Summary: Cardiovascular disease is this nation's #1 killer. Few realize that 25% of those dying from this disease don't have high blood pressure, don't have high cholesterol levels, don't smoke, and aren't excessively fat. What's killing these people that don't have any of the known high risk factors?

To find an answer, we look to: Where are the great minds in medicine are spending their time? An abundance of research is focused on an amino acid called homocysteine. A Harvard University

High homocysteine levels increase the risks of a heart attack or stroke.

Background:
Homocysteine is an amino acid known to damage the walls of an artery when it reaches high concentrations in the blood. Blood tests during an annual physical checks only cholesterol levels and doesn't check for homocysteines.

The relationships between homocysteines & cardiovascular disease (heart attacks and strokes) is not widely accepted. There are may be two reasons for this resistance. First, the relationship between them is not taught in medical school. Second, homocysteine blood level checks are not covered by most health insurance plans.

Recent medical research reveals we can't afford to ignore homocysteines. A European study found that a heart patient's homocysteine level can predict their survival of a heart attack or stroke.

Age:
Have you ever heard of a child dying from a heart attack or a stroke? Chances are the child had homocystinuria. Their death was caused by high homocysteine levels in the blood. These children's autopsies revealed arteries that were in the same condition as elderly heart disease patients.

In old age, both men and women have an increasing risk of cardiovascular and heart disease that correlates closely with increasing homocysteine levels. Coenzyme NADH and the coenzymes nutritional supplement B6, B12 and folic acid are believed to reduce the damage by homocysteines. In old age, the body becomes less efficient at absorbing NADH, and B vitamins. This may be the reason why elderly people have rising homocysteine levels.

Risks to women:
During a woman's reproductive years, homocysteine levels and their risk of heart attacks are (on average) 20% lower than man's. After menopause a woman's homocysteine level and their risks of heart attacks rise to equal a man's level.

Risks to men:
Studies have shown that a man has a 20% greater risk of heart attacks and strokes than woman for most of his life. A 1992 Harvard University study of 14,000 male physicians stated: High homocysteine levels in the blood are as damaging as smoking or high LDL bad cholesterol levels.

Risks to a family:
When a family is prone to heart disease or heart attacks, overwhelming evidence shows the victims often share a minor flaw in one of their genes that governs homocysteine metabolism. In America, almost 1 person in 8 has this minor flaw in their genes.

Monitor:
Checking for homocysteines is not part of a complete lipid profile or cholesterol blood test. A separate blood test is needed. Homocysteine levels should be checked every time cholesterol is checked.

Smoking: Smoking raises homocysteine levels.

Overweight: Obesity raises homocysteine levels.

Normal homocysteine levels:
Normal homocysteine levels are the same for both men and women:

• with homocysteine levels: the lower the better.
• Lowest is 6 micromoles per deciliter of blood.
• Levels exceeding 12 micromoles per deciliter of blood dramatically increases the risks of heart attacks.

Lowering Homocysteine Levels

Your best defense:
Knowledge is your best defense against homocysteines. After reading this page about the damage caused by homocysteines, you'll have the knowledge. Your doctor may not know about its dangers. You'll need to ask your doctor for the homocysteine blood test. It will reduce your risks of a heart attack or stroke, according to Harvard University.

Knowledge may save you or someone you care about from this nation's number #1 killer. For the next few years, be vigilant against the resistance of testing for homocysteines. It will take years for medical schools, and the medical community to accept the relationship between heart attacks and homocysteine levels. You can share this information with your doctor by printing out these pages of the website.

Homocysteine treatments:
doctors at Georgetown University Medical Center found that a daily dosage of Co-E1® / NADH 5mg (scheduled to become a new B nutritional supplement) lowered high blood pressure and lowered high LDL cholesterol, over an 11 week period. NADH will reduce homocysteine levels within the same 11 week period.

Reducing homocysteine levels can be accomplished with the coenzymes of a few B vitamins. NADH, is scheduled to become the newest and most important B nutritional supplement. In studies vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid reduced homocysteine blood levels. Harvard is testing a folic acid treatment to reduce the risks of strokes.

• Blood test studies have consistently shown low levels of folic acid means high levels of homocysteines.
• A 1996 European study found that people who reported taking B vitamin supplements had half the heart disease rates of those who claimed they did not take B vitamin supplements.
• Another European study showed the importance of NADH in normalizing metabolism, and its positive impact on the functions of the liver. This will reduce the concentration of homocysteines in the blood.

. . . lowering homocysteines 2, on the next page