Homocysteine Levels Accepted as Normal Are Dangerously Lenient - Also Popular Drugs Raise Homocysteine 50%-More at Myheartbook.com

A review of a new book: How to detect and neutralize "Hidden Causes of Heart Attack and Stroke": (Inflammation, Cardiology's Newest Frontier). Described as the most complete leading patient reference; it's information, "a decade ahead." Gregory Guldner M.D. Loma Linda U.

March 29, 2005 -- Elevated Homocysteine levels can double or triple one's risk of heart attack or stroke, and current guidelines are permitting patient exposure to unnecessary risk, according to author Christian Wilde. Contact: email protected from spam bots website www.myheartbook.com

Based on five years of research for the new book, how to detect and neutralize "Hidden Causes of Heart Attack and Stroke: Inflammation, Cardiology's Newest Frontier," the author explains that benchmarks originally adopted by the agencies as safe for the general population often become outdated by virtue of the overwhelming literature from the research community, proving a disconnect between the old order and the new.

Wilde cites several studies supported in his book's 17-page bibliography that claim even "mildly elevated" levels of homocysteine contribute measurably to risk. He questions how long the profession can continue accepting 15 as the starting point of "high" level and concern when, according to several respected studies including one that appeared in Journal Circulation of the American Heart Association, anything above 6.3 rapidly increased risk.

The public has recently seen guideline changes governing triglycerides, blood pressure, HDL and LDL levels, and he believes there should now be a change in the homocysteine guideline.

This book is highly endorsed by several leading cardiologists in the country and may be viewed at www.myheartbook.com. It is also available at 800 214-8110 or bookstores.

Physicians may not as yet be aware that popular drugs are dramatically raising homocysteine levels. One example is the popular use of niacin or nisapan in treating cardiovascular disease, Wilde says.

Tens of thousands of people are on one of these two forms of niacin, which, while successfully raising HDL cholesterol and lowering triglyceride levels, also (unknown by most people) raise homocysteine 50 percent, according to the preventive book.

Consequently, a patient with an accepted so called "normal" score of 10-14 or 15 would suddenly (because of niacin or other drugs) unknowingly- according to the literature, be in a lethal 15-21 or possibly even 22 range.

Patients are not often tested while they are given niacin or niaspan or the arthritis/cancer drug methotrexate or the popular fenofibrate drug Tricor, which studies have found can raise homocysteine 41-46%.

Christian Wilde's book also explains: Doctors do not often test patients for homocysteine, ascribing to the notion that 400 mcgs of folic acid in one's daily cereal or multiple vitamin is enough to maintain a proper level.

www.myheartbook.com, 800 214-8110

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