The column is part of a series running in conjunction with the Healthy Living Lecture Series hosted by the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
As a practicing cardiologist, I have witnessed a significant change in the type and age of individuals presenting to the hospital with acute coronary syndromes — heart attack, angina pectoris, sudden cardiac death. The patients are younger and no longer are predominately male but are now are commonly female. These patients might or might not have typical risk factors of diabetes, hypertension and tobacco use.
Heart attack (myocardial infarction) in most cases is a result of the rupture of unstable plaque. This vulnerable plaque can be stabilized or reversed by various means. My upcoming lecture is titled “Nutrition Strategies for a Healthy, Long Life.” I shall review our current understanding of plaque development and discuss the consequences of plaque rupture.
How do we determine risk of having plaque. At what age should we worry?
An individual at low risk will have the following:
1. Total cholesterol less than 150mg
2. Blood pressure less than or equal to 120/80 mmHg
3. No diabetes
4. No smoking
5. No premature family history, no metabolic syndrome. I shall define metabolic syndrome in my lecture.
Recent research has confirmed that free radicals play an important role in plaque development. I shall define free radicals and discuss the role of free radicals in health and disease. Should we eradicate our bodies of free radicals? How should we go about neutralizing free radicals?
Antioxidants have been evaluated in studies and have not been found to be beneficial when given as supplements. Ecological studies have, however, demonstrated that intake of antioxidants in the form of phytochemicals may prevent and reverse cardiovascular disease. I shall discuss phytochemicals and explain their role in neutralizing free radicals. How do foods compare in phytochemical potency? What about protein? What about carbohydrates? What about fat?
There are many different diets to choose from to initiate weight reduction. We certainly should try to maintain an ideal body weight. Obesity is associated with coronary heart disease, diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, pancreatitis, cancer (breast, uterus, cervix, colon, esophagus, pancreas, kidney and prostate), phlebitis, stroke, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, cataracts, gall bladder disease, gynecological abnormalities, osteoarthritis, gout and skin disease.
Portion sizes have changed dramatically during the past 60 years. Obesity rates have climbed to an all-time high with 70 percent of Americans being overweight and in several states greater than 30 percent of individuals being obese.
Obesity is defined by body mass index. This is a measurement that associates one’s weight and height. The body mass in kilograms is divided by the square of one’s height in meters. A BMI of 25 is the upper boundary of a healthy weight. A BMI of above 25 up to 30 defines overweight. A BMI above 30 up to 40 defines obesity. A BMI above 40 up to 50 defines morbid obesity. A BMI obove 50 defines super obesity or malignant obesity.
How should we combat obesity ?
I shall discuss several popular diets and review diets with evidence for plaque reversal.
Please come and learn more in a lecture entitled “Nutrition Strategies for a Healthy, Long Life,” to be presented on Tuesday as part of the Healthy Living Lecture Series at 7 p.m. at the University of Alaska Fairbanks’s Murie (life sciences) Building. I look forward to seeing you there.
Dr. Romel C. Wrenn is a doctor of internal medicine, general cardiology, interventional cardiology and cardiovascular CT.
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