Are you playing Whack-A-Mole with your health?
Your health is NOT an arcade game, where you get a chance if you lose, to put more quarters in the game and play again. A big problem in maintaining our health is that there’s so much information to think about…and much is in conflict with each other, much is still debated, so that we’re not really sure what we should be focusing on, or if what we’re actually doing is really making a substantial difference in our health and health risk.
When it comes to heart attack and stroke, are you winning? Which is your mole? Smoking? Exercise? Cholesterol? Weight? Stress? Which health risk “moles” are you whacking? One? Some? All?
It’s tough! There are too many “risk” moles to whack for heart-attack and stroke, including diabetes, high blood pressure, high total cholesterol, high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, inactivity, smoking, stress, high triglycerides, chronic inflammation, etc. While it is important to improve your “numbers” and stay focused on whacking as many “risk” moles as possible…the whacking of just one mole, really well, may not win the game for you.
I’m going to suggest a new “mole” to whack (or at least to begin learning and talking about) that is rapidly emerging in cardiovascular science. We keep learning through science. For example, we used to focus just on total cholesterol and then science showed us that cholesterol was actually made up of “good” and “bad” cholesterol (both measurable). We are now learning that we can measure the very health and strength of the thin inner arterial lining that actually ruptures, causing the heart attack or stroke itself.
Here’s some news for you — most heart-attacks DON’T occur through a gradual narrowing of an artery, that comes with warning signs of chest pain (angina) and shortness of breath. Most heart-attacks (84%*) occur due to a rupture of a very thin lining (endothelial lining) on the inside of your artery that allows the foamy, waxy, plaque build-up to escape, either causing a sudden heart-attack or stroke (if it breaks off). – *Prevent & Reverse Heart Disease, Esselstyn
Want to see an animation of what actually occurs the moments before, the moment of, and the moments immediately after a heart attack? Here’s what it looks like.
A little more news. If you were raised on (or continue to consume) a typical American diet of meat, milk, cheese, fried foods, sugared sodas, etc., studies show that you probably already have plaque built up inside your arterial lining. It seems logical then, that your efforts, now, should be to strengthen the lining (or a least quit weakening it) and stop doing those things that may cause it to rupture…while not adding to the plaque build-up.
Fundamentally, the lining is the key. If it doesn’t tear, the rupture doesn’t happen, and the sudden heart-attack or stroke doesn’t happen.
Now…your marching orders! Seek out the information, Google, be ahead of the “curve” and really learn how heart-attacks and strokes occur and the role of the endothelial cells/lining in the process. Learn what strengthens and weakens the endothelial lining. You may be surprised that the #1 way to strengthen the lining is through a diet including more plants and less casein protein (animal based protein)! To start, go to — www.heartattackproof.com. Watch one of the taped lectures you can find there. And….strengthen that lining!
—– Dismissed!
