Hi!
Are you confident in your knowledge of Cardiovascular Myths & Truths, as seen through the functional medicine lens?
Although you may already be a savvy practitioner, I am certain you will learn something new in this video. You’ll walk away with pages of notes and practical pearls you can use in your practice right away.
Here are some of the things we’ll be discussing:
Thank you very much for joining in the fun and learning!
With warmth, love, and gratitude to you for sharing your gifts with so many –
Please share your thoughts (please be thorough) in the “Ask a Question” area below about what inspired you in this presentation. Include what type of practitioner you are, so that we can all see your unique perspective.
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Would it be safe to assume that a higher EPA:DHA ratio in an omega supplement is most desirable for someone with atherosclerosis and high cholesterol? A recent article stated that combination supplements with DHA blunt the absorption of EPA. I know that they compete for absorption, but I don’t know at what extent it would render the other useless or what ratio is optimal for cardiovascular disease.
Yes, there is competition for absorption, but both play key roles in countering CVD risk factors or disease dynamics. Be sure to also consider sufficiency digestion and absorption of dietary fats.
This will be of interest to you: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7072971/ . I would recommend a supplement that includes both EPA and DHA – in a balanced formula or perhaps one with a little more EPA. I do not believe we have enough clear science to justify a specific “best” ratio of them. Especially if we are speaking of an individual that has notable, chronic inflammation (or clear evidence on fatty acid testing of excessive arachidonic acid levels), then I would be sure to combine omega-3 support with the anti-inflammatory omega-6 support of gamma linolenic acid (GLA) (e.g. https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/128/9/1411/4722487 ) such as from borage, blackcurrent, or evening primrose oils.
I am a cardiovascular NP and have many CHF patients. Standard care now is optimization of many, many medications. Beta blockers have been shown to reduce mortality and hospitalizations with our CHF patients. Carvedilol, Toprol and Nevibolol are standard therapy for patients with CHF and low EF. In fact, we get “dinged” by the Medicare gods if we discharge patients with CHF off of beta blockers or ACE inhibitors. Therefore it was surprising to learn that beta blockers can indirectly decrease mitochondrial function? Can you point me to some literature for further review ? Thank you
Beta Blockers do cause a gradual depletion and reduction of CoQ10 enzyme level and action which is absolutely essential to mitochondria health. Indeed many studies are looking at Beta Blockers underlying mechanisms possibly resulting in mitochondrial dysfunction pointing at increased damage via oxidative stress, respiration disruption and mitochondrial membrane changes. These studies may serve you:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17892/
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/cripe/2016/7869174/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32120430/
https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/PUArticles/June2017/MitochondrialDisordersMedicinestoAvoid.htm
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6668504/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3195193/
Tracy could you speak more about the connection of menopausal women developing hypertension.
Thank you in advance.
There is a large body of existing research and more on the way that has looked into the states of estrogen imbalance or deprivation and their association with higher risks of hypertension and cardiovascular disease in women. These articles will give you a broader view of the current findings and connections:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3391725/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2644382/
Bestmeds for hypertension in a patient that doesn’t take blood pressure. Natural meds of course
BP 150/100
Wow! Another really great FB live filled with soooo many pearls! I never knew that high doses of vitamin D contributed to CV disease and finally was able to make sense of why Mg is so important to vitamin d uptake . Another ah ha moment was that deep sleep and robust melatonin production helps reduce CV risk by lowering BP and taking stress off the endothelial tissues while they heal at night . Hoping to have the opportunity to take the Cv deep dive course . Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom !
What an informative talk! I am a Registered Nurse working at an acute care cardiac hospital so this information truly resonates with me. I am also in school on the path to becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner to Functional Medicine NP! My patients have experienced acute situations like heart attacks, open-heart surgery, valve replacements, and dangerous arrhythmias, so as Tracy said, conventional medications are necessary during the “triage and treat” times in people’s lives. One medication, in particular, that was discussed is diuretics. I give these medications intravenously on a daily basis in my conventional practice. This makes the kidneys dump urine, which reduces third spacing, improves shortness of breath, and the workload on the heart. But what I often see is acute kidney injury related to putting the kidneys in overdrive. So then what do we do, we give fluid starting the process all over again! I also see the effects diuretics have on the electrolyte balance in the body as Tracy discussed. When our patients are dumping urine, we must constantly replace potassium by administering horse pills that are hard to swallow, IV potassium that burns the veins, or liquid potassium that makes every patient cringe and turns… Read more »
it’ s been always such a wealth listening to your pearls!
Hello! My name is Anna and I’m community pharmacist with 15 years of experience and also naturopathic nutrition student in the final year. Cardiology was always my focus. I love your energy and enthusiasm of your presentation. I like your summary of CVD risk factors : stress, toxins, glicaemia- rather than just cholesterol on its own. My friend Elizabetha Favero recommended me your webinar and I’m truly thankful her for it. She is really hunger of the knowledge and I wish she win the course! She truly deserves it!
Regards,
Anna
I just cleared my Level 1 last week and listening to Tracy and her words of immense wisdom and her passion is encouraging me and brushing up everything I learnt so enthusiastically. I loved how she showed the interconnectedness so easily and that every aspect was so importantly interconnected eg the simple oral care as in mouth care was the beginning of cardiovascular health. I cant wait to study the Level 202. I thank SAFM and Tracy for the immense knowledge and confidence they have give me
Thanks for another awesome FB live Tracy! It really drove home the importance of keeping stress under control as best as possible as the negative effects can be far-reaching. I appreciated learning about the connection between Vitamin D, Calcium & Magnesium too, thank you 🙂 xxx
It was a great reminder about the long term effects of statins and the need of supplementing with CoQ10. Thanks for the valuable info
Really helped clear up the relationship between vitamin D and magnesium and calcium. So much great information that I need to research more in-depth
Wow! This presentation was so loaded with Tracy’s practical pearls and insights that I had to watch it twice and take notes so I wouldn’t miss a thing. As a health coach, I have to stop being surprised that clients are in permanent sympathetic nervous system mode and start expecting it, so I can be prepared to educate them!
I learned so much on today’s webinar. One of the pearls I took away is how long term use of beta blockers reduces the bodies supply of CoQ10 and melatonin levels so the body essential ends up in a vicious cycle and not able to repair itself. Thanks again for the great information!
I’m a conventional autoimmune disease research scientist (immunotoxicologist) who has been learning functional medicine for the last 4 years. Finding the true root causes and making them go away… exactly! That’s what I did in my own body by reversing 7 autoimmune diseases and fibro. Absolutely… we need to be getting in front of the problem with preventative lifestyle measures… I’m all about teaching mom’s how to reverse their chronic illness and making a BIG DEAL about them teaching this to their children, so we can wipe out this epidemic of chronic illness in the next generation!