February is American Heart Month and I'd like to honor and celebrate the power and importance of our heart.

A few fun facts about the heart are as follows:   

The average adult heart beats 72 times a minute; 100,000 times a day; 3,600,000 times a year; and 2.5 billion times during a lifetime.

The human heart weights on average 11 ounces and pumps 2,000 gallons of blood through 60,000 miles of blood vessels each day.

Every day, the heart creates enough energy to drive a truck 20 miles. In a lifetime, that is equivalent to driving to the moon and back.

Wow!  That's a lot of work.  I'd like to keep my heart healthy - how about you?

And then, a few a not so fun facts about the heart.   

Heart disease still remains the, number one killer in the United States.  One person dies each minute from heart disease.  Most of these deaths are completely preventable!

In screening for heart disease many conventional doctors routinely rely solely on cholesterol testing even though it is well known that heart disease is related to chronic inflammation.   

Here at Austin UltraHealth, in addition to cholesterol testing,  

I use a much broader and more comprehensive approach to screening for heart disease.   

Below are a few of the tests that I routinely perform.  I have included their optimal level.  Please note that I say optimal level rather than normal range.   

VAP testing

This is a more accurate and individualized way to assess cholesterol over routine cholesterol testing. VAP testing includes analysis cholesterol as well as the lipid particle size. Lipid particle size is believed to be a better predictor of cardiac vessel disease. 

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is responsible for regulating over 150 genes.  It is thought that 70-80 % of Americans are vitamin D deficient.  Low levels of vitamin D have also been associated with increased heart attacks in men.

Optimal level:  60-80 ng/mL

Homocystine

Homocysteine is an amino acid found in the blood. Amino Acids are the building blocks of proteins. High homocysteine levels are associated with low levels of vitamin B6, B12 and folate and are related to the early development of heart and blood vessel disease.  

Optimal level:  7-8 mmol/L

hsCRP (high sensitivity C-reactive protein) 

hsCRP is a marker of general inflammation.  Many cardiologists use this as a marker for cardiac inflammation and disease.

Optimal level:

• Less than 1.0 mg/L = Low Risk for cardio vascular disease
• 1.0 - 2.9 mg/L = Intermediate Risk for cardio vascular disease
• Greater than 3.0 mg/L High Risk for cardio vascular disease

Fibrinogen

Fibrinogen is a protein found in the blood that encourages blood clotting and is a marker of inflammation.  High levels of fibrinogen promote blood clotting are linked to an increased risk of heart attack and vascular disease. 

Optimal level:  Less than 300 mg/L

CoQ10 (co enzyme 10)

CoQ10 supports energy metabolism, muscle contraction and antioxidant activity.  It is one of the most important supplements for heart health.

Fatty Acid testing

To assess your levels and ratio of anti-inflammatory fatty acids (omega 3) and pro-inflammatory fatty acids (omega 6)

Because the heart and cardiovascular system depends on so many different nutrients to functional optimally. I have included a list of daily supplementation that I use with my patients at Austin UltraHealth.  I believe the supplements listed below are vital to maintaining a healthy heart.

ProThera MultiThera Mulitvitamin.

Pure Encapsulations liquid Vitamin D₃

Xymogen CoQ10 (Coenzyme Q10)

Metagenics Omega 3 fish oils  (DHA/ EPA)

Designs for Health Homocystine Supreme (B6, B12 and Folate)