Here, have a heart... nom, nom, nom...
So, over the winter, I incurred a lot of hurt to the bod. (Reasons: Psycho-social stress/anger, CFS, + snow-shovelling, big surge of DHT after cessation of 5mg finasteride, and beer). A number of serious symptoms arose: A sudden visual problem; muscle rigidity/etc.; heart problems/pain; completely dry mouth every time I awaken; insane insomnia; joint pain; hair loss, and a broken penis. All of these are either completely new symptoms or past CFS symptoms intensified.
Even though these symptoms all came suddenly w/ CFS, stress, and DHT, this does not mean that there might not be spin-off illnesses amongst them. For example, I have been concerned that there may be (a particular) cancer. Or, joint pain can mean arthritis. I decided that many symptoms might be early signs of a heart disease which many people w/ CFS finally die of, congestive heart failure. (My predisposing factors: CFS; I once smoked a fair amount; alcohol, and I sometimes feel like I am prediabetic. I lifted weights and ran, etc., but CFS pushes me back every time I try to be active).
So, in the course of my Wiki research, I found a few things about heart disease in which I thought you might be interested...
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels.[2] CVD includes coronary artery diseases (CAD) such as angina and myocardial infarction (commonly known as a heart attack).[2] Other CVDs include stroke, heart failure, hypertensive heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, heart arrhythmia, congenital heart disease, valvular heart disease, carditis, aortic aneurysms, peripheral artery disease, thromboembolic disease, and venous thrombosis.[2][3]
The underlying mechanisms vary depending on the disease.[2] Coronary artery disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease involve atherosclerosis.[2] This may be caused by high blood pressure (13% of CVD deaths), smoking/tobacco (9%), diabetes mellitus (6%), lack of exercise (6%), obesity (5% ), high blood cholesterol, poor diet, and excessive alcohol consumption, among others.[2]
Risk factors
There are many risk factors for heart diseases: age, sex, tobacco use, physical inactivity, excessive alcohol consumption, unhealthy diet, obesity, genetic predisposition and family history of cardiovascular disease, raised blood pressure (hypertension), raised blood sugar (diabetes mellitus), raised blood cholesterol (hyperlipidemia), undiagnosed celiac disease, psychosocial factors, poverty and low educational status, and air pollution.[14][15][16][17][18] While the individual contribution of each risk factor varies between different communities or ethnic groups the overall contribution of these risk factors is very consistent.[19] Some of these risk factors, such as age, sex or family history/genetic predisposition, are immutable; however, many important cardiovascular risk factors are modifiable by lifestyle change, social change, drug treatment (for example prevention of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes).[20] People with obesity are at increased risk of atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries.[21]
Physical inactivity
Insufficient physical activity (defined as less than 5 x 30 minutes of moderate activity per week, or less than 3 x 20 minutes of vigorous activity per week) is currently the fourth leading risk factor for mortality worldwide.[2] In 2008, 31.3% of adults aged 15 or older (28.2% men and 34.4% women) were insufficiently physically active.[2] The risk of ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus is reduced by almost a third in adults who participate in 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week (or equivalent).[35] In addition, physical activity assists weight loss and improves blood glucose control, blood pressure, lipid profile and insulin sensitivity. These effects may, at least in part, explain its cardiovascular benefits.[2]
Diet
High dietary intakes of saturated fat, trans-fats and salt, and low intake of fruits, vegetables and fish are linked to cardiovascular risk, although whether all these associations are a cause is disputed. The World Health Organization attributes approximately 1.7 million deaths worldwide to low fruit and vegetable consumption.[2] The amount of dietary salt consumed is also an important determinant of blood pressure levels and overall cardiovascular risk.[2] Frequent consumption of high-energy foods, such as processed foods that are high in fats and sugars, promotes obesity and may increase cardiovascular risk.[2] A Cochrane review found that replacing saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat (plant based oils) reduced cardiovascular disease risk. Cutting down on saturated fat reduced risk of cardiovascular disease by 17% including heart disease and stroke.[36]
High trans-fat intake has adverse effects on blood lipids and circulating inflammatory markers,[37] and elimination of trans-fat from diets has been widely advocated.[38][39] In 2018 the World Health Organization estimated that trans fats were the cause of more than half a million deaths per year.[39]
There is evidence that higher consumption of sugar is associated with higher blood pressure and unfavorable blood lipids,[40] and sugar intake also increases the risk of diabetes mellitus.[41] High consumption of processed meats is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, possibly in part due to increased dietary salt intake.[42]
The relationship between alcohol consumption and cardiovascular disease is complex, and may depend on the amount of alcohol consumed. There is a direct relationship between high levels of drinking alcohol and cardiovascular disease.[2] Drinking at low levels without episodes of heavy drinking may be associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.[43] At the population level, the health risks of drinking alcohol exceed any potential benefits.[2][44]
Sleep
Sleep disorders such as sleep disordered breathing and insomnia, as well as particularly short duration of sleep or particularly long duration of sleep, have been found to be associated with a higher cardiometabolic risk.[45]
Celiac disease
Untreated celiac disease can cause the development of many types of cardiovascular diseases, most of which improve or resolve with a gluten-free diet and intestinal healing. However, delays in recognition and diagnosis of celiac disease can cause irreversible heart damage.[18]
Socioeconomic disadvantage
Cardiovascular disease affects low- and middle-income countries even more than high-income countries.[46] There is relatively little information regarding social patterns of cardiovascular disease within low- and middle-income countries,[46] but within high-income countries low income and low educational status are consistently associated with greater risk of cardiovascular disease.[47] Policies that have resulted in increased socio-economic inequalities have been associated with greater subsequent socio-economic differences in cardiovascular disease[46] implying a cause and effect relationship. Psychosocial factors, environmental exposures, health behaviours, and health-care access and quality contribute to socio-economic differentials in cardiovascular disease.[48] The Commission on Social Determinants of Health recommended that more equal distributions of power, wealth, education, housing, environmental factors, nutrition, and health care were needed to address inequalities in cardiovascular disease and non-communicable diseases.[49]
Air pollution
Particulate matter has been studied for its short- and long-term exposure effects on cardiovascular disease. Currently, PM2.5 is the major focus, in which gradients are used to determine CVD risk. For every 10 μg/m3 of PM2.5 long-term exposure, there was an estimated 8-18% CVD mortality risk.[50] Women had a higher relative risk (RR) (1.42) for PM2.5 induced coronary artery disease than men (0.90) did.[50] Overall, long-term PM exposure increased rate of atherosclerosis and inflammation. In regards to short-term exposure (2 hours), every 25 μg/m3 of PM2.5 resulted in a 48% increase of CVD mortality risk.[51] In addition, after only 5 days of exposure, a rise in systolic (2.8 mmHg) and diastolic (2.7 mmHg) blood pressure occurred for every 10.5 μg/m3 of PM2.5.[51] Other research has implicated PM2.5 in irregular heart rhythm, reduced heart rate variability (decreased vagal tone), and most notably heart failure.[51][52] PM2.5 is also linked to carotid artery thickening and increased risk of acute myocardial infarction.[51][52]
Cardiovascular risk assessment
...... Other diagnostic tests and biomarkers remain under evaluation but currently these lack clear-cut evidence to support their routine use. They include family history, coronary artery calcification score, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), ankle-brachial pressure index, lipoprotein subclasses and particle concentration, lipoprotein(a), apolipoproteins A-I and B, fibrinogen, white blood cell count, homocysteine, N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and markers of kidney function.[56][57] High blood phosphorus is also linked to an increased risk.[58]
Occupational exposure - Non-chemical risk factors
A 2015 SBU-report looking at non-chemical factors found an association for those:[60]
Specifically the risk of stroke was also increased by exposure to ionizing radiation.[60] Hypertension develops more often in those who experience job strain and who have shift-work.[60] Differences between women and men in risk are small, however men risk suffering and dying of heart attacks or stroke twice as often as women during working life.[60]
Diet
See also: Saturated fat and cardiovascular disease and Salt and cardiovascular disease
A diet high in fruits and vegetables decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease and death.[114] Evidence suggests that the Mediterranean diet may improve cardiovascular outcomes.[115] There is also evidence that a Mediterranean diet may be more effective than a low-fat diet in bringing about long-term changes to cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., lower cholesterol level and blood pressure).[116] The DASH diet (high in nuts, fish, fruits and vegetables, and low in sweets, red meat and fat) has been shown to reduce blood pressure,[117] lower total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol[118] and improve metabolic syndrome;[119] but the long-term benefits outside the context of a clinical trial have been questioned.[120] A high fiber diet appears to lower the risk.[121]
Dietary supplements
While a healthy diet is beneficial, the effect of antioxidant supplementation (vitamin E, vitamin C, etc.) or vitamins has not been shown to protect against cardiovascular disease and in some cases may possibly result in harm.[157][158][159] Mineral supplements have also not been found to be useful.[160] Niacin, a type of vitamin B3, may be an exception with a modest decrease in the risk of cardiovascular events in those at high risk.[161][162] Magnesium supplementation lowers high blood pressure in a dose dependent manner.[163] Magnesium therapy is recommended for people with ventricular arrhythmia associated with torsades de pointes who present with long QT syndrome as well as for the treatment of people with digoxin intoxication-induced arrhythmias.[164] There is no evidence to support omega-3 fatty acid supplementation.[165]
mm101 NOTE: I have learnt that magnesium is critical for the heart, muscles and CFS. If you get cramps a lot, magnesium is the answer. Best to taken w/ vitamin C. I also believe in fish oil and turmeric for inflammation, anti-oxidants, oats/fiber, low sugar - (ergo fermented foods and drinks, which are also good for gut microbiota), sleep, exercise, low stress, creativity, and self-determination.
If you go back and check out the harmful agents for occupations - lack of control, low social support and security, night hours, and noise - these basically apply in the cases of people like me, yo, as do air pollution (I live on a hwy), socioeconomic disadvantage, and poor sleep! How many of these factors apply to you?!
I have cut back on drinking. In the past, I had five reasons why I drank more than usual. 1 - I am Irish. 2 - I am Australian. 3 - I lived in Wisconsin. 4 - I am a writer. I forgot #5. But, it is also true than my father was once employed and fired by a brewery; and that I am a radical outsider who is locked away from his potential; and my CFS is constantly assaulted by heart-palpitating idiots like the man downstairs who deliberately slams doors, bangs walls, etc., etc. God bless these fucking Americans. The fact is that alcohol works, (temporarilly), against this kind of uncontrollable assault upon the nerves and heart.
Go here for SCREENING - (and see "Cardiovascular_risk_assessment" above). And note:
Severe emotional and physical stress leads to a form of heart dysfunction known as Takotsubo syndrome in some people.[106]
(Congestive) Heart Failure
Even though these symptoms all came suddenly w/ CFS, stress, and DHT, this does not mean that there might not be spin-off illnesses amongst them. For example, I have been concerned that there may be (a particular) cancer. Or, joint pain can mean arthritis. I decided that many symptoms might be early signs of a heart disease which many people w/ CFS finally die of, congestive heart failure. (My predisposing factors: CFS; I once smoked a fair amount; alcohol, and I sometimes feel like I am prediabetic. I lifted weights and ran, etc., but CFS pushes me back every time I try to be active).
So, in the course of my Wiki research, I found a few things about heart disease in which I thought you might be interested...
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels.[2] CVD includes coronary artery diseases (CAD) such as angina and myocardial infarction (commonly known as a heart attack).[2] Other CVDs include stroke, heart failure, hypertensive heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, heart arrhythmia, congenital heart disease, valvular heart disease, carditis, aortic aneurysms, peripheral artery disease, thromboembolic disease, and venous thrombosis.[2][3]
The underlying mechanisms vary depending on the disease.[2] Coronary artery disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease involve atherosclerosis.[2] This may be caused by high blood pressure (13% of CVD deaths), smoking/tobacco (9%), diabetes mellitus (6%), lack of exercise (6%), obesity (5% ), high blood cholesterol, poor diet, and excessive alcohol consumption, among others.[2]
Risk factors
There are many risk factors for heart diseases: age, sex, tobacco use, physical inactivity, excessive alcohol consumption, unhealthy diet, obesity, genetic predisposition and family history of cardiovascular disease, raised blood pressure (hypertension), raised blood sugar (diabetes mellitus), raised blood cholesterol (hyperlipidemia), undiagnosed celiac disease, psychosocial factors, poverty and low educational status, and air pollution.[14][15][16][17][18] While the individual contribution of each risk factor varies between different communities or ethnic groups the overall contribution of these risk factors is very consistent.[19] Some of these risk factors, such as age, sex or family history/genetic predisposition, are immutable; however, many important cardiovascular risk factors are modifiable by lifestyle change, social change, drug treatment (for example prevention of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes).[20] People with obesity are at increased risk of atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries.[21]
Physical inactivity
Insufficient physical activity (defined as less than 5 x 30 minutes of moderate activity per week, or less than 3 x 20 minutes of vigorous activity per week) is currently the fourth leading risk factor for mortality worldwide.[2] In 2008, 31.3% of adults aged 15 or older (28.2% men and 34.4% women) were insufficiently physically active.[2] The risk of ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus is reduced by almost a third in adults who participate in 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week (or equivalent).[35] In addition, physical activity assists weight loss and improves blood glucose control, blood pressure, lipid profile and insulin sensitivity. These effects may, at least in part, explain its cardiovascular benefits.[2]
Diet
High dietary intakes of saturated fat, trans-fats and salt, and low intake of fruits, vegetables and fish are linked to cardiovascular risk, although whether all these associations are a cause is disputed. The World Health Organization attributes approximately 1.7 million deaths worldwide to low fruit and vegetable consumption.[2] The amount of dietary salt consumed is also an important determinant of blood pressure levels and overall cardiovascular risk.[2] Frequent consumption of high-energy foods, such as processed foods that are high in fats and sugars, promotes obesity and may increase cardiovascular risk.[2] A Cochrane review found that replacing saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat (plant based oils) reduced cardiovascular disease risk. Cutting down on saturated fat reduced risk of cardiovascular disease by 17% including heart disease and stroke.[36]
High trans-fat intake has adverse effects on blood lipids and circulating inflammatory markers,[37] and elimination of trans-fat from diets has been widely advocated.[38][39] In 2018 the World Health Organization estimated that trans fats were the cause of more than half a million deaths per year.[39]
There is evidence that higher consumption of sugar is associated with higher blood pressure and unfavorable blood lipids,[40] and sugar intake also increases the risk of diabetes mellitus.[41] High consumption of processed meats is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, possibly in part due to increased dietary salt intake.[42]
The relationship between alcohol consumption and cardiovascular disease is complex, and may depend on the amount of alcohol consumed. There is a direct relationship between high levels of drinking alcohol and cardiovascular disease.[2] Drinking at low levels without episodes of heavy drinking may be associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.[43] At the population level, the health risks of drinking alcohol exceed any potential benefits.[2][44]
Sleep
Sleep disorders such as sleep disordered breathing and insomnia, as well as particularly short duration of sleep or particularly long duration of sleep, have been found to be associated with a higher cardiometabolic risk.[45]
Celiac disease
Untreated celiac disease can cause the development of many types of cardiovascular diseases, most of which improve or resolve with a gluten-free diet and intestinal healing. However, delays in recognition and diagnosis of celiac disease can cause irreversible heart damage.[18]
Socioeconomic disadvantage
Cardiovascular disease affects low- and middle-income countries even more than high-income countries.[46] There is relatively little information regarding social patterns of cardiovascular disease within low- and middle-income countries,[46] but within high-income countries low income and low educational status are consistently associated with greater risk of cardiovascular disease.[47] Policies that have resulted in increased socio-economic inequalities have been associated with greater subsequent socio-economic differences in cardiovascular disease[46] implying a cause and effect relationship. Psychosocial factors, environmental exposures, health behaviours, and health-care access and quality contribute to socio-economic differentials in cardiovascular disease.[48] The Commission on Social Determinants of Health recommended that more equal distributions of power, wealth, education, housing, environmental factors, nutrition, and health care were needed to address inequalities in cardiovascular disease and non-communicable diseases.[49]
Air pollution
Particulate matter has been studied for its short- and long-term exposure effects on cardiovascular disease. Currently, PM2.5 is the major focus, in which gradients are used to determine CVD risk. For every 10 μg/m3 of PM2.5 long-term exposure, there was an estimated 8-18% CVD mortality risk.[50] Women had a higher relative risk (RR) (1.42) for PM2.5 induced coronary artery disease than men (0.90) did.[50] Overall, long-term PM exposure increased rate of atherosclerosis and inflammation. In regards to short-term exposure (2 hours), every 25 μg/m3 of PM2.5 resulted in a 48% increase of CVD mortality risk.[51] In addition, after only 5 days of exposure, a rise in systolic (2.8 mmHg) and diastolic (2.7 mmHg) blood pressure occurred for every 10.5 μg/m3 of PM2.5.[51] Other research has implicated PM2.5 in irregular heart rhythm, reduced heart rate variability (decreased vagal tone), and most notably heart failure.[51][52] PM2.5 is also linked to carotid artery thickening and increased risk of acute myocardial infarction.[51][52]
Cardiovascular risk assessment
...... Other diagnostic tests and biomarkers remain under evaluation but currently these lack clear-cut evidence to support their routine use. They include family history, coronary artery calcification score, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), ankle-brachial pressure index, lipoprotein subclasses and particle concentration, lipoprotein(a), apolipoproteins A-I and B, fibrinogen, white blood cell count, homocysteine, N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and markers of kidney function.[56][57] High blood phosphorus is also linked to an increased risk.[58]
Occupational exposure - Non-chemical risk factors
A 2015 SBU-report looking at non-chemical factors found an association for those:[60]
- with mentally stressful work with a lack of control over their working situation - with an effort-reward imbalance[60]
- who experience low social support at work; who experience injustice or experience insufficient opportunities for personal development; or those who experience job insecurity[60]
- those who work night schedules; or have long working weeks[60]
- those who are exposed to noise[60]
Specifically the risk of stroke was also increased by exposure to ionizing radiation.[60] Hypertension develops more often in those who experience job strain and who have shift-work.[60] Differences between women and men in risk are small, however men risk suffering and dying of heart attacks or stroke twice as often as women during working life.[60]
Diet
See also: Saturated fat and cardiovascular disease and Salt and cardiovascular disease
A diet high in fruits and vegetables decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease and death.[114] Evidence suggests that the Mediterranean diet may improve cardiovascular outcomes.[115] There is also evidence that a Mediterranean diet may be more effective than a low-fat diet in bringing about long-term changes to cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., lower cholesterol level and blood pressure).[116] The DASH diet (high in nuts, fish, fruits and vegetables, and low in sweets, red meat and fat) has been shown to reduce blood pressure,[117] lower total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol[118] and improve metabolic syndrome;[119] but the long-term benefits outside the context of a clinical trial have been questioned.[120] A high fiber diet appears to lower the risk.[121]
Dietary supplements
While a healthy diet is beneficial, the effect of antioxidant supplementation (vitamin E, vitamin C, etc.) or vitamins has not been shown to protect against cardiovascular disease and in some cases may possibly result in harm.[157][158][159] Mineral supplements have also not been found to be useful.[160] Niacin, a type of vitamin B3, may be an exception with a modest decrease in the risk of cardiovascular events in those at high risk.[161][162] Magnesium supplementation lowers high blood pressure in a dose dependent manner.[163] Magnesium therapy is recommended for people with ventricular arrhythmia associated with torsades de pointes who present with long QT syndrome as well as for the treatment of people with digoxin intoxication-induced arrhythmias.[164] There is no evidence to support omega-3 fatty acid supplementation.[165]
mm101 NOTE: I have learnt that magnesium is critical for the heart, muscles and CFS. If you get cramps a lot, magnesium is the answer. Best to taken w/ vitamin C. I also believe in fish oil and turmeric for inflammation, anti-oxidants, oats/fiber, low sugar - (ergo fermented foods and drinks, which are also good for gut microbiota), sleep, exercise, low stress, creativity, and self-determination.
If you go back and check out the harmful agents for occupations - lack of control, low social support and security, night hours, and noise - these basically apply in the cases of people like me, yo, as do air pollution (I live on a hwy), socioeconomic disadvantage, and poor sleep! How many of these factors apply to you?!
I have cut back on drinking. In the past, I had five reasons why I drank more than usual. 1 - I am Irish. 2 - I am Australian. 3 - I lived in Wisconsin. 4 - I am a writer. I forgot #5. But, it is also true than my father was once employed and fired by a brewery; and that I am a radical outsider who is locked away from his potential; and my CFS is constantly assaulted by heart-palpitating idiots like the man downstairs who deliberately slams doors, bangs walls, etc., etc. God bless these fucking Americans. The fact is that alcohol works, (temporarilly), against this kind of uncontrollable assault upon the nerves and heart.
Go here for SCREENING - (and see "Cardiovascular_risk_assessment" above). And note:
Severe emotional and physical stress leads to a form of heart dysfunction known as Takotsubo syndrome in some people.[106]
(Congestive) Heart Failure