Monday, September 13, 2004

Should You Bypass Heart Bypass? Clinton Spurs Men to Get Hearts Checked Former President Clinton's heart has been much in the news this past week, and we at the Wellness Club join the rest of the world in congratulating him on having successfully negotiated Big Surgery, and wishing him a speedy and uneventful recovery. We view the effects of his travails on the actions of others with mixed feelings however. If all that happens is that people are spurred to seek tests and diagnostics as is suggested in the article above, then we are disappointed. If, on the other hand all this increased attention being focused on cholesterol and heart health prompts people to take control of their health with improved lifestyle and nutrition, then we are thrilled. Testing never fixed anybody's high cholesterol, malnourishment, or sedentary lifestyle. Many of those people undergoing risky bypass surgery don't even meet the diagnostic criteria - but this is a surgery with a big "feel-good" (read "placebo") effect. It makes the patient, the doctors, and the family better to know that "something has been done about it," but there is no solid evidence that this surgery is increasing life expectancy over the long haul. In fact, for the 80% of people receiving this procedure who do NOT meet "diagnostic criteria", the 10-year survival rate is less than if they had been managed by medication alone. Our experience is that most people can "Bypass the Bypass" by changing their diet (and no, we don't advocate a boring, low fat diet like the conventional medical "authorities" do!), adding appropriate supplementation to improve nutrition, losing weight, and increasing their activity level to anything above sedentary. Recent HealthBeat Newsletters to our Wellness Club Members have discussed both heart health and cholesterol, with yet another HealthBeat Newsletter discussing treatments for cholesterol due out any day. Are you on our mailing list for these newsletters? If not, be sure to visit our website at: www.DrMyattsWellnessClub.com and get signed up - it's free, and the information in these newsletters could be life-changing, even life-saving! When you visit our website, you can find more information about heart disease, high cholesterol, and many other conditions too - check it out! For health's sake, most people can and should avoid bypass surgery. Cheers, Nurse Mark Find scientifically-based Alternative Medicine Health Information at our website:  www.DrMyattsWellnessClub.com 11:22:52 AM

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