Heart groups get an "F" when it comes to guidelines

Heart groups get an "F" when it comes to guidelines

You might think the nation's biggest heart organizations would issue their guidelines based on research and evidence.

But you'd be wrong.

An alarming new study finds that in many cases, the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology issue guidelines based on nothing more than anecdotal evidence or the say-so of some expert.

The study, published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association, looked at 20 years of guidelines from both organizations, and assigned each one a level – A, B or C – based on the strength of the research behind it. An "A" meant the recommendation was backed by strong research, while a "C" meant there was no real supporting evidence beyond anecdotal.

By the time they were done, they had graded 2,711 recommendations from those organizations – and just 12 percent received an "A."

On the other hand, 1,246 of those recommendations – 48 percent – had a level of "C." But let's call that what it really is – a big, fat "F."

Just to be clear, these are guidelines being issued by the nation's two most influential cardiology groups and meant to influence the kind of care you and I get from our doctors when it comes to our hearts. And nearly half the time, the guidelines have been issued with no real evidence to support them at all.

Now, if you want to chalk that up as accidental, careless, or just plain lazy, go right ahead. But I only wish it were as simple as that.

You see, the main reason behind many of these guidelines is a desire to push a new drug or surgical procedure. Top dollar is still the bottom line.

Just listen to the editorial accompanying the study, written by Dr. Terence M. Shaneyfelt and Dr. Robert M. Centor of the Department of Medicine at the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham.

"Guidelines have often become marketing tools for device and pharmaceutical manufacturers," they wrote. "Only when likely biases of industry and specialty societies have been either removed or overcome by countervailing interests can impartial recommendations be achieved."

This is disturbing, but it's not exactly surprising. These same groups have been giving us bad advice based on flimsy research for years. Their guidelines have encouraged Americans onto the same carb-loaded low-fat diets that are making us obese, diabetic, and more prone to the heart diseases that these groups are trying to prevent.

But now we know the reality of the situation. The only question now is whether they'll do something about it.
DR. F.

[gymdandee]

capsaicin. It’s the chemical that makes cayenne pepper hot. But it does a lot more than spice up your food. Capsaicin has heart-health benefits. Oxidation of cholesterol is a major cause of clogged arteries. Capsaicin helps your body keep this oxidation under control.(1) It supports healthy levels of cholesterol and fats in your blood, too.(2)
But capsaicin may also support the survival of your heart’s muscle cells. And it works when those cells are under the worst stress – after a major cardiac event. That’s great news, because these events can do a lot of damage.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati had already discovered that making a small cut in the belly of mice – immediately after a serious cardiac event – reduced damage to the heart muscle. In fact, damage to the heart dropped by an incredible 81%.
You see, the incision stimulates certain nerve pathways. The body’s response to this stimulation is to protect the heart… exactly what you need when your heart’s in trouble.
Taking their study a step further, the researchers tested a cream containing capsaicin. The results were amazing. Capsaicin worked even better than their previous technique. Damage to heart tissue plummeted by 85%! Just by applying capsaicin cream to the mouse’s belly.(3)
According to the lead author, Keith Jones, “These are the most powerful cardioprotective effects recorded to date.”
If the results are even close in human trials, it will be a major breakthrough.Imagine how many people could be spared extensive heart damage. Or how many lives could be saved.
Plus capsaicin is safe, inexpensive and easy to find in topical form.
Besides running human trials, Jones and his team have plans to look at how this technique may apply to other serious health problems. If it does, it will be a major step forward for natural health.

References:
1 Ahuja KD and Ball MJ. Effects of daily ingestion of chilli on serum lipoprotein oxidation in adult men and women. Br J Nutr. 2006 Aug;96(2):239-42.
2 “Common Spices Work Better than Aspirin to Stop Blood Clots”, NaturalNews.com, June 16, 2009
“Common Spices Work Better than Aspirin to Stop Blood Clots”, NaturalNews.com, June 16, 2009
3 Jones WK, et al. Peripheral Nociception Associated With Surgical Incision Elicits Remote Nonischemic Cardioprotection Via Neurogenic Activation of Protein Kinase C Signaling. Circulation. 2009;120:S1-S9.