If you want to reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke - Get the lead out

Friday, March 11, 2011 by: K.L. Carlson
Tags: lead poisoning, heart attacks, health news

(NaturalNews) You may be one of the millions of people worldwide who are taking statin drugs to lower their cholesterol level and lulled into the false impression that reducing cholesterol will reduce risk of cardiovascular disease. The fact is that no study has ever shown statin drugs prevent heart disease. Several studies have shown that both men and women with the lowest cholesterol levels died earlier of all causes.

If you want to reduce your risk of developing heart disease, suffering heart attack or stroke, get a total body burden test for heavy metals. A study reported in the medical journal Circulation found that adults with the very small level of lead toxicity of only 2 micrograms per deciliter or more, caused dramatic increases in heart attacks, strokes and death. The study found that even after controlling for all other cardiovascular risk factors including high blood pressure, the risk of heart attack increased by an astounding 151 percent, the risk of stroke increased by 89 percent, and the risk of death from heart disease increased by 55 percent.

The aorta, the main artery of the body, is a primary area where lead accumulates. From the heart, the aorta supplies oxygenated blood to the circulatory system. It is no wonder that even small amounts of lead can increase the risk of cardiovascular events and death. Lead anemia is common and often overlooked by traditional healthcare practitioners, who usually advise taking iron supplements. This merely treats the symptom of lead toxicity and allows the lead to cause greater damage. It also poisons the body with excessive iron.

The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reported in 2003 that high blood pressure in postmenopausal women is strongly correlated to blood lead levels. Bones are another area of the body where lead is deposited. Aging, especially in women, causes bones to decalcify and lead is released into the blood where it can damage the vascular system and accumulate in other areas of the body.

The kidney is another organ that may be damaged by lead. The New England Journal of Medicine reported a study that found using the chelation agent EDTA to remove lead in patients with kidney failure could prevent further loss of kidney function. The researchers concluded that lead detoxification could eliminate the need for dialysis for millions of people worldwide and save billions of dollars.

Lead is extremely toxic in the developing bodies of children. "There is no known threshold below which adverse effects of lead do not occur and recent studies demonstrate that lead-associated intellectual deficits occur at lead levels less than 10 ug/dL," states a report by the American Association of Pediatrics. In other words, there is no safe level for lead.

There is a highly significant link between lead toxicity and the likelihood of criminal activity in children according to a study by Deborah Denno, Ph.D. The study followed 1000 children from birth to age 22 years. The results found the best predictor of aggressive behavior in school, juvenile delinquency, and eventual criminal violence is the degree of lead toxicity. Several other studies have confirmed the findings of the study.

Where is lead coming from? Industrial waste creates lead dust that can be inhaled and gets into soil and water. Lead based paints were not banned in the U.S. until 1978 so many homes and apartments still have lead paint that creates lead dust. Toys from China have been found to have lead based paints. Lead soldered joints in plumbing can contaminate drinking water and cities with old water mains may be causing lead contamination of water. Washington D.C. had such high levels of lead in their water system that they began to distribute water filters to residents. Other sources of lead include: vehicle batteries, art supplies, bullets, fishing sinkers, radiation shields, some ceramic glazes and sewage sludge. Cosmetics may contain lead. A study published in 2007 found lead in all 33 brands of red lipstick tested, including an all-natural brand. Even dietary supplements may contain lead.

The Australian website, Lead Action News, lists over 60 health effects and symptoms of lead poisoning. The website warns, "Most people who are lead poisoned present no symptoms at all." That is why lead poisoning is a silent killer. A person can have lead toxicity and have minor symptoms such as hair loss (easily blamed on aging) and then suddenly suffer a massive heart attack.

The most effective testing for heavy metal toxicity is to use a chelation agent such as DMSA, EDTA, or DMPS. Find a healthcare provider who uses a chelation test to learn your full body burden of heavy metals. Blood and hair tests for heavy metals do not provide an accurate total body burden. Chelation agents chemically bind with all heavy metals, drawing the metals from all tissues and allowing the toxins to be safely released in urine. If you do have lead or other heavy metals, including mercury, in your body, there are several chelation methods that can be used for treatment after you have your test results.

Sources for this article include:

Schatz, I.J., et al., "Cholesterol and All-Cause Mortality in Elderly People from the Honolulu Heart Program: a cohort study," The Lancet, vol. 358, 9279:351-55.

"Cholesterol Skeptics and the Bad News About Statin Drugs," by Maryann Napoli, www.medicalconsumers.org/pages/cholesterol_s....

Menke, A., Mutner, P., Batuman, V., et al., "Blood Lead Below 0.48 micromol/L (10 micrograms/dL) and Mortality Among U.S. Adults," Circulation 2006, 114 (13): 1388 - 94.

Nash, P., Magder, L., Lustberg, M., et al., "Blood Lead, Blood Pressure, and Hypertension in Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Women," Journal of the American Medical Association, 2003, 289 (12): 1523-32.

Lin, J.L., Lin-Tan, P.T., Hsu, K.H., and C.C. Yu, "Environmental Lead Exposure and Progression of Chronic Renal Disease in Patients with Diabetes," New England Journal of Medicine, 2003, 348 (4): 277-86.

www.lead.org.au/fs/fst7.html

Richardson, J. W., "The Cost of Being Poor: Poverty, Lead Poisoning, and Policy Implementation," The Journal of the American Medical Association, 2006, 295:204.

www.azsba.org/lead3strange.htm

Lanphear, B.P., "Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention, Too Little, Too Late," The Journal of The American Medical Association, 2005, 293:2274-76.



About the author:
K.L. Carlson is a former pharmaceutical representative turned whistleblower and author of the compelling book, Diary of a Legal Drug Dealer, One Drug Rep. Dares to Tell You the Truth. Carlson is included in the documentary films Making a Killing and Prescription for Death. She is frequently interviewed by radio stations in the U.S.A. and Canada. To read what people are saying about her book visit her website: http://diaryofalegaldrugdealer.com