Innovative Strategies for Overcoming Heart Disease, Breast Cancer and More


by John C. Pittman, MD, and Mark N. Mead, MSc I


t may come as a surprise to many to learn that heart disease is the num- ber one killer of American women. In fact, heart disease killed more Americans in the 20th century than any other disease with the exception of the 1918 flu pandemic. Nearly one of ev- ery two Americans will die of coronary artery disease (CAD), a blockage of the arteries to the heart. Breast cancer is another major killer of women. Here we present cutting-edge insight into how to better prevent, control and treat these deadly diseases.


It is important to understand that


both CAD and cancer are fueled by chronic inflammation. To more ef- fectively control these diseases, we need to remove factors that help drive inflammation—smoking, obesity, stress, and diets high in refined carbohydrates and “bad” fats. Environmental pollutants, including


heavy metals, are also major con- tributors to inflammation. Research has shown the adverse effects of heavy met- als on the cardiovascular system. In a study published in the May 1999 Jour- nal of the American College of Cardiol- ogy, mercury levels were 22,000 times higher in the heart muscles of individu- als dying of heart failure as compared to those without heart disease. And ac- cording to a September 2006 report in the medical journal Circulation, blood lead levels, even when low enough to be generally considered safe, are linked with an increased risk of death from many causes, including cardiovascular disease and stroke. Heavy metals such as cadmium


have been linked with breast cancer. In recent research, high cadmium levels in the urine were associated with a doubling in breast cancer risk. Both cadmium and mercury are strongly


estrogenic, meaning they stimulate the estrogen receptors found on many breast cancer cells. In theory, any therapy that reduces the body burden of mercury and other toxic metals may help combat or control CAD and breast cancer.


Chelation treatment is the use of


oral and intravenous chelators. These are substances that bind to the metals and ultimately escort them out of the body. Chelation therapy has long been the most powerful non-surgical method for treating cardiovascular disease, and it is increasingly getting attention in the treatment of other diseases as well. The classic and standard form of


chelation is EDTA therapy, which has been used to treat heavy metal toxic- ity since the 1940s, and cardiovascular disease since the 1950s. A 1993 analy- sis of 19 previous studies involving a total of 22,765 patients, found that 87% of heart disease patients who received EDTA chelation treatment showed significant clinical improvement. Multi- center studies show major benefits from EDTA in reducing angioplasty, bypass, heart attack, and death. EDTA chelation consists of an in-


travenous infusion of the chelating drug EDTA, along with vitamins, magnesium, and other components in a protocol developed by the American College for the Advancement of Medicine. One reason conventional doctors have yet to embrace chelation is that the treatment is often not carried out correctly. One key to therapeutic success is supple- menting with minerals and antioxidants between chelation treatments. Mineral infusions help prevent mineral deficits, while antioxidants curb the oxida- tive stress that results as the metals are pulled from deep tissue areas. These measures greatly enhance the efficacy


of chelation therapy and lead to better outcomes. At this time, the American Board of Clinical Metal Toxicology oversees the training and certification for EDTA chelation therapy.


Overcoming Breast Cancer with Thermascan Over the past half century, breast


cancer rates have tripled. Experts agree that early detection offers the best op- portunity for achieving a cure. Howev- er, mammograms are no longer rec- ommended for women under 50, and only every other year for older women. For younger women, a superior strat- egy may be the use of Thermascan, or Breast Thermography—detailed infrared images of the breast utilizing high reso- lution and ultra-sensitive thermographic cameras.


Unlike mammography, Thermascan is pain-free and radiation-free, and can detect malignant breast disease six to eight years earlier than mammography. A persistently abnormal “thermagram” indicates a 22-fold increased risk of future breast cancer. Thus if you have an abnormal thermagram, you have the opportunity to take a series of practi- cal steps to transform conditions within your breast and ward off a potential cancer situation. Thermascan can be used safely in all ages and conditions and is increasingly viewed as the per- fect complement to mammography for women over age 50 (alternating each one every other year).


To learn more, contact the Carolina Center for Integrative Medicine at 919-571-4391, and visit www.carolinacenter.com. See ad on page 10.


natural awakenings May 2011 37


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