Use of Q 10 plus

[Foose]

I had a heart attack in 1975.  Lost about 1/3 of left vent.  Heart developed its own by-pass.  Have not had any problems or surgery until 5 years ago when I had a slight stroke and CHF.  Found a blood clot in left vent.  Treating with  5mg of Coumadin a day.  Very active, play golf three times a week, no shortness of breath or chest pain.  Ejection factor is only 20, so doctors amazed how I can be so active without problems.  I take Q 10 plus three times a day.  If I don't take it I don't seem to have the same energy as I do when I take it.  Also I take a daily dose of POSTIVE ATTITUDE.  I use the brand sold by Dr. Stephen Sinatra, MD. Fellow of the American College of Cardiology.  He puts out the Sinatra Health Report.  My question, do you see any problem with me taking Q 10 plus?  Best wishes for a Happy Holiday Season

[HealThySelf]

Hi Ken,

Yes we are lucky if we live in a place where we can hike in the mountains.  I live in Seattle which has some good hiking close in and the Cascade Crest is only 1 1/2 hours away from downtown.  Many times I drive an hour from the city and hike all day without seeing one human being.  Then in the winter we get snow, which is just as much fun as summer.

I also believe that hiking is one of the best exercises for people with heart problems.  You can maintain a moderately aerobic level for several hours.  It also helps you on other levels, such as reducing stess.  I alway feel completely relaxed and free of worry after hiking.

I've often thought of starting a summer cardiac camp in the North Cascades.  I think that a lot of people could learn that they can live a full life with heart disease without stenting or surgery.  Perhaps rent a ski chalet, hire a chef that cooks healthy food, and take people on hikes according to their ability every day.

Happy Holidays

[sman3626]

Thank you for the inspirational story.  No doubt you already know that exercise tolerance is the single most powerful risk factor for death in persons with or without heart disease.  What's really important is how efficiently your heart pumps blood to the rest of the body. A conditioned heart is a tad bit larger and beats slower with a larger stroke volume.  That coupled with a leaner body mass and proper diet and rest is the ticket.  I do a tremendous amount of hiking in the mountains as well, and realize how vigorous is can be...probably the best form of exercise I know because of its physical and spiritual attributes...never stop doing it.

Ken S.

[HealThySelf]

You are doing the most important things for CHF - exercise, physical activity, and positive mental attitude.

I have severe 3 vessel coronary artery disease.  I rejected the sales pitchs for bypass surgery and have been lucky that I haven't had a stent left in me during 2 failed attempts at angioplasty.

I hike, ski, or climb several times a week and walk at least 30 minutes each day that I can't do more intense activities.  I also believe in severe lipid and BP management via multiple medications.  I have a TC of 110 and ldl of 50.

My goal is just to stay even with the disease.  To do that I have to push up against it (but not through it) every day.  It has become like an old friend - I know exactly where it's at and what it feels like.  When I push it back a little, I feel better, and when my bad habits set me back a little, I am disappointed.  I'm just trying to keep the lipid pools dry in those artifacts in my coronary arteries.

Like you, I do some incredible physical things, considering I have been told 2 years ago that I had a 40% expectation of sudden cardiac death within 5 years.  It's common for me to hike a total of over 10,000' of elevation gain every week during my extended summer vacations.

I have taken vitamins and supplements since my heart attack at age 50.  I have experimented with many and my list has changed over the years.  I don't know which ones do anything, but I think that it's important to believe that they do.

I currently take a good multi-vitamin, Vit E, Folic Acid, Alph-lipoic acid, and Garlic and a few other things.

I dropped the Co Q-10 because I didn't think that it did anything for me, but, like I say, it's the belief system that matters.

At this point I would like to avoid CHF.  Although I have a "cratered" plaque in my left main, I have not suffered a heart attack in my left ventricle and it remains healthy.  Also my valves are great.

To this goal, I manage blood pressure with meds agressively including an ACE inhibitor which I believe is a very beneficial drug.

Also remember that the medical establishment sees the heart as the only pump that moves blood through your system, but the greatest aid to circulation is a healthy capillary system and a healthy endothelial system.

Good Luck and Happy Holidays.

[katanos]

All-
I'm writing this to those PVC sufferers who like myself have often come to this site looking for answers and who do not necessarily post a comment. I could not pose a new question so I had to stick it as an additional post to someone else

[CCF-M.D.-KE]

Dear Foose,

Sorry to hear about your medical problems. Q10 is not among the medications shown by randomized clinical trials to improve outcome in a person such as yourself who has suffered a heart attack.  It may not cause any harm, but I am doubtful if it is doing you any good.

I am not sure of the contents of POSITIVE ATTITUDE but I would review them with your doctor to make sure there are no interactions with your other medication.


Thanks for your question,


CCF-MD-KE