… he has identified how two different kinds of Chlamydia can cause both coronary artery disease and miscarriages. Solving one mystery gave him clues that he needed to figure out the other. By focusing on the immune system mechanisms in Chlamydia infections, Azenabor has identified an important link in seemingly unrelated health problems. The result could be new treatments and prevention strategies for both heart disease and infertility. Chlamydia pneumoniae is a microbe that normally causes pneumonia and bronchitis, but it has long been associated with atherosclerosis, a cardiovascular disease also called “hardening of the arteries.”

Huh? Chlamydia? Yes, when the macrophages’ cell walls are infected with the C. pneumoniae their usually tight cholesterol, which they regularly store, traffics that cholesterol into the cell membrane’s and cause them to become rigid and unable to move…

The bacteria also “hijacks” the cells signaling in a way that helps promote the existence of the Chlamydia pneumoniae. The bacterium also disturbs the macrophage’s production of toxins in a process that transforms them into “signaling molecules,” which support functions that keep the bacterium alive. Because of this the bacteria can very quickly reproduce and accumulate in the blood vessels causing stiffening and heart disease, ie. atherosclerosis.

Find this interesting? Hey- your not alone! Check out more here.

Post from: Blisstree

Chlamydia and heart disease…

The study found people with RLS were more than twice as likely to have cardiovascular disease or cerebrovascular disease. The results remained the same after adjusting for age, sex, race, body mass index, diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood pressure medication, HDL/LDL cholesterol levels, and smoking.

The more movement one has at night, hence your legs twitching and contracting, the higher your sleeping blood pressure. This could be one way of dissecting the results.

via Consumer Affairs

Post from: Blisstree

Restless Leg Syndrome Increases Risk Of Heart Disease By Two Fold

… he has identified how two different kinds of Chlamydia can cause both coronary artery disease and miscarriages. Solving one mystery gave him clues that he needed to figure out the other. By focusing on the immune system mechanisms in Chlamydia infections, Azenabor has identified an important link in seemingly unrelated health problems. The result could be new treatments and prevention strategies for both heart disease and infertility. Chlamydia pneumoniae is a microbe that normally causes pneumonia and bronchitis, but it has long been associated with atherosclerosis, a cardiovascular disease also called “hardening of the arteries.”

Huh? Chlamydia? Yes, when the macrophages’ cell walls are infected with the C. pneumoniae their usually tight cholesterol, which they regularly store, traffics that cholesterol into the cell membrane’s and cause them to become rigid and unable to move…

The bacteria also “hijacks” the cells signaling in a way that helps promote the existence of the Chlamydia pneumoniae. The bacterium also disturbs the macrophage’s production of toxins in a process that transforms them into “signaling molecules,” which support functions that keep the bacterium alive. Because of this the bacteria can very quickly reproduce and accumulate in the blood vessels causing stiffening and heart disease, ie. atherosclerosis.

Find this interesting? Hey- your not alone! Check out more here.

Post from: Blisstree

Chlamydia Pneumoniae Involved In Heart Disease

In the bloodstream, iron-rich hemoglobin consumes, on contact, any free nitric oxide released by the blood vessels, so the idea that hemoglobin participates in forming nitric oxide had seemed implausible until recently.

Basically…hemoglobin is the iron rich oxygen transport protein in the red blood cells. That is the easiest way I know to explain it but you could always Google if you feel the need, haha.

But seriously, this new implication for this mighty little molecule is big!

…describe how hemoglobin, through a catalytic reaction that does not change its own chemical properties, converts nitrite salt to the vasodilator nitric oxide. The paper further documents how the nitric oxide activity harnessed by hemoglobin escapes the red blood cell to regulate blood flow and how the process, surprisingly, relies on the oxidized, or rusted, form of hemoglobin, previously associated only with diseased states.

Since nitrite has been the subject of heavy research in the recent, this could further aid in such conditions as sickle cell, cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction and stroke. This really is an amazing find being that the specifics of hemoglobin’s intermediate molecule has eluded researchers for centuries.  Gosh, I love science!

via Science Daily

Post from: Blisstree

New Function Of Hemoglobin To Aid In Cardiovascular Disease

Eating garlic is one of the best ways to lower high blood pressure and protect yourself from cardiovascular disease. A new study from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) shows this protective effect is closely linked to how much hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is produced from garlic compounds interacting with red blood cells

I hear everybody loud and clear and love me some stinky garlic but… is it whole garlic, fresh garlic, minced garlic, garlic powder or does it matter if the garlic is heated to a certain temperature? This is what I ponder on a Saturday night. How sad! Haha.

So what have you heard? I did catch something on television last week stating that the garlic pills are no good because it is a certain part of the garlic that is imperative in helping in heart disease. Have you heard that same thing? Just thought I would put it out there before I go “funkafying” my breath in a bad way.

via University of Alabama at Birmingham

Post from: Blisstree

Garlic And Blood Pressure- What’s The Real Deal?

A study published in the July 2007 issue of The American Journal of Medicine found that people 45 to 64 years of age who added healthy lifestyle behaviors could substantially reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease.

Once these people achieved 4 healthy behaviors, eating at least 5 fruits and vegetables daily, exercising at least 2.5 hours per week, maintaining their Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18.5 and 30 kg/m, and not smoking, investigators saw a 35% reduction in CVD incidence and a 40% reduction in mortality compared to people with less healthy lifestyles.

So how many of you are willing to make that change? Honestly, be real, do you have what it takes? The same study showed that less than 9% of people over the age of 40 attempt to change their lifestyle even after knowing the benefits.

It’s hard to kick it into high gear with all of our daily responsibilities, but don’t you think it is worth it? Get your big ol’ backside moving and make that change, I will do it with you. Being a diabetic, I exercise regularly and eat semi-healthy, but let’s start a “fat blogging” exercise type club. I will share my results and progress with you, and a few of my shameful stories, and y’all share with me. Come on, it’ll be fun. Whatcha think? Deal?

Post from: Blisstree

Your Healthy Lifestyle Change Could Be More Beneficial Then You Think

Resistance over time. The frequency of aspirin resistance may increase over time. Several studies have demonstrated a progressive reduction in aspirin’s ability to inhibit platelet aggregation over long-term treatment.^23,58,59 There may be a role for platelet sensitivity testing in aspirin responders who receive chronic therapy.

There is substantial research to validate the claim of aspirin resistance. Many studies have looked at outcomes and prognosis’, and there seems to be a direct correlation. What is one to do if they develop aspirin resistance? Researchers are currently looking down that avenue as well.

The clinical management of patients with aspirin resistance is still under investigation. Theoretically, the addition of thienopyridines such as ticlopidine and clopidogrel may seem to be an ideal method of overcoming aspirin resistance since they inhibit platelet aggregation independently of aspirin.

Researchers are still determining the exact point within platelet aggregation, clotting, where aspirin resistance occurs. For now, we know that outcomes will be compromised by resistance, but there are alternative ways to provide treatment for these patients.

via Science Daily

Post from: Blisstree

Aspirin Resistance Growing Concern For Cardiovascular Patients