac effects or respiratory distress, antagonize the effects by infusing calcium gluconate. CALCIUM (requires blood test to assure balance) antagonizes the toxic effect of magnesium, and these ions electrically oppose each other at their sites of action. This treatment usually leads to prompt symptomatic improvement.

Magnesium Synergists:
Chromium, zinc, boron, CoQ10, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B6, [calcium, Vit D], insoluble fiber.

Magnesium Antagonists / Inhibitors:
Sodium, potassium, iron, selenium, copper, lithium, silicon / silica, manganese, Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin E, niacin / niacinamide, PABA, Vitamin K, folate, choline, uric acid, alcohol, [calcium, Vitamin D].
With regard to the antagonists, I wouldn't look to eliminate unnatural amounts of them from the diet, but I would look at potential symptoms for excess amounts of particular ones, which could be part of the problem. I suggest if an individual is deficit magnesium correlate with antagonists/inhibitors before self-medicating with an increase in mg.

Magnesium excess affects the CNS, neuromuscular, and cardiac organ systems. It most commonly is observed in renal insufficiency and in patients receiving intravenous (IV) magnesium for treatment of a medical condition.

Common causes of hypermagnesemia include renal failure and iatrogenic manipulations. However, other diseases may result in increased magnesium; the degree of elevation determines the symptoms. Acute elevations of magnesium usually are more symptomatic than slow rises.
igh magnesium levels are associated with depressed levels of consciousness, respiratory depression, and cardiac arrest.

Hypermagnesemia is an electrolyte imbalance and is indicated by a high level of magnesium in the blood. The normal adult value for magnesium is 1.5-2.5 mEq/L.
Magnesium is one of many electrolytes in your body. Normal levels of magnesium are important for the maintenance of heart, and nervous system function.

Etiology, etiopathogenesis: The body regulates magnesium levels by shifting magnesium into and out of cells. When there is a breakdown or destruction of cells, the electrolyte magnesium moves from inside the cell, to outside of the cell wall. This shift of magnesium outside of the cells causes hypermagnesemia. Magnesium is excreted by your kidneys. Any damage to your kidneys, when they are not working properly, may cause an increase in magnesium levels. High levels of self-medicating mg strains the kidneys and have a renal evaluation regularily,

Symptoms of hypermagnesemia include weakness, low blood pressure, and impaired breathing. When hypermagnesemia is severe, the heart can stop beating. The diagnosis is made by determining that the magnesium level in the blood is high.
An excess of magnesium in the blood serum (NORMAL RANGE is 1.5 to 2.5 mEq/L)  may result in respiratory failure and coma and may occur in untreated diabetic acidosis, renal failure,  severe dehydration, arrhythmia.
It is usually concurrent with hypercalcemia and/or hyperkalemia. Arrhythmia and asystole, most prominent cardiac symptoms are due to conduction delays, since magnesium acts as physiologic calcium blocker.

The above are undisputable and accepted facts as it relates to mg.  Someone who self-medicates may experience benefits with a placebo effect, or they may be at a level below or in the low normal range.  



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Avatar universal
We do have the potential for helping our people lead long lives.  "We" just don't want to spend it that way.  

Our position in the world so far as infant mortality and mortality from many other causes is embarrassing.  Although these statistics are published all the time, we as a people ignore them.  
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21064 tn?1309308733
Whew!!  Hopefully, I'm on the right (hand) side of the bell curve : )
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Avatar universal
Great post!!
You know, TIME FLIES
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255722 tn?1452546541
That life span is for the ENTIRE HUMAN RACE (including third world countries and poverty stricken zones).  And....74 beats 45 any day!!!!  

American life being what it is, with all its amenities and treatments, is often closer to 82.

Breathe easy!!!  We've got time....
Helpful - 0
21064 tn?1309308733
This is a great thread!!

Thanks for the explanation Dixter.  That is also an amazing story!!  Your (new) doctors are to be commended for providing you with the right therapy for your condition(s).

Dolfnlvr - great post!!  About that avg. lifespan of 74........??? YIKES!!  

Connie
Helpful - 0
255722 tn?1452546541
It seems that there are heated feelings regarding this particular subject.  There always are heated feelings when we are forced to deal with our own mortality and the untimely death of Mr. Russert has reminded us all that, regardless of our actions here on Earth, when it is time to go, it is time to go.

The thing is this, we can all take steps to try to elongate our lives.  High blood pressure and increased Cholesterol levels are indeed risk factors that can be treated homeopathically or medicinally, and doctors are not wrong to offer treatment for those conditions.  High blood pressure is often a risk factor, not because you have high blood pressure, but because it indicates that there may be a blockage somewhere that is causing the increased pressure (like a hose with your thumb over the opening).  So, when faced with high blood pressure, the first course of action is to lower the BP because putting pressure on your areteries and veins has its own problems.  After that, if other signs are present, a doctor should run a stress echo and do a doppler of the heart to determine if there are any dangerous blockages causing the symptoms.  If none are found then the only thing doctors can do is treat the symptoms and watch for progression.

Unlike television, medicine does not cure all ills, and it is not infallable.  There are many mixed messages given by the body and many MANY variables that can affect how symptoms present themselves and how best to treat them.  Doctors do what they can and patients need to listen to their doctors and decide what treatment sounds most amenable to THEM.  

Dixter's message is all 100% true.  It doesn't matter how well we take care of ourselves, or how many drugs we take.  We can be absolutely healthy one minute and dead the next.  Unfortunately, that's the gamble of life.  No one gets off this Earth alive.  We can, however, take steps to improve our quality of life and hopefully the length of it.  This is witnessed by the increase in average lifespan from (1900) 45 years to (2008) 74 years.  

All of your other messages are true as well.  There are medications, treatments, reasons, thoughts, and questions that make one take pause and question which is the right course of action.  It is an individual decision made by each of us based on whatever knowledge we can gain from the experience of others.  

Let's not be argumentative, but productive by "hearing" each others experiences and opinions and using them to help each of us make the best choice for us (with the advice of a trusted doctor).

Take care everyone.  Be well.
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Avatar universal
A few other mentions, the research that I found stated that when aspirin was researched for blood thinning they used buffered aspirin! Buffered aspirin contains Magnesium
and as you know Magnesium thins the blood. I will check the  Homeopathic board. The only problem with supplements Insurance wont pay.
You know that most drugs are derived from plants. the test I have is platelet aggregation to see if the supplements are doing their job.
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Avatar universal
Hello Mom,
A little over a year ago I had a Brain tumor removed( benign) it was large and calcified. The DR. was surprised that I never had seizures
I was on Dilantin and steroids. when I came home from the hospital I had pain on the left side of my chest  and could not touch it.
I went to my family Dr. and he thought it was a muscle  so I went home the following day i called the Neurosurgeon he told my wife to take
me to the hospital. I had 3 blood clots in my left lung and 1 in my right! The hospital called my Neurosurgeon he told them to start me on
Heparin. The Neurosurgeon at this hospital agreed but the other Dr. said no that it was to soon after the surgery and i could have a brain bleed.
They said they would put a filter in and start me on Lovenox. After the filter was installed I through another clot. tests was performed and I
have to factors for having clots. Prothrombin and Lupus anticoagulant the DR. said it could be hereditary my father died at age 89 and my mother
died at age 32 so i'm guessing it was my mother. I told the DR. that I had surgery before and never had a problem he said it just didn't show then.
So they want me on daily aspirin. long term aspirin use can cause Pancreatic cancer instead I take 2 1/2 tablespoons per day of fish oil
and other supplements to help prevent clots. As for the Dr. that said it was a muscle I don't see him!!
Enjoy your walk!
Helpful - 0
21064 tn?1309308733
Dixter, Just to clarify, do you have heart disease?  I don't take coumadin or cholesterol medications, but I'm taking an aspirin (clot prevention) and a very small dose of lisinopril for optimal BP.  

Jim62,  Your situation is an important one for all of us to take not of.  It just goes to show that some diseases/conditions just occur, and regardless of what we do, or don't do, we do our best to LIVE with them.  Especially in those cases, I am grateful to modern medicine.

I have also known people who could eat whatever they wanted, didn't exercise, never had a cholesterol test and lived to be in their 90's!  Others succumbed to heart disease or cancer, never had a cigarette,led healthy lifestyles, etc.  I think the best thing for us to do is follow the preventive suggestions, but to be ready for whatever life throws our way.  I do believe in many, many cases heart disease can be avoided, or stalled, by following a relatively healthy style.  It certainly can't hurt.

FWIW, I enjoyed deciphering your cryptic message : )  I would also like to know who the mystery doctor is....I don't understand why he/she wouldn't want to take credit for their research.  A sound reference would give us the opportunity to conduct our own research and develop our own opinions based on studies in their entirety, as opposed to paraphrases.  Dixter, have you given thought to creating a "Health Page"?

Going for a walk : )
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Avatar universal
All I can tell you is I don't have to take coumadin,  Dilantin, aspirin. I don't need BP medicine and except for having my other knee
replaced this Sept. my Dr. said keep taking my supplements and I see him every month.
For those who don't like what I post, then why do you read them?
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