Inflammation and heart attack link

[Guest guest]

Thanks Lea . . .

Inflammation and heart attack link

Interesting article, may explain why many of us

developed heart related problems in relation to the

inflammatory response our implants caused. could be

why my elevated heart rate and bp dropped to normal

after explantation.

Inflammation May Forecast Heart Attacks By J.

Cromie Gazette Staff

It's not only smoking, eating large amounts of

cheesecake, and lack of exercise that leads to heart

attacks. It could very well be a long, slow process of

inflammation, according to new evidence found by

researchers at the Medical School.

Their study links relatively high levels of a

substance in blood that increases the " stickiness " of

blood vessels to atherosclerosis and heart attacks.

The researchers tied the sticky stuff to heart attacks

that killed 474 medical doctors participating in the

study. These sticky molecules occur naturally as a

means of fighting infection, but they can also

accelerate formation of deposits that close off

arteries bringing blood to the heart.

" This a gradual, long-term process lasting 20 to 25

years, " says Ridker, associate professor of

medicine. " But it ends in minutes or seconds with a

heart attack. It provides a clue as to why people

start to develop atherosclerosis at a young age. "

Last year, Ridker and his colleagues found another

compound, called C-reactive protein, which raises the

risk of heart attacks and stroke in men. Both it and

the sticky molecules are markers of the inflammatory

process by which the body responds to injury and heals

itself.

Their presence may account for heart attacks that

strike people who don't have high blood pressure,

elevated cholesterol, and other obvious risks factors.

For example, as many as half of all heart attacks

occur in men and women who don't have high

cholesterol.

" By measuring the inflammatory process in blood

vessels, we might be able to better predict heart

disease, " Ridker notes cautiously. Once detected,

lifestyle changes and drugs might slow the inevitable

march to heart disease. Aspirin, for example, reduces

both blood clotting and inflammation, as do other more

expensive drugs. Unsolved is the mystery of what

starts the hidden inflammation in the first place. One

theory implicates viruses, bacteria, and other

microbes. Suspects include herpes and other viruses,

the bacteria responsible for ulcers, and Chlamydia

pneumoniae, a common cause of respiratory illness.

This theory raises the frightening possibility that

people might catch heart disease in the same way they

are infected by viruses and bacteria that cause flu or

tuberculosis. Microbes have been found in

atherosclerotic plaque scraped from human blood

vessels, but no one has proved that one caused the

other. Those who don't dismiss the idea say it might

account for only a small percentage of heart disease.

Ridker calls it this an area that needs more research.

Living Linings

Scientists refer to the sticky molecules as CAMs, or

cellular adhesion molecules. They reside in the thin

lining of blood vessels. Such linings were once

thought of as mere biological Saran Wrap, existing for

the sole purpose of preventing blood from leaking out

of arteries and veins. But many years of research at

the Medical School has shown that vessel linings are

dynamic organs that play a major role in fighting

infection.

" Rather than passive tubes through which the heart

pumps blood, these vessels continuously secrete

molecules necessary to combat infections and to keep

arteries from becoming clogged, " notes

Gimbrone, Friedman Professor of Pathology. Working at

Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Ridker and his

team are the first to link a CAM called ICAM-1, or

intercellular adhesion molecule type 1, to future risk

of a heart attack. They measured levels of this

molecule in the blood of medical doctors whom they

followed for nine years. All were healthy at the start

of the experiment, but 474 of the physicians suffered

a first heart attack during the followup. These men

were matched with 474 doctors who did not develop

heart disease.

" Those with higher levels of ICAM-1 increase their

risk of a first heart attack by 80 percent, " Ridker

explains. " I want to emphasize that such men don't

have a disease. They aren't sick or abnormal. Their

levels of ICAM-1 merely sit at the high end of the

normal range. "

Ridker's group also discovered that men with the

highest levels of C-reactive protein in their blood

had three times the risk of heart attack, and two

times the risk of stroke, compared to those with the

lowest levels. Studies are being done to determine if

the same holds true for women. " We're well along the

way to completing a study that will answer this

question, " Ridker says. There doesn't appear to be any

reason why adhesion molecules would act differently in

women.

" C-reactive protein tells us there's a problem, "

Ridker says. " ICAM-1 gives us insight into exactly

what's happening. "

Adhesion molecules can pick white cells out of blood

as they float by. These white cells, called monocytes

and MACROPHAGES, destroy invading microbes like

viruses and bacteria. The first step in getting them

to the site of an infection involves a union with an

adhesion molecule. Apparently, there is a harmful side

to this healing process. In some people, sticky white

cells get stuck between the blood vessel lining and

the layer of muscles behind the lining. They start

building what are called foam cells, which become

collection points for oxidized low-density

cholesterol, clumps of blood platelets, decaying

muscle cells, fibrous tissue, and even hard calcium

deposits. This arterial refuse then causes raised

patches, or plaques, that disrupt, then block, flow of

blood.

A Clear Warning

The longer inflammation is at work, the greater the

risk of heart attack. " The predictive value of

increased ICAM-1 levels didn't appear until two to

four years into our nine-year followup, " Ridker

reported in the British medical journal Lancet.

" During years four to eight, the effect became more

prominent. "

The kind of warnings provided by relatively high

levels of ICAM-1 and C-reactive protein " should

motivate people to take risk factors they can control

more seriously, " Ridker adds. Some scientists

speculate that benefits of lowering high cholesterol

levels and elevated blood pressure, not smoking,

exercising, and eating properly could be substantially

greater for people with elevated inflammation than for

those without it.

" An aspirin every other day provides an inexpensive

defense against blood clotting and inflammation, "

Ridker notes. " We're also excited about new

cholesterol-lowering drugs such as pravastatin

(Pravachol). "

Drugs have been developed at Harvard and elsewhere to

prevent adhesion molecules and white cells from

sticking together. Such agents block sites on the

white cells where the adhesion molecules dock.

" We hope the results of our research will spur further

investigation of these experimental drugs, " Ridker

says.

Meanwhile, he and his colleagues are trying to answer

some basic questions. What starts the smoldering

inflammation? They are checking the blood of the

physicians in their study for evidence of chronic

viruses, bacteria, and other microbes like Chlamydia

pneumoniae.

If these infectious microbes aren't responsible for

the heart-stopping buildups, what is? One suspect is

cytokines, molecules that transmit signals among cells

and direct the traffic of white cells to infection

sites. " If cytokines are overactive, perhaps we can

use drugs already available to slow their activity, "

Ridker speculates.

To help support such research, Ridker has just been

awarded a $900,000, three-year grant from the National

Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

[Guest guest]

Lea

I had to look it up, it is also called syndrome, it certainly has lots of your symptoms listed there ! Bless your heart ! Love you ~ Dede

Symptoms of Syndrome See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

[Guest guest]

This is old, but I do have sticky blood syndrome from my silicone breast

implants. Thank you Ilena for this.

Love to all.....Lea

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~````````

inflammation and heart attack link

> post to list:

>

>

> interesting article, may explain why many of us developed heart related

> problems in relation to the inflammatory response our implants caused.

> could be why my elevated heart rate and bp dropped to normal after

> explantation.

>

> *********

>

> SEARCH THE GAZETTE

>

>

> Inflammation May Forecast Heart Attacks

> By J. Cromie

>

> Gazette Staff

>

> It's not only smoking, eating large amounts of cheesecake, and lack of

> exercise that leads to heart attacks. It could very well be a long, slow

> process of inflammation, according to new evidence found by researchers

> at the Medical School.

>

> Their study links relatively high levels of a substance in blood that

> increases the " stickiness " of blood vessels to atherosclerosis and heart

> attacks. The researchers tied the sticky stuff to heart attacks that

> killed 474 medical doctors participating in the study. These sticky

> molecules occur naturally as a means of fighting infection, but they can

> also accelerate formation of deposits that close off arteries bringing

> blood to the heart.

>

> " This a gradual, long-term process lasting 20 to 25 years, " says

> Ridker, associate professor of medicine. " But it ends in minutes or

> seconds with a heart attack. It provides a clue as to why people start

to

> develop atherosclerosis at a young age. "

>

> Last year, Ridker and his colleagues found another compound, called

> C-reactive protein, which raises the risk of heart attacks and stroke in

> men. Both it and the sticky molecules are markers of the inflammatory

> process by which the body responds to injury and heals itself.

>

> Their presence may account for heart attacks that strike people who

don't

> have high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, and other obvious risks

> factors. For example, as many as half of all heart attacks occur in men

> and women who don't have high cholesterol.

>

> " By measuring the inflammatory process in blood vessels, we might be

able

> to better predict heart disease, " Ridker notes cautiously. Once

detected,

> lifestyle changes and drugs might slow the inevitable march to heart

> disease. Aspirin, for example, reduces both blood clotting and

> inflammation, as do other more expensive drugs.

>

> Unsolved is the mystery of what starts the hidden inflammation in the

> first place. One theory implicates viruses, bacteria, and other

microbes.

> Suspects include herpes and other viruses, the bacteria responsible for

> ulcers, and Chlamydia pneumoniae, a common cause of respiratory illness.

>

> This theory raises the frightening possibility that people might catch

> heart disease in the same way they are infected by viruses and bacteria

> that cause flu or tuberculosis. Microbes have been found in

> atherosclerotic plaque scraped from human blood vessels, but no one has

> proved that one caused the other. Those who don't dismiss the idea say

it

> might account for only a small percentage of heart disease. Ridker calls

> it this an area that needs more research.

>

> Living Linings

>

> Scientists refer to the sticky molecules as CAMs, or cellular adhesion

> molecules. They reside in the thin lining of blood vessels. Such linings

> were once thought of as mere biological Saran Wrap, existing for the

sole

> purpose of preventing blood from leaking out of arteries and veins. But

> many years of research at the Medical School has shown that vessel

> linings are dynamic organs that play a major role in fighting infection.

>

> " Rather than passive tubes through which the heart pumps blood, these

> vessels continuously secrete molecules necessary to combat infections

and

> to keep arteries from becoming clogged, " notes Gimbrone,

Friedman

> Professor of Pathology.

>

> Working at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Ridker and his team

> are the first to link a CAM called ICAM-1, or intercellular adhesion

> molecule type 1, to future risk of a heart attack.

>

> They measured levels of this molecule in the blood of medical doctors

> whom they followed for nine years. All were healthy at the start of the

> experiment, but 474 of the physicians suffered a first heart attack

> during the followup. These men were matched with 474 doctors who did not

> develop heart disease.

>

> " Those with higher levels of ICAM-1 increase their risk of a first heart

> attack by 80 percent, " Ridker explains. " I want to emphasize that such

> men don't have a disease. They aren't sick or abnormal. Their levels of

> ICAM-1 merely sit at the high end of the normal range. "

>

> Ridker's group also discovered that men with the highest levels of

> C-reactive protein in their blood had three times the risk of heart

> attack, and two times the risk of stroke, compared to those with the

> lowest levels. Studies are being done to determine if the same holds

true

> for women.

>

> " We're well along the way to completing a study that will answer this

> question, " Ridker says. There doesn't appear to be any reason why

> adhesion molecules would act differently in women.

>

> " C-reactive protein tells us there's a problem, " Ridker says. " ICAM-1

> gives us insight into exactly what's happening. "

>

> Adhesion molecules can pick white cells out of blood as they float by.

> These white cells, called monocytes and MACROPHAGES, destroy invading

> microbes like viruses and bacteria. The first step in getting them to

the

> site of an infection involves a union with an adhesion molecule.

>

> Apparently, there is a harmful side to this healing process. In some

> people, sticky white cells get stuck between the blood vessel lining and

> the layer of muscles behind the lining. They start building what are

> called foam cells, which become collection points for oxidized

> low-density cholesterol, clumps of blood platelets, decaying muscle

> cells, fibrous tissue, and even hard calcium deposits. This arterial

> refuse then causes raised patches, or plaques, that disrupt, then block,

> flow of blood.

>

> A Clear Warning

>

> The longer inflammation is at work, the greater the risk of heart

attack.

> " The predictive value of increased ICAM-1 levels didn't appear until two

> to four years into our nine-year followup, " Ridker reported in the

> British medical journal Lancet. " During years four to eight, the effect

> became more prominent. "

>

> The kind of warnings provided by relatively high levels of ICAM-1 and

> C-reactive protein " should motivate people to take risk factors they can

> control more seriously, " Ridker adds. Some scientists speculate that

> benefits of lowering high cholesterol levels and elevated blood

pressure,

> not smoking, exercising, and eating properly could be substantially

> greater for people with elevated inflammation than for those without it.

>

> " An aspirin every other day provides an inexpensive defense against

blood

> clotting and inflammation, " Ridker notes. " We're also excited about new

> cholesterol-lowering drugs such as pravastatin (Pravachol). "

>

> Drugs have been developed at Harvard and elsewhere to prevent adhesion

> molecules and white cells from sticking together. Such agents block

sites

> on the white cells where the adhesion molecules dock.

>

> " We hope the results of our research will spur further investigation of

> these experimental drugs, " Ridker says.

>

> Meanwhile, he and his colleagues are trying to answer some basic

> questions. What starts the smoldering inflammation? They are checking

the

> blood of the physicians in their study for evidence of chronic viruses,

> bacteria, and other microbes like Chlamydia pneumoniae.

>

> If these infectious microbes aren't responsible for the heart-stopping

> buildups, what is? One suspect is cytokines, molecules that transmit

> signals among cells and direct the traffic of white cells to infection

> sites. " If cytokines are overactive, perhaps we can use drugs already

> available to slow their activity, " Ridker speculates.

>

> To help support such research, Ridker has just been awarded a $900,000,

> three-year grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dede,

I wonder if this is what I have. My rheumatologist and test results show I have thick blood. They want me to take one baby aspirin a day. I have almost every symptom on that website you sent. Very interesting! I have also had that corned beef looking skin before - it doesn't last long but it does happen. I was told that if I got pregnant I have a very high chance of miscarrying. Hum.

Thanks again. You are so wonderful.

Lynn

Re: Fw: inflammation and heart attack link

Lea

I had to look it up, it is also called syndrome, it certainly has lots of your symptoms listed there ! Bless your heart ! Love you ~ Dede

Symptoms of Syndrome

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

[Guest guest]

Hey Lynn ~

I also have levido reticularis, and have had bad all my

life. I remember in fourth grade, this guy I had

a crush on asked me what was wrong with my

skin, and I told him, this is how God made me, and

I will never forget the look on his face.

Many doctors over the years have taken photos of

me because of it. My last hemaglobin was 15.8.

So, I started back on the baby aspirin. I had stopped

it when I read it can cause so much crap. Like

it can alter your blood and show false test results with

your thyroid, sugars, and things like that.

I am taking it again tho. I wonder if there are foods

that thin the blood.

I hope you feel better Lynn ! ! When is your

barium test?

Love Dede

[Guest guest]

Thank you Patty ! I thought I had read something

about this before ! ! I had to back off the garlic

3 weeks ago when I started this round.

That site lead me to this one which is a good informative

one for people with IBS , and constipation etc... :

Trigger Foods & Diet for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Pain, Diarrhea & Constipation .

Hugs DedeSee what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

[Guest guest]

Patty ~

I have aol, and with it, favorites icon is a heart,

if I want to save the page to my fav's, I double

click it, and if I want to include the web page in

an email, I just put my cursor on it, and click,

and hold the click down and drag it to the page

I am writing on, and let go, and it puts it there.

I hope this helps !

Hugs ~ DedeSee what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

[Guest guest]

Absolutely there are foods that thin the blood. Garlic is one of them. http://www.ctds.info/natthinners.html PattyDGRAHAMA@... wrote: Hey Lynn ~ I also have levido reticularis, and have had bad all my life. I remember in fourth grade, this guy I

had a crush on asked me what was wrong with my skin, and I told him, this is how God made me, and I will never forget the look on his face. Many doctors over the years have taken photos of me because of it. My last hemaglobin was 15.8. So, I started back on the baby aspirin. I had stopped it when I read it can cause so much crap. Like it can alter your blood and show false test results with your thyroid, sugars, and things like that. I am taking it again tho. I

wonder if there are foods that thin the blood. I hope you feel better Lynn ! ! When is your barium test? Love Dede

Need a vacation? Get great deals to amazing places on Travel.

[Guest guest]

Yes, honey, this very much like my symptoms. Thank you again for all of the love and support that you give to this group...love you so...Lea

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~````

Re: Fw: inflammation and heart attack link

Lea

I had to look it up, it is also called syndrome, it certainly has lots of your symptoms listed there ! Bless your heart ! Love you ~ Dede

Symptoms of Syndrome

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

[Guest guest]

Dede, How do you make your links? I only know how to copy and paste a web address!! LOL You are a computer whiz!!! I'd love to make links with Titles like yours. PattyDGRAHAMA@... wrote: Thank you Patty ! I thought I had read something about this before ! ! I had to back off the garlic 3 weeks ago when I started this round. That site lead me to this one which is a good informative one for people with IBS , and constipation etc... : Trigger Foods & Diet for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Pain, Diarrhea & Constipation . Hugs Dede See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your

Homepage.

Check out the hottest 2008 models today at Autos.

[Guest guest]

Dede,

I started my aspirin a day again too. I had stopped for a while because I was sick of taking so many drugs. I don't want to risk something worse happening if I can reduce the chances by taking a children's aspirin.

The doctor's office is suppose to call me and set up the barium - no call yet. I am sure I will have to call them to remind them. I am not looking forward to it though - yucky.

Hugs, Lynn

Re: Fw: inflammation and heart attack link

Hey Lynn ~

I also have levido reticularis, and have had bad all my

life. I remember in fourth grade, this guy I had

a crush on asked me what was wrong with my

skin, and I told him, this is how God made me, and

I will never forget the look on his face.

Many doctors over the years have taken photos of

me because of it. My last hemaglobin was 15.8.

So, I started back on the baby aspirin. I had stopped

it when I read it can cause so much crap. Like

it can alter your blood and show false test results with

your thyroid, sugars, and things like that.

I am taking it again tho. I wonder if there are foods

that thin the blood.

I hope you feel better Lynn ! ! When is your

barium test?

Love Dede

[Guest guest]

Thank you Patty.

Re: Fw: inflammation and heart attack link

Absolutely there are foods that thin the blood.

Garlic is one of them.

http://www.ctds. info/natthinners .html

PattyDGRAHAMAAOL (DOT) COM wrote:

Hey Lynn ~

I also have levido reticularis, and have had bad all my

life. I remember in fourth grade, this guy I had

a crush on asked me what was wrong with my

skin, and I told him, this is how God made me, and

I will never forget the look on his face.

Many doctors over the years have taken photos of

me because of it. My last hemaglobin was 15.8.

So, I started back on the baby aspirin. I had stopped

it when I read it can cause so much crap. Like

it can alter your blood and show false test results with

your thyroid, sugars, and things like that.

I am taking it again tho. I wonder if there are foods

that thin the blood.

I hope you feel better Lynn ! ! When is your

barium test?

Love Dede

Need a vacation? Get great deals to amazing places on Travel.