Can This Therapy Be a Natural Solution for Heart Disease?

Have you ever heard of chelation therapy? Used in alternative medicine, it aims to remove heavy metals and other substances from the body. Originally, chelation was used to treat conditions like lead poisoning, but now chelation therapy protects against heart disease and other major health problems. 

Chelating agents are available solely by prescription and are approved for use only in specific circumstances, such as in the case of lead poisoning or iron overload.

The Uses for Chelation Therapy  

Chelation therapy is said to aid the treatment of atherosclerosis (the hardening of arties). Because calcium deposits are found in artery-clogging plaques, some believe that using chelation therapy to remove calcium deposits can restore healthy blood flow in the arteries. Some proponents also suggest that the EDTA can act as an antioxidant, protecting against the damaging effects of chronic inflammation. Consequently, chelation therapy helps to treat osteoarthritis and other conditions related to inflammation. In fact, chelation therapy is able to treat the following health issues: 

• Alzheimer's disease 

• Angina 

• High blood pressure 

• High cholesterol 

• Multiple sclerosis 

• Peripheral artery disease 

• Rheumatoid arthritis

This alternative form of therapy is also claimed to improve memory, treat diabetes-related complications and promote recovery from stroke. 

 

Though known to be effective in the treatment of heavy-metal poisoning, the scientific evidence which supports the claim that chelation therapy can be effective against other health conditions is not vast. In a report in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews in 2002, researchers analyzed five previously published studies testing the effects of EDTA-based chelation therapy in patients with atherosclerosis-related cardiovascular disease. However, results found insufficient evidence for chelation therapy's effectiveness in improving clinical outcomes for such patients. 

 

Furthermore, according to a research review published in the BMC Cardiovascular Disorders in 2005, scientists looked at seven previously published studies that focused on the use of EDTA-based chelation therapy in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. It was found that the use of chelation therapy in the treatment of cardiovascular disease isn't supported by the best available scientific evidence. Therefore using this therapy as a substitute for standard care may cause indirect harm to the patient. 

Adding to this, a report published in the American Heart Journal in 2000 concluded that chelation therapy should be considered obsolete as a treatment for heart disease, due to the possibility of causing severe adverse effects.

 

Nevertheless, there is some evidence that chelation therapy may be beneficial to people who have suffered a heart attack. 

 

In National Institutes of Health-funded study published in Current Opinion in Cardiology in 2014, for instance, researchers evaluated the effectiveness and safety of EDTA-based chelation therapy in 1,078 people who had experienced a heart attack. Results showed that there was a significant reduction in risk of issues such as stroke and hospitalization for angina. The therapy appeared to be beneficial in people with diabetes. It was also noted that the chelation therapy may improve health in heart attack patients by reducing oxidative stress. 

 

What are the Side Effects and Safety Concerns? 

A number of side effects have been associated with chelation therapy including diarrhea, headache, high blood pressure, loose stools, low blood sugar, nausea, poor appette, skin rash and vomiting. Serious side effects include kidney damage and abnormally low blood levels of calcium. There is concern that chelation therapy could remove calcium from healthy bones and other tissues. Needless to say, children, pregnant women and people with heart or kidney failure should not receive chelation therapy. 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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Is iron deficiency an after effect of COVID infection? Experts answer, shed light on the signs, sources and supplementation

Iron deficiency is a condition that occurs when the body lacks sufficient iron levels in the body, limiting it to perform vital functions and posing several health risks. 

The human body requires iron to make hemoglobin, a protein in the red blood cells that helps carry oxygen from the lungs to every part of the body, and myoglobin, a protein that provides oxygen to the muscles. This is why, if loss, insufficiency or poor absorption of iron is not sufficiently compensated with an iron-rich diet, one may fall into a state of iron deficiency.  

However, as simple as it sounds, iron deficiency is as complicated a condition. While it most often occurs when our body does not get enough iron from the foods we eat or does not absorb the mineral efficiently, it can also transpire when the body has enough iron, but cannot effectively carry it into the cells. This is mostly the case with people suffering from chronic infections or underlying diseases such as cancer. 

In light of the pandemic, researchers have looked into the ways COVID-19 has affected different parts and aspects of our body including iron metabolism - the set of chemical reactions that maintain human homeostasis of iron at the systemic and cellular level.

Is there a possible link between COVID and iron deficiency?

A Consultant - Infectious Diseases says, "Different studies have found increased inflammatory markers in severe COVID-19 patients, which actually produce hepcidin - an important chemical released from the liver, which helps in regulating and absorbing iron in cells."

According to the Dr, this is a very commonly studied pathway when it comes to bacterial infection. But somehow, it has also been noted with COVID, wherein there is a decrease in the serum levels, leading to iron deficiency.  

Furthermore, Dr. explains that patients with severe COVID-19 infection also tend to have some high form of ferritin levels, which is a blood protein that contains iron. But rather than indicating iron sufficiency, she shares that it is indicative of acute phase reactants (APR), which are inflammatory markers that exhibit significant changes in serum concentration during inflammation. 

Additionally a Senior Clinical Dietician discusses the cause of iron deficiency post COVID-19 infection. She says that it could be due to prolonged and severe inflammation in the body. Given that the body is still battling the infection, dealing with imbalance in nutrients, or experiencing any blood loss, especially in the case of women, deficiencies are likely to occur, she explains.

"This disruption in iron metabolism can impact overall well being and delay your recovery from illness," she explains.

"Patients recovering from COVID-19 continue to report severe fatigue, breathlessness, poor appetite, chest pain, dizziness, cognitive dysfunction and hair loss," she adds.

Signs of iron deficiency and foods to treat it

"Fatigue is the most common symptom of iron deficiency," says Dr S.N. Aravinda, Consultant - Internal Medicine, Aster RV Hospital.

Other symptoms include weakness, pale skin, chest pain, fast heartbeat or shortness of breath, headache, dizziness or lightheadedness.

Meat, chicken, leafy greens like spinach, kale, beet, broccoli, legumes, tofu, nuts, dry fruits are the best sources of iron, the doctor recommends.

Clinical Dietician explains, "Iron is a complex nutrient, as its absorption and utilization in our body depends on various factors and natural sources are safe to boost your intake of iron , folic acid , protein and vitamin B12 which are supportive nutrients for iron synthesis in our body.

"Iron from animal sources is known as heme iron and is found in meat and fish. Iron from plants is known as nonheme iron, and is found in certain vegetables and in iron-fortified foods . Heme iron (animal source) is better absorbed by the body than nonheme iron (plant source) , as it requires vitamin C for enhancing its absorption in our body, she further elaborates.

Some of the animal sources include egg yolk , chicken, liver, tuna/fish, shrimp, lamb, spleen or turkey(leg), which should be taken as per your nutritionist’s advice.

Plant sources include sprouts, beans (soya,kidney, lima, navy), garden cress seeds, sesame seeds, nuts, lentils/dals, spinach/shepu/amaranth leaves & other leafy vegetables, brown rice/red rice flakes, niger seeds (uchellu), raisins, figs, dates in moderation .

Beware of toxicity
"It is not recommended to supplement yourself with iron without consulting your Doctor or Nutritionist , as there could be an overload of iron stores or serum ferritin which leads to toxicity and damages organs like liver, lungs and so on," she says.

As a clinical dietician, she warns against overdose of zinc supplements, which can also hinder the absorption of iron. Therefore, one must check with their health care provider before resorting to supplements.

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement