August 7, 2008

The natural remedy that nearly cuts your heart attack risk in half! - Issue 8

The natural remedy that nearly cuts your heart attack risk in half!
When a slip and fall accident turns serious…
Is fungus the reason for your chronic congestion?

Research shows that every 34 seconds an American suffers a heart attack. If you want to decrease your odds of being a victim—you’ll be excited by new research findings on a natural remedy.

This ancient Chinese secret could help you stop heart problems before they start!

You’ll also find out why a broken bone may be the least of your worries in a slip and fall accident. And you’ll discover a simple way to test your home for molds that can keep your sinuses clogged—all in this week’s Thursday Edition of Health News Weekly™!

So let’s get started!

Chinese “Mold” May Improve Heart Health!

Layne Lowery

Does the idea of cutting your risk of heart attack by 45 percent sound appealing? A new study suggests this may be possible—simply by taking a purified form of Chinese red yeast rice.

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, red yeast rice is the product of yeast grown on rice. It has been used for centuries in China for food preservation and coloring, as a spice and in rice wine.

It also has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for indigestion and diarrhea and to promote blood circulation.

Nearly three decades of human studies have reported that red yeast lowers blood cholesterol levels, as well as “bad” LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

In the new study, researchers found that the red yeast extract called Xuezhikang (XZK) reduced the need for bypass surgery or angioplasty by one-third. They also found that cancer deaths were reduced by two-thirds among those taking the extract!

According to a HealthDay News report, study participants included a randomly selected group of almost 5,000 Chinese people who had previously experienced a heart attack. These participants received capsules containing XZK or a placebo.

The XZK capsules contained a combination of lovastatin, lovastatin hydroxyl acid, ergosterol and other components.

Researchers found that 10.4 percent of those receiving a placebo had a second heart attack during a five-year follow-up period. This was nearly double the heart attack rate compared to the patients who took XZK.

The investigators also found that patients treated with XZK were 30 percent less likely to die from a cardiovascular problem and 33 percent less likely to die from any cause.

“A purified form of Chinese red yeast rice significantly reduced the risk of having another heart attack,” said lead researcher Dr. David M. Capuzzi, director of the Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Program at the Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.

But Capuzzi stressed that the red yeast rice used in the study was made by a biotech company—which ensured its purity above products available at local health food stores.

The study results are published in the June 15 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.

Fast Fact

If you’re experiencing discomfort associated with menopause, try including wild yam in your diet. This plant can help ease menstrual cramps, hot flashes and headaches. And it also doubles as a beneficial antioxidant to help reduce inflammation!

Falls May Cause Serious Brain Injuries!

Tiffany Lowery

You may fear that falling could land you in the hospital with a bone fracture. But a new U.S. government study indicates that hitting your head when you fall could have even more dangerous outcomes.

A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concluded that traumatic brain injuries due to falls caused nearly 8,000 deaths and 56,000 hospitalizations in 2005 among Americans 65 and older. It is the first national, comprehensive study of the role brain injuries play in fatal elderly falls.

One in three Americans age 65 and older fall each year. Roughly 30 percent of these falls require medical attention.

According to a CDC statement, researchers examined 16,000 deaths in 2005 that listed accidental falls as an underlying cause of death.

CDC researchers found that half of the deaths were linked to brain injuries. The other deaths were due to a variety of causes—including heart failure, strokes, infections and existing chronic conditions worsened by injuries sustained in a fall.

“Most people think older adults may only break their hip when they fall, but our research shows that traumatic brain injuries can also be a serious consequence,” said Dr. Ileana Arias, director of CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.

“These injuries can cause long-term problems and affect how someone thinks or functions. They can also impact a person’s emotional well being,” she added.

Previous CDC research reported the U.S. death rate from falls had risen by nearly 55 percent for the elderly since the 1990s. The new study highlights the role that brain injuries play in such deaths.

The research was published in the June issue of the Journal of
Safety Research.

Health E-Hints

Try This 24-Hour Mold Test!

Many folks who suffer with sneezing… wheezing… runny noses… and chronic congestion may be sensitive to mold. Unfortunately, mold is EVERYWHERE in your environment.

Dr. Sherry Rogers, author of Detoxify or Die recommends using special petri dishes called mold plates to test for household molds. Just expose these dishes to various rooms in your house and return them to the specified address for testing.

Within six to nine weeks after the slow-growing fungi have appeared—researchers will send you a report listing the specific molds in your environment.

When you’ve identified the specific types of molds in your home—the report can help you take proper steps to eliminate these toxins and help restore your health!

Posted in Allergies, General Health, Heart Health, Menopausal Symptoms.