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While high-tech solutions to cardiovascular problems advance at an unprecedented rate, cardiologist Joel Gore, chief of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Massachusetts, believes there are many ways that people can improve their cardiovascular health without invasive interventions or a doctor's prescription.
"I am amazed at how things that are readily treatable or within an individual's control are often not dealt with," Dr. Gore told Medical Update. "There are many things people can do that are natural and within their control. I have been very involved with aspirin therapy. And certainly exercise is key. I am interested in natural things that can help improve one's health and well-being."
In his practice, the researcher-physician advises at-risk patients to drink red wine in moderation and combine omega-3 fatty acids--found primarily in certain fish and supplements--with statin drug therapy when indicated to help lower their risk of heart attack and sudden cardiac death.
Beneficial Fats
In study after study, researchers around the globe have demonstrated that omega-3 fatty acids are an important ingredient in maintaining physical and mental health. Today, researchers are zeroing in on omega-3's cardiovascular benefit.
"Omega-3 fatty acids reduce death rates from heart disease, particularly the likelihood of sudden cardiac death," he explained. "This protection is seen very rapidly--and it is not related at all to a change in cholesterol levels."
Recently, researchers have found that people who eat the so-called Mediterranean diet--rich in fish, vegetables, fruits, and grains--are up to 70 percent less likely to suffer a second heart attack than those following a typical Western diet, high in fat and short on vegetables and fruits. And researchers, like Dr. Gore, are taking these important findings to heart, incorporating the beneficial omega-3 fats into their treatment guidelines for high-risk cardiovascular patients.
"We start fish oil tablets within the first 12 to 24 hours of a heart attack to underscore to patients how important we believe that the therapy is in their future care and treatment. We also recommend omega-3 to people with a strong family history of heart disease and those who are concerned that they have heart disease," Dr. Gore says. "Omega-3s are safe, have minimal side effects, and are not too expensive."
Research data show that the recommended daily dose of omega-3s for heart health is between 600 and 800 mg of EPA fatty acids, according to Dr. Gore.
"Everybody should eat coldwater fish at least twice a week," he adds. "Or they should take omega-3 fatty acid supplements. People have to become label readers. Fish oil capsules may contain a number of oils. The issue is to read the label and check the amounts of DHA and EPA fatty acids contained in a particular product."
Statin Drug Therapy
"Several large international trials have shown that the risk of future heart attacks directly relates to one's cholesterol levels," said Dr. Gore. "There seems to be a gradation. The lower the LDL cholesterol, the better the outcome. Clearly, the closer you get your LDL to 100 after a heart attack, the better the long-term prognosis is."
Teaming the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids with cholesterol-lowering drugs packs a double layer of protection for patients with high cholesterol levels.
"The mechanism by which omega-3 fatty acids benefit individuals is different from traditional cholesterol-lowering medications," he continued. "That is the reason why we are now saying that a combination of the two pills or types of drugs probably has a greater benefit than either one alone."
Red Wine
"In addition, we recommend one or two glasses of red wine a day," advises Dr. Gore. "A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine looked at the heart-protective effect of sake, red and white wine, grape juice, and placebo. The least protection was with the placebo, but not far behind was the sake, which is pure alcohol. Red wine did better than the grape juice, so it may be that a compound in the red grape and the alcohol together provide the benefit."
While alcohol consumption delivers benefits, don't go heavy on the wine at mealtime--more is not better.
"My colleague did a study in Hawaii that showed that if you don't drink at all, your mortality is worse than if you drink," Dr. Gore says, but cautions, "one glass is better than none. The problem is when you start getting up to higher levels of consumption. Obviously, there is a major impact on the liver and other organs."
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