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T

he last few decades have witnessed a huge


proliferation of pharmaceutical treatments
for cardiovascular conditions such as high
blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol,
and diabetes. As an interventional cardiologist,
I have seen many patients benet from these
revolutionary drug therapies.
But you may be surprised to nd out that I dont
think drugs are the only treatment that can ght
cardiovascular diseases. In fact, I usually recommend
that patients use pharmaceuticals only to get their
condition under control, and then proceed to other,
nonconventional remedies to maintain their overall
heart health.
And the alternative health market is booming.
Today, Americans spend nearly $40 billion on
nonconventional remedies of varying efectiveness.
Its not surprising that so many people wonder
which therapies work and which dont.
Unfortunately, that question isnt easy to answer.
Alternative remedies do not get the same degree of
stringent government oversight that conventional
drugs and medical procedures must undergo,
so there is vast potential for the marketing of
inefective, and even fraudulent treatments.
In this issue of the Heart Health Report, I will
describe some of the most popular alternative
treatments for high blood pressure, heart disease,
high cholesterol, and diabetes.
You should understand that Im going to use a
very broad denition of alternative, because I want
to ofer the best that nonconventional medicine has
to ofer. That way youre doing the most you can to
protect your heart.
8 Foods That Lower Blood Pressure
Many people think of alternative therapies as a
way to replace conventional drugs or procedures.
I believe the best way to avoid taking drugs is by
making lifestyle changes.
For instance, to reduce your blood pressure, the
best thing you can do is lose weight.
A loss of just 10 pounds can translate to the
elimination of one blood pressure medication, and
people who bring their weight to their ideal level
which is usually what they weighed in high school
ofen get of blood pressure meds completely.
First, think about the foods you eat. While food
isnt generally considered an alternative treatment,
choosing the right foods can lower your blood
pressure without drugs.
The following is a list of some of the best foods
to add to your diet. Because many of these foods are
ber-packed, they also help lower cholesterol. Thats
Supplements That Control Blood Pressure ..... 2
How to Reduce Repeat Heart Attack Risk ....... 3
Case Study: Doing Less Works Better ................ 4
Treating Cholesterol Without Statins ............... 5
Quick Takes: Silent A-Fib Causes Stroke ......... 6
Tooth Care Benets Your Heart ......................... 7
Therapies for Diabetes Prevention .................... 7
Ask Dr. Crandall ................................................... 8
In This Issue . . .
Alternative Treatments to Protect
Your Heart Without Drugs
Vol. 4, Issue 5 / May 2013 By Chauncey Crandall, M.D.
2 May 2013 drcrandall.newsmax.com
a win-win combination.
1. Asparagus is rich in potassium, which lowers
blood pressure. In fact, researchers have found that
potassium citrate, which asparagus contains, is as
efective as a potassium supplement. Asparagus is
also a natural diuretic that rids the body of excess
uid, thereby reducing blood pressure.
2. Hawthorn tea helps the heart function more
efciently and contains a benecial avonoid called
proanthocyanidin, which causes the blood vessels to
relax. I tell my patients to drink a cup daily.
3. Oatmeals cholesterol-lowering benets were
shown in an 18-week controlled study in which
researchers divided 88 people into two groups. One
group ate oatmeal and the other group was given a
whole-grain, oat-based cereal.
Twice the number of people in the group that
ate oatmeal were able to stop taking blood pressure
medication, or cut their dosage in half. To get the
most benet, eat cooked, organic nongenetically
modied oatmeal, not the instant kind.
4. Blueberries have long been known to
be packed with antioxidants that ward of the
cellular damage that comes along with aging.
But their blood pressure-lowering capabilities are
ofen overlooked. Its the natural blue pigment,
anthocyanin, that reduces high blood pressure.
Blueberries also contain a form of pterostilbene,
which is a relative of resveratrol, the benecial
compound found in wine. This chemical is also
particularly helpful in blood pressure control,
according to research presented at the American
Heart Associations (AHA) Scientic Sessions on
High Blood Pressure Research conference, which
was held last fall in Washington, D.C.
5. Nonfat yogurt can also reduce blood
pressure. In another study presented at that AHA
conference, researchers tracked more than 14,000
adults without high blood pressure for 14 years and
found those who ate nonfat yogurt were 31 percent
less likely to develop high blood pressure.
6. Sunower seeds have tremendous health
benets (like all nuts and seeds). But if its blood
pressure lowering youre afer, zero in on these.
In addition to being high in vitamin E, folic acid,
protein, and ber, sunower seeds also contain
blood pressure-lowering magnesium.
7. Beet juice contains nitrates, which are key to
lowering blood pressure. You can reap the benet
if you drink one 16-ounce glass of beet juice daily.
London-based researchers found that people who
drank the beet juice reduced their blood pressure
within an hour, and enjoyed the result well into the
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Please note: All informaton presented in Dr. Crandalls
Heart Health Report is for informatonal purposes only. It is
not specifc medical advice for any individual. All answers to
reader questons are provided for informatonal purposes
only. All informaton presented in Dr. Crandalls Heart Health
Report should not be construed as medical consultaton or
instructon. You should take no acton solely on the basis of
this publicatons contents. Readers are advised to consult
a health professional about any issue regarding their health
and well-being. While the informaton found in Dr. Crandalls
Heart Health Report is believed to be sensible and accurate
based on the authors best judgment, readers who fail to
seek counsel from appropriate health professionals assume
risk of any potental ill efects. The opinions expressed in Dr.
Crandalls Heart Health Report do not necessarily refect
those of Newsmax Media. health
Supplements That Control BP
For some tme, I have personally found that 200
to 400 mg of magnesium supplements helps lower
blood pressure and new clinical research confrms
it. In a recent study, researchers from the University
of Hertordshire (UK) analyzed data from 22 trials
and found that, while magnesium didnt work for
everyone, a signifcant number of people did beneft.
The Chinese herbal remedy Ginkgo biloba has long
been touted as a memory enhancer. But many have
wondered if it also has cardiovascular benefts.
To fnd out, researchers divided 3,069 people over
the age of 75 into two groups. One group was given
a daily ginkgo supplement, and the other group took
a placebo. They were followed for six years and the
researchers found that the ginkgo supplement did not
confer any beneft when it comes to preventng heart
atack, stroke, or death.
They also found that ginkgo did not lower blood
pressure, and it also had no efect on dementa.
May 2013 3 newsmaxhealth.com
next day. If you dont like beets or beet juice, celery,
lettuce, spinach, and arugula are also nitrate-rich.
8. Potatoes ofen get a bad rap, but they can
actually help lower blood pressure because they
are rich in potassium and magnesium. A study
published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food
Chemistry last year showed that 18 people who were
overweight and had high blood pressure were able
to reduce it by eating small, purple potatoes.
The key is that you must bake, boil, or
microwave them never fry. And forgo the butter,
bacon, and sour cream. Just add a touch of olive oil
and fresh herbs such as parsley.
Chelation Reduces Repeat
Heart Attack Risk
Some people contend that the pollutants we are
bombarded with daily cause a buildup of lead, other
metals, and harmful minerals in the blood. They
further suggest that this is a major cause of heart
disease. Ive long been a skeptic, but new research
has persuaded me to take a second look.
Every year, about 100,000 Americans undergo
chelation, an intravenous process that uses a
chemical substance (EDTA) to bind minerals and
metals in the body so that they can be excreted
through the urine.
I had long dismissed chelation for treating
heart disease because I didnt see evidence that
it works. But the results of a recent clinical study
sponsored by the National Institutes of Health
and the National Center for Alternative and
Complementary Medicine indicate otherwise.
For this multicenter trial, called TACT (Trial
to Assess Chelation Therapy), researchers divided
1,708 heart attack survivors into two groups; one
half received chelation therapy and the other half
got a placebo treatment. The subjects were followed
for about ve years to determine whether chelation
reduced the likelihood that they would sufer a
cardiovascular event such as:
Heart attack
Stroke
Angioplasty
Cardiac bypass surgery
Hospitalization for chest pain
Thus far, two studies have been presented from
this research. In March, scientists presented ndings
to the American Heart Associations Scientic
Sessions demonstrating that chelation therapy,
given in combination with high doses of vitamins,
reduced the risk of cardiovascular events by 18
percent. In the part of the study that looked at
vitamins alone, there was no efect.
A few months earlier, using the same data,
researchers had found that patients who received
chelation alone also reduced their risk though
not as much as when vitamin therapy was added.
Unfortunately, chelation is not cheap; it costs
about $5,000 per course of treatment. As of now, I
am not recommending it in place of conventional
cardiac treatment for most of my patients.
However, I plan to begin ofering it to patients
who have heart disease that is very difcult to treat
About Chauncey Crandall
Chauncey W. Crandall, M.D.,
F.A.C.C., is chief of the cardiac
transplant program at the
world-renowned Palm Beach
Cardiovascular Clinic in Palm
Beach Gardens, Fla., where
he practices interventional,
vascular, and transplant
cardiology. Dr. Crandall
received his post-graduate training at Yale University
School of Medicine, where he also completed three
years of research in the cardiovascular surgery
division. He lectures nationally and internationally on
preventive cardiology, cardiological healthcare of the
elderly, healing, interventional cardiology, and heart
transplants. Known as the Christian physician, Dr.
Crandall has been heralded for his values and message
of hope to all his heart patients.
Continued on page 5
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4 May 2013 drcrandall.newsmax.com
The Case for Doing Less, Not More
Heart Health Case History of the Month
In each issue, I will share with you the story
of one of my patients, detailing how making
changes to your life can radically improve your
heart health. Names and some details have been
changed for privacys sake, but the problems and
their resolutions are real.
Dr. Chauncey Crandall
One recent afernoon, I headed to the emergency
room to evaluate Sam, whose daughter had brought
him to the hospital because he was experiencing mild
aching in his chest, as well as feeling generally sick
and also a bit confused.
Though he was 90, Sam was usually very upbeat,
according to his daughter. However, he had recently
come under strain because his wife, Olivia, was in a
rehabilitation center following a bout of pneumonia.
Unfortunately, Olivia had developed Alzheimers
disease and Sam was her sole caretaker.
I have to get back to her, he told me anxiously.
The longer Olivia is alone in the rehab center, the
more frightened she becomes, and I think shes going
to get worse.
I sympathized, of course, but Sams health was
my main responsibility. And even though he wasnt
sufering the classic symptoms, I suspected that he
was having a heart attack.
Heart Atack Symptoms Are
Diferent in Elderly Men
For most men, severe chest pain usually heralds the
onset of a heart attack. However, this is not the case
in elderly people. In fact, elderly men are more likely
to experience heart attack symptoms that are similar
to women of any age, including milder, more difuse
chest pain that is felt in places other than the chest,
such as the shoulder or back.
Other symptoms, such as anxiety, a feeling of
pressure, fatigue, shortness of breath, vomiting, and
nausea can also occur. Mental confusion is common,
and can be misinterpreted as a stroke.
I gave Sam an electrocardiogram, or EKG, which
is a test that measures the hearts electrical activity.
This test indicated that despite his seemingly mild
symptoms, Sam was indeed sufering a major heart
attack.
Sam was taken to the cardiac catheterization lab so
he could undergo a coronary catheterization, which
uses dye to trace the ow of blood to his three main
coronary arteries. The result was bad news. Sam had
sufered a widow maker, an ofen-fatal type of heart
attack that occurs when the lef coronary artery
(LAD), the major coronary blood vessel, is blocked. In
fact, we could still see the remains of the blood clot
that had ruptured there.
In addition, Sams other two coronary arteries were
moderately clogged as well. We knew that if we didnt
restore blood to his main artery, a second heart attack
would surely follow, and would most likely kill him.
The Best Course of Acton
If Sam were a younger man, there would have been
no question we would have performed cardiac
bypass surgery, removing veins from elsewhere in his
body to re-establish blood ow to the heart. But in
Sams case, there were other considerations.
Coronary bypass surgery can be performed on
90-year-olds, but the threat of complications is
much greater. It would also mean several weeks of
recuperation, and that would greatly extend the time
that Olivia would have to stay in the rehab center
alone. That course of action would have major health
consequences for both of them.
Instead, I recommended that Sam undergo
angioplasty and have a stent placed in the blocked
artery, which would restore blood ow to the LAD
without the need for major surgery. We also put Sam
on medications to assist the ow of blood in his other
two coronary arteries.
Within a few days, Sam was home and ready for
Olivia, who was released from the rehab center the
following week. Thank you so much, Dr. Crandall,
Sam told me, on his follow-up visit. I am so happy to
be with Olivia again. I think that my worrying about
her being lef alone in that rehab center helped bring
that heart attack on.
In my 30 years of practice, I have learned that the
obvious course of medical treatment is not always
the optimal choice. Patients circumstances can vary
widely, and ofen their welfare depends not only
on medicine, but the best course of action that will
restore not only their physical health, but also their
emotional well-being.
In Sams case, the right thing was to make sure that
he not only got the right medical help, but also the
right support so he and his wife could be reunited. o
May 2013 5 newsmaxhealth.com
with medication, as well as those who have heart
disease along with another cardiovascular condition
such as diabetes.
Treating Cholesterol Without Statins
One of the questions I get most ofen is if there
are alternatives to using the class of cholesterol-
lowering drugs called statins. In truth, many people
who take statins probably shouldnt, because their
cholesterol problems are not serious enough to
warrant such a strong drug. Some cant tolerate
statins because of their side efects, which include:
Headaches
Muscle aches and weakness
Dizziness and drowsiness
Nausea and/or vomiting
Abdominal cramping and diarrhea
The good news is that there are supplements
that can treat high cholesterol naturally. The bad
news is that none are as efective as statin therapy.
But there is one that comes very close. Red yeast
rice contains a substance that is chemically identical
to the active ingredient in a statin drug.
Unfortunately, quality control is a problem. Red
yeast rice is manufactured in China, and there have
been instances of the product being laced with a
statin to enhance the efect. This is an illegal and
dangerous practice.
Niacin (vitamin B3) is also a very efective way to
lower LDL cholesterol, boost HDL cholesterol, and
transform small, dense LDL particles into a more
harmless type.
When taking niacin, you should start of with
250 mg and build up to 1,500 to 3,000 mg daily
which may take up to two years.
Also, be cautious about adding niacin if you
already take statins. In a recent study of 26,000
patients, those who took both niacin and a statin
experienced an increase in adverse side efects,
researchers reported in the European Heart Journal.
Fish oil is my primary weapon for lowering
triglycerides, which increase risk for stroke even
more than LDL cholesterol. I recommend 2,000 mg
daily. Because it is a natural blood thinner, if you
notice bruising, quit taking it altogether.
Flaxseed, axseed oil, and axseed lignans have
all been studied for their cholesterol-lowering
properties. I nd they have a mildly positive efect.
Probiotics help maintain good digestive health.
These helpful bacteria also help prevent cholesterol
from being reabsorbed, and therefore lower the
amount of it in the blood.
Study results have been mixed, but in a
randomized study reported this fall, researchers
from McGill University found that participants
taking probiotics saw their cholesterol drop by 9
percent. My recommendation is 2 to 4 capsules daily.
Garlic, which is lauded for a number of
benecial cardiac efects, is also a mild cholesterol
and blood pressure reducer. I recommend 1 or 2
capsules a day.
Lastly, vitamin C ofers a variety of health
benets and has also been found to exert a mild
cholesterol-lowering efect. I recommend 2,000 units
daily for this purpose.
Continued on page 7
Continued from page 3
Look for the USP Label
One of the problems with buying vitamins and
supplements is that the FDA does not regulate them
the way they regulate prescripton drugs. As a result,
you may not be getng the potency you expect.
Researchers analyzed 55 diferent botles
of vitamin D. The pills came from the same
manufacturer, but were from diferent lots. They
found potencies as low as 9 percent and as high as
140 percent of the listed dose.
Although supplement manufacturers dont have to
conform to FDA standards, they can comply with the
standards set by the U.S. Pharmacopeial Conventon
(USP), which helps ensure quality.
When buying your supplements, look for the USP
stamp on the botle.
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6 May 2013 drcrandall.newsmax.com
Quick Takes: Tips for Better Heart Health Now
Silent A-Fib Causes Stroke
According to a new study, people
who sufer a stroke for no apparent
reason should be tested for what is
called silent atrial brillation, a
condition that raises stroke risk but
does not turn up during routine
cardiac testing.
Atrial brillation (AF) is a
dangerous heartbeat irregularity
that disrupts the ow of blood
through the heart. It can lead to a
blood clot that travels to the brain,
causing a stroke.
People who have AF can
experience a variety of symptoms,
including heart palpitations,
shortness of breath, weakness, chest
pain, dizziness, or
fatigue. However,
silent or
asymptomatic atrial
brillation does not
cause symptoms,
so it can remain
undetected.
Recently, at
the International
Stroke Conference
in Honolulu,
Hawaii, researchers
presented data from
572 patients who had experienced
either unexplained strokes or
transient ischemic attacks (TIAs),
a condition that causes temporary
symptoms similar to stroke.
When the researchers tested
subjects with a traditional Holter
monitor, which records the
heartbeat for 24 hours, they found
AF in 3 percent. However, when the
researchers used a new belt device
that monitors the heartbeat for 30
days, they found that 16 percent
had undiagnosed AF.
Researchers said the study
also showed the need to
rigorously screen people who had
unexplained strokes or TIAs so
steps can be taken to reduce risk.
Stress Worsens
Infammaton
Dwelling on negative
events raises levels of harmful
inammation within the body, a
new study nds. And research is
pointing to chronic inammation
as a source of ailments such as
coronary artery disease, diabetes,
cancer, and possibly Alzheimers
disease as well.
Stress is known to release
hormones that can fuel
inammation, but this new study
from researchers at Ohio University
is the rst to directly measure the
impact of the form of stress that
comes from dwelling on negative
thoughts and the
reaction it has on
C-reactive protein,
a marker for
inammation.
For the study,
researchers
recruited 34 healthy
young women and
asked each to give
a speech about her
candidacy for a job
to two interviewers
in white laboratory coats. Half of
the group was asked to dwell on
their performance in the public
speaking task, while the other half
was asked to think about neutral
images and activities, such as
sailing ships or a trip to the store.
The researchers then drew
blood samples, which showed
levels of C-reactive protein were
signicantly higher in the subjects
who were asked to dwell on the
speech. Their level of inammatory
marker continued to rise for at
least one hour aferward. During
the same time period, the marker
returned to initial levels in the
subjects who had been asked to
focus on other thoughts.
This study, presented at the
annual meeting of the American
Psychosomatic Society in Miami,
Fla., demonstrates that negative
thinking, in this case thinking
about a task that may or may not
have gone well, can lead to higher
levels of unhealthy inammation
within the body.
Snoring Damages
Carotd Arteries
People who snore are more
likely to have damaged or
thickened carotid arteries, a
condition that raises stroke risk.
The carotid arteries are located
on either side of the neck, and
carry blood from the heart to the
brain. Obstructive sleep apnea is
a common cause of high blood
pressure (hypertension), which
adds to stroke risk as well.
However, in this new study,
which was presented at the 2013
Combined Sections Meeting of
the Triological Society, researchers
found that snoring can damage the
carotid arteries even in the absence
of sleep apnea.
The researchers speculated that
these alterations in the carotid
arteries were due to vibrations that
damaged and inamed the arteries.
Studies on snoring and
cardiovascular disease have found
mixed results. Last year, researchers
showed that people who snored
were no more likely than non-
snorers to develop cardiovascular
disease. But an earlier trial showed
loud snorers were signicantly
more likely to develop disease.
If you snore, consider going to
a sleep disorder clinic to nd out
the source of the problem. Make
sure the one you visit is a reputable
clinic, preferably at a major
hospital or medical school. Snoring
can be a warning signal of heart
disease and sudden death. o

A-fb is a
heartbeat
irregularity that
disrupts blood
fow through
the heart.

May 2013 7 newsmaxhealth.com


Therapies for Diabetes Prevention
Adult-onset, or Type 2, diabetes is a serious
medical disorder that greatly increases heart
attack risk. Research on alternative therapies has
concentrated on people with impaired glucose
tolerance, a condition also called prediabetes.
An estimated 25 to 75 percent of those in this
category go on to develop diabetes within the next
decade. But just having prediabetes hikes heart
disease risk as well.
Curcumin, the substance in turmeric spice
that gives Indian curry its distinctive yellow color,
is an anti-inammatory that bestows many health
benets. In a clinical study reported in the journal
Diabetes Care, researchers divided 240 people into
two groups: one group was given daily curcumin
capsules, the other group got a placebo.
Afer nine months, 19 of the adults in the
placebo group had developed diabetes, but none
taking the curcumin capsules did. I suggest 2 to 4
capsules per day.
While curcumin does seem to have benets for
diabetes, two other alternative therapies currently
being studied are a little more ambiguous.
Chinese herbs have long been touted for
improved glucose tolerance, and there may be
something to it. An Australian research team at the
University of Western Sydney analyzed 16 trials that
involved 1,391 people. In half of the study, those
who received the Chinese herbal therapies and
modied their lifestyle were more than twice as
likely as the others to normalize their glucose levels.
But the researchers also sounded a cautious
note because the participants who were the most
successful also changed their lifestyle, which greatly
reduces diabetes risk. In addition, the researchers
had no way to guarantee that the Chinese herbs
used in each study were identical formulations.
Meanwhile, a compound called chromium
picolinate was thought to improve glucose
metabolism. But research did not nd this to be the
case. In a randomized, controlled study, researchers
recruited 59 people who did not have diabetes, but
were at risk for it because of glucose abnormalities.
They were divided into groups that received either
500 or 1,000 mg of chromium picolinate daily, or a
placebo.
The researchers, writing in the journal Endocrine
Practice, also observed no change in glucose or
insulin levels in participants who received the
dosage of chromium, compared with placebo. In
addition, there were no improvements in weight,
waist circumference, blood pressure, cholesterol,
or triglycerides. But without a doubt, the best
alternative therapy for diabetes is exercise.
Ive written ofen about exercise as a way to
prevent heart disease, but people who already
have it may be wondering if I mean them as well.
Absolutely. Even patients with congestive heart
failure, whose endurance may be compromised, can
benet from an exercise program.
The American Heart Association recommends
20 to 30 minutes of exercise, three times a week. I
endorse walking as an excellent way to get started.
Ive found that even my patients whose hearts have
been weakened have gradually been able to work up
to levels that exceeded their expectations.
So, when youre casting about for alternative
therapies, dont neglect walking! I want you walking
one-hour daily, nonstop.
While pharmaceuticals have done a lot to
treat heart disease, they are not the only option.
Alternative therapies can prevent or even reverse
many conditions without the risk of dangerous
side efects. o
Continued from page 5
Tooth Care Benefts Your Heart
When you have gum disease, its easy for some of
the bacteria to escape from your mouth and get into
the bloodstream, where it travels to the coronary
arteries. The bacteria then sets of your bodys
immune response, which sends cells to the site to try
to heal the damage.
Although your bodys response is well-intentoned,
the result is that this infammatory state makes
it easier for cholesterol deposits to collect on the
coronary arteries, narrowing them, and also setng
the stage for a blood clot. If that clot ruptures, it can
cause a heart atack.
So safeguard your heart by taking good care of your
teeth. Brush and foss your teeth afer meals and see
your dentst regularly.
8 May 2013 drcrandall.newsmax.com
I am 58 and on medication for high blood pressure
and cholesterol. I got a dried berry mix that was
labeled All Natural, but sugar was listed in the
ingredients. Whats the best way to avoid sugar?
Lyn L., St. Martinville, La.
Sugar is considered a natural ingredient, so
your experience just proves how carefully you
must read labels before you purchase it. Food
manufacturers know sugar is addictive, which is why
its added to so many products.
Avoid it by sticking to fresh fruit instead. Do it
now, because as you get older, it will only get harder.
Ask your doctor about hormone replacement
therapy. If its right for you, it will crank up your
metabolism and give your weight loss-program a
boost.
How can a person at my age (67) know whether
exercise like walking or jogging will help my heart? I
worry it could bring on a heart attack.
Bill S., Spring Hill, Fla.
Before you start any exercise program, you
should see your doctor to rule out underlying heart
disease or other medical problems.
If you are cleared to do exercise, start with a
walking program. I favor walking over jogging,
running, or other extreme forms of exercise,
especially for people over 50.
This will minimize the probability of heart
damage and other injuries as well.
Gradually get started on your walking program
and work your way up to one hour daily.
Add a three-times-a-week strength-training
program with weights for a good all-around exercise
regimen.
My dermatologist wants to give me Lamisil to treat a
ngernail fungus. He mentioned that this medication
is ltered through the liver. I already take 40 mg of a
statin. Will taking both of these drugs hurt my liver?
Joseph L., Greenville, Tenn.
I share your concern. Fungal infections are
commonly seen in people with diabetes or
other circulatory problems, and those who have
compromised immune systems.
Your rst priority is to get rid of the fungal
infection, because this contributes to inammatory
changes within the body that leads to coronary
heart disease.
Talk to your doctor about stopping the
statin drug until the fungal infection clears up.
At the same time, switch to a plant-based diet,
which should enable you to eliminate the statin
permanently.
Make sure youre eating a low-starch diet as well,
as fungi feed on starch and sugar.
Also, make sure youve been tested for diabetes
to make certain you are not among the millions of
people who are unaware they are diabetic or insulin
resistant.
Taking probiotics will help in reducing fungal
infection.
To your heart health,

Chauncey W. Crandall, M.D.
Ask Dr. Crandall
Dear Readers,
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cannot answer each letter personally. Please include
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