Dr. Soto

Arterial Hypertension

2010-02-01T17:11:00.000-08:00

Arterial Hypertension

Currently, approximately 40 million people in the United States alone, as well as hundreds of millions around the world, need and habitually use medications to control arterial high blood pressure. This is due to the fact that serious complications exist because of AH (Arterial Hypertension) such as:

1. Cerebral Hemorrhage - cerebro-vascular accident or stroke

2. Conjuntival or intraocular hemorrhage

3. Formation and ruptures of aneurism - defects in arterial wall

4. Renal insufficiency

5. Myocardial hypertrophy with possible cardiac insufficiency - enlarged heart

6. Sexual impotence

7. Tinnitus - a constant hearing of heartbeats or ringing in the ears

In general terms, we can say that the blood pressure should be maintained lower than 140/90 in adults. A rule that can be applied is to obtain the maximum systolic pressure for an adult person by adding a constant of 74 to the age of the patient. For example, if we had a 50 year old patient we would add 74 + 50 and obtain a maximum reading of 124mm/Hg as the target pressure.

What do these figures mean and what do they reveal?

The first figure is known as systolic pressure. It is the force with which the heart pushes blood out toward the circulatory system. The second figure is known as diastolic pressure. This is the pressure maintained when the heart is at rest; in other words it is the resistance that the arteries give against the flow of blood. The diastolic pressure can increase for a variety of reasons including arterial obstruction, the influence of a chronic renal condition, or because of an increase in weight. Either way, the heart is forced to work harder, causing an elevation of blood pressure. The purpose of removing arterial obstruction is to reduce this pressure and thus make it easier for your heart to work.

A similar experiment can be done by taking a regular straw and a coffee straw and then trying to blow as hard as you can into both. The result is that you will have a harder time blowing through the smaller straw; in much the same way that your heart will have a harder time pumping blood through narrow arteries.

An elevated pressure can, with time, harm vital organs such as the brain, heart, and the kidneys due to lack of blood. It is also usual to suffer more minor symptoms such as headaches, blurred vision, tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and peripheral neuropathy (numbness of hands and feet); all of which can affect each organ in the body.

Treatments for Arterial Hypertension

In the pharmacological market, there are numerous medications that are used to lower arterial pressure. Some medications are more complicated than others, so I will give a brief general description.

· Diuretics

There are different kinds of diuretics. The general purpose is to cause a loss of water from the body, and thus lower arterial pressure. The problem is that along with water loss, potassium, magnesium, and other minerals that are very important to the human organism are also lost. These minerals must be replaced periodically to avoid muscular and cardiac fatigue.

· Beta Blockers

These so called medications diminish the cardiac rhythm, and lower cardiac frequency to alarming levels; however these are not good for lowering pressure. They can also be very risky for diabetic and hypoglycemic patients because beta blockers can hide a crisis of blood sugar, as the body’s defenses are diminished.

· Antagonistic Calcium

These work to effect the relaxation of the smooth musculature of the arterial walls. They can be used in a single dose day to day, and they have a moderate effect on arterial pressure. The risk is for people who suffer from cardiac insufficiency, since they weaken the ability of the heart muscle to contract, leaving propensity for pulmonary edema (water in the lungs).

· Angiotensine Blockers

These are designed to block a powerful renal enzyme called angiotensine I, from affecting the arteries. This provokes a generalized spasm which causes a relaxation of the smooth musculature of the blood vessels; when the diameter of hundreds of miles of arteries increases, pressure is lowered. These should be taken one to several times a day. The complications are arterial hypotension (low pressure). Even though this effect is temporary, it can be concluded that these medications are relatively safe.

Natural Treatments for AH

· Calcium

Calcium is a vital mineral for muscular contraction and relaxation, especially in the arteries of the heart. For this reason, calcium should be taken on a daily basis before bedtime for a better night’s sleep. The dosage should be between 500 and 1500 mg a day.

· Potassium

This important mineral is involved in muscular construction. It tends to be lost with the use of diuretics, and should be replaced with consumption of foods that are rich in potassium, such as avocados, tomatoes, and bananas. Potassium capsules tend to cause gastritis, thus I recommend that they be taken with food. The dosage for potassium varies between 500 and 1500 mg daily, but your doctor must prescribe it.

· Magnesium

This is less abundant in the human organism than calcium, but it helps to balance it. A dosage of 250 to 500 mg should be taken daily after breakfast.

· Garlic

Garlic has been used for centuries to lower blood pressure. Garlic aged in apple cider vinegar increases its potency. It can be kept up to one month, and should be eaten in small pieces daily. In doing this, we are helping to diminish the accumulation of plaque, thus reducing the risk of developing blood clots.

· Coenzyme Q10

This enzyme is found in great quantities in the muscle, and can be obtained by ingesting red meat. However, eating meat also means eating fat. For this reason, it is better to take CoQ10 in capsules. The dosage for a hypertensive patient varies between 90 and 180 mg daily. It should be taken in three doses after meals. CoQ10 helps both the contraction and relaxation of the heart muscle.

· Fiber

Fiber is an essential element in the human diet. Sadly it is ever decreasing in our food. The lack of fiber causes fats to be more readily absorbed by the body and coagulation of the blood increases. This can lead to increased risk of cardiac infraction as well as cerebral hemorrhage. The ingestion of fiber in our diet helps to maintain or decrease our weight. Fiber is a component in our food that is not digested and thus forms fecal material and thus prevents constipation and diminishes the absorption of toxic materials that can cause a worsening of the conditions caused by AH.

In my practice, I always include a supplement of natural fiber to my patients who suffer from cardiac conditions, as well as those with AH.We should consider that every pathological illness should be treated in an integral manner. Remember that aerobic exercise, such as walking for 30-40 minutes a day, can prolong your life span by about 10 years. Not only that but you can add life to your years. Be being proactive and treating your conditions from all angles, you will feel much better and add not only quantity but also quality to your life.

Another reminder: cigarettes and alcohol are strictly prohibited as these lead to the deterioration of the arterial wall, and provoke hardening of the arteries.

Until next time, God bless.

Causes of Cancer

2010-02-01T10:32:00.000-08:00

Causes of Cancer

Cancer is the name used to refer to abnormal degenerative changes that any cell of the body can undergo. These cells lead to abnormal, inefficient, and invasive tissue, with a tendency to live forever.

Every day, our bodies recognize and eliminate abnormal cells that want to grow into abnormal cells and abnormal tissue. Once detected, they are destroyed and eliminated.

As we age, however, two things occur that increase the chances of acquiring cancer. First, our bodies become less and less able identify and kill abnormal cells. Second, habitual actions from our diets, exposures, and other factors lead to an increase in abnormal cells for our bodies to fight off.

Cancer cells are not caused by one single factor, but rather different stimuli can affect different organs, eventually leading to a weakened immune system response. These factors, combined with debilitating diseases, emotional distress or even depression can lead to an ideal environment for cancer to grow.

Cancer Causes We Can Not Avoid

Genetic Predisposition: sometimes people are born with pre-disposed conditions that lead to abnormal cell generation. Such is the case with childhood cancer, breast cancer with presence of oncogene, or some forms of leukemia.

Cancer from Diet

· Charcoal: burned food like bread, fat, beef, etc. produce acidity that can cause stomach and colon cancers

· Fried white flour: French fires, donuts, churros, etc. can also cause stomach cancer

· Pickled veggies: because of high acidity, can cause stomach cancer

· Chronic alcohol consumptions: can lead to liver, breast, and pancreatic cancer

· High sugar consumption: may cause insulin resistance, the same that is linked to prostate cancer.

· Drinking water from PVC bottles: leads to cancer of the kidneys, urinary bladder and prostate.

Cancer from Overexposure

· Electromagnetic changes: from overexposure to cell phones, electric transformers, and other devices with high current charges can lead to brain cancer or leukemia

· Tobacco: may lead to mouth, tongue, throat, lung, breast, endometrial and prostate cancer

· Ultraviolet Light: without protection, may cause skin cancer

· Gamma radiation and some chemotherapies used in Leukemia: linked to lymphomas

· Agricultural Carcinogenic: caused by poly-carbon, benzyl, formaldehyde, and others leaking into the food chain.

· Nitrates: can increase chances of kidney and prostate cancers

Cancer from Other Diseases

· Chronic Acid Reflux: linked to esophageal changes known as Barret esophagus, that in 26% of the time can turn into adenocarcinoma, a cancer that kills 80% of patients after 5 years

· Viral Infections with Epstein Barr: can trigger lymph node cancer or cancer of the nose and sinus

· Human Papiloma Virus: can lead to cervical and anal carcinomas

Mercury Intoxication

2010-02-01T09:35:00.000-08:00

Mercury Intoxication

One of my patients, we’ll call her Ms Smith, came to me recently complaining about having chronic fatigue for over a year. She was undergoing treatment by other physicians for depression without any improvement. After doing a through investigation and physical exam, I found she had deteriorated amalgam fillings and a history of eating canned tuna.

Initial hair and urine tests proved nothing irregular, so she was given oral DMSA and a dose of N Acetyl Cysteine. A subsequent urine test about 4 hrs later showed that her mercury levels had risen from 1.3 mcg/dl (normal levels) to 13 mcg/dl (abnormal). The DMSA was cleansing her system of its toxically high levels of mercury.

Ms. Smith was then placed on a 3 month DMSA and nutritional support program to eliminate subsequent traces of mercury, and has since been enjoying greatly improved energy levels.

How is Mercury Ingested?

Mercury (Hg) is a toxic metal that was used for centuries as a colorant for ceramic, causing intoxication in many antique cultures including China, Persia and Africa. Nowadays, Hg is used as a food preservative (seeds), a vaccine preservative as Thymerosal, or in less developed countries as a topical antiseptic called Merthiolate. I was treated with Merthiolate when I was little whenever I had erosions or mosquito bites.

Mercury is a waste of industry pollution that is disposed of into local water supplies. Large fish eat absorb most of it, so the bigger the fish, the more Mercury is found in its flesh. Thus shark, swordfish, and tuna contain some of the highest levels of Hg among seafood. Mercury is also found in some new fluorescent bulbs that are sold to save energy. This is why, when one of these is broken, it is recommended that you evacuate your home immediately until it can be properly contained. Furthermore, Hg is founding all amalgam fillings bound with silver and nickel. The toxic form is called methyl mercury, which can leak out of your teeth and find its way to the veins and lymphatic system in the roof of your mouth and then go on to the brain.

What are the Dangers of Mercury Intoxication?

Mercury can cause short-term memory impairment and unintentional tremors; symptoms that are sometimes misinterpreted as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s diseases. In children, Hg present in some vaccines can cause Autism.

Additionally, long exposure to Hg within the intestinal flora causes an overpopulation of anaerobic bacteria in the gut, thus resulting in production of xenobiotics and carcinogenic agents. These elements generally cause fatigue and also increase the risk of developing cancer.

What can be done to Repair Mercury Intoxication?

· Body Cleanse: Chelation is the most effective method proven to flush harsh metals

and other toxins from within the body. AMG has used its proprietary Advansol chelation formula to treat hard metal intoxication in over 250,000 people.

· Repair Damage: Along with the chelating agent, I usually recommend the use of

o Pre and Probiotics to regenerate the intestinal flora.

o Aloe Vera Gel to close the pores of the small intestine.

o Glutamine to help the reconstruction of the intestinal epithelium.

At Advanced Medical Group, the treatment is integrative. Instead of treating the symptoms, we get to the root cause of the problem. We recognize the importance of the patient’s role in his or her health, especially when trying to solve the root of the issue, as this usually involves dietary and habitual changes. Thus one of our most important goals is education. We remove the cause and repair the damage done, then instruct our patients to prevent further problems by taking control of their health.

Dr. Francisco R. Soto

Medical Director, Advanced Medical Group