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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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